Rumford Branch, RUPO / PORU

[690]

A trackmobile would never work at Rumford. Not unless they want to do Tk 21, 37, etc one car at a time.

[gokeefe]

That does not mean anything, ad there are many trackmobile operations that cross major roads all over.

Appreciate the clarification. I didn't realize those were allowed to operate outside of a plant.

[newpylong]

Yes, trackmobile outfits can have rights onto a set physical track(s) outside their property, but they must be qualified.

[R&PEditor]

WATCO local crews are not certified to be active beyond Rumford Yard. So different crew doing the pulling?

[690]

Not exactly sure what you mean by a different crew doing the pulling, but Pan Am will still run to Rumford with PORU/RUPO and move the freight over the mainline. Watco is merely doing the switching inside the mill. If you meant that Watco crews will literally be confined within the yard, everything east of MPR44 is Rule 98 trackage (other than main track), where you don’t need to be qualified, or really have any experience, as long as you’re operating under restricted speed, Watco can switch the mill and the yard.

[newpylong]

That is not entirely true. Rule 98 is not synonymous with no holds barred. If the operator is running over someone else's trackage (whether is be controlled or non-controlled), then they at the whim of that host carrier's ruleset and their requirements. Not an issue at Rumford it seems though.

[Safetee]

rule 98 in fra parlance is non controlled track where "trains are permitted by railroad rule or special instruction to move with out receiving authorization from a train dispatcher or control operator." So in this case if PAR was to issue a bulletin order with specific instructions for how and where watco would operate, they technically would be kosher without being thoroughly norac qualified. But PAR obviously would have the right by granting some permission to a non affiliate to run on and occupy specific tracks which might possibly include the pre requirement to have received some instruction at least on NORAC lite.

[newpylong]

I would invite all to read: https://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/1597

WATCO would likely be considered a plant railroad and exempt from FRA oversight - however Pan Am would still be regulated (as a general rail system operator) would entering their property to get/set off cars. Even if PAR still owned the yard, WATCO could be allowed in to interchange and still not be governed, but would obviously need to follow PAR rules.

It gets confusing and I know the FRA has begun to try to more heavily regulate private operators in the past decade.

[KSmitty]

Qualifying them wouldn't seem a hard problem. 4 or maybe 5 of the 7 hires have already had NORAC training as they are former employees of the outgoing mill switching outfit...

[690]

Sure, qualifying them wouldn't be hard, especially considering some of them did have NORAC training, but at the same time, Pan Am has no interest in allowing Watco to operate over their trackage, and secondly, several of these former employees, at the risk of sounding like an ass, are former employees for a reason.

[Backshophoss]

All PAR has to do is set a limit to how far Watco can operate,a limit post can be placed on the Branch "mainline" from the yard,
to allow 3-4 car head clearance for switching.

[690]

There already is a limit, and has been for a long time; MPR-44. You cannot operate west of there without permission. For the yard itself, the effective limits is the Swingdingle on the other side of Smith's Crossing. Derail is not supposed to be taken off unless you're entering or leaving the yard on a road job.

[backroadrails]

A GMTX painted GP38 was spotted on I believe AYPO today enroute to Rumford. There was a sighting on CSX of another GP38 with GMTX markings. The unit looks to be exNS and is still in NS paint with GMTX patches. This unit I assume is for Old Town.

[gokeefe]

#354 was switching in the yard last week.

[KSmitty]

I was thinking along the lines of how the "interchange" is going to take place, and how PORU/RUPO are going to share the yard with WATCO. SAPPI has some pretty strong rules regarding ST operating on their property. Double derail, so ST and mill guys are always seperated by at least 1 derail. I assume this is because the mill guys aren't qualified.

If they qualify the crews on NORAC, then ST and Watco crews could share the yard space with the derail and isolation protection already in place.