Railroad Forums 

  • Just for Curiosity

  • General discussion about railroad operations, related facilities, maps, and other resources.
General discussion about railroad operations, related facilities, maps, and other resources.

Moderator: Robert Paniagua

 #648051  by WSH
 
Let's say a private individual wanted to pull a Ross Rowland and buy and operate their own locomotive (diesel or steam, doesn't matter). What all would they have to do to certify themselves to operate it and what would they need to do to operate it on roads?
 #648061  by DutchRailnut
 
Just because you own a locomotive does not mean you can operate it.
Most Contracts and rules will let you run this engine with a pilot, with a rule stipulating that pilot must operate the engine.
Only reason a guy like Ross Rowland or Doyle McCormack can operate their steam locomotives is because 99.9% of all engineers are not qualified on steam locomotives.
So they still get a pilot but Pilot will not operate the engine.
Doyle McCormack and others who restore diesels, will find they get no time in seat, as Pilot will operate the train.
 #648455  by WSH
 
Is it any different if you actually own the railway too? Say you restore old diesels and have a small tourist railway/musuem.
 #648457  by WSH
 
DutchRailnut wrote:Just because you own a locomotive does not mean you can operate it.
Most Contracts and rules will let you run this engine with a pilot, with a rule stipulating that pilot must operate the engine.
Only reason a guy like Ross Rowland or Doyle McCormack can operate their steam locomotives is because 99.9% of all engineers are not qualified on steam locomotives.
So they still get a pilot but Pilot will not operate the engine.
Doyle McCormack and others who restore diesels, will find they get no time in seat, as Pilot will operate the train.
Regarding the pilots, is this railroad policy or because the said people don't have all the qualifications?
 #648583  by DutchRailnut
 
Qualifications and union rules, most contract will only allow union members to operate trains.
 #648624  by atsf sp
 
What if one set up a company? Then would it be allowed if one is qualified as an engineer?
 #648632  by DutchRailnut
 
Only if your company has trackage rights and you were a qualified and certified engineer.
 #648740  by BR&P
 
If you're asking about running on a railroad that you own, then all you have to do is the same certification procedure that all engineers must go through, per government regulations. You may own the XYZ shortline lock stock and barrel, but if it connects with the general railroad system, or crosses public highways, etc, you still have to comply with 49 CFR 240. (the regs for certification of engineers.) There is some wiggle room if it's totally within an industrial facility - for instance inside a steel mill, grain elevator complex, etc.

If you owned some big ranch somewhere and laid tracks on it, didn't connect with a real railroad, didn't cross any highways, and...a couple other restrictions which I'm not going to bother to look up.....if you're totally isolated, there's no restrictions, you, your wife, your 5 year old kid could run.
 #648982  by GSC
 
If you are landlocked, and you are running steam, you would need some sort of qualification to do so. In New Jersey, you would need to be tested for a state Black Seal License (Boiler Operator - In Charge, what used to be called Fireman - In Charge) to be able to just steam it up (without using the steam, such as moving the loco). To be able to move it, you'd need a minimum Blue Seal Locomotive Engineer License. Boiler horsepower is another factor, if you own a big steam loco, you may need to upgrade to a Red Seal Engineer license.

Other states may require your insurance company to qualify you.

If you connect to outside lines, or cross public roadways and/or navigable waterways, you need federal qualifications and licensing.

If you run a landlocked diesel/gas unit, you probably won't need anything but the knowledge to run it.

With a couple of boiler failures over the last decade or so, live steamers and steam tractors have come under the scrutiny of the feds, calling them "antique and hobby boilers".