On the commercial railroads, is it ever permitted to ride on the end platform (the handbrake platform over the coupler) during a pushing movement? Is it even allowed on a pulling movement?

If it is specifically prohibited by the rules, can anyone cite the rule book and rule number?

Greg

I don't have a rule book in front of me at the moment,but it is a prohibited action because you are out of sight of the engineer and also you are in extreme danger of being run over if the slack runs in or out violently. The only time you can ride the rear platform of a car is if it's a full platform (like some covered hoppers and gondolas) that offer a better measure of safety.

Well most shoving movements are made out of sight of the engineer! Hence radios.

On CSX, you cannot occupy the brake platform on any car while making a shove, but you can ride it if you are pulling away....all about the potential of being run over.

You can ride the ends of platforms while shoving, such as shoving platforms, those intermodal platforms, etc.

Unless CSX changed their rules in the past year, you can't ride the brake platform while pulling ahead either. There are some very limited exceptions where the car in question has a protected space to ride. Some ballast or stone hoppers come to mind. This is the practice for the Rock Runner trains that operate out of Brunswick, MD to Bladensburg, MD. The last two miles involve a back-up move down the Alexandria Extension from JD Interlocking to the stone plant, across a number of highway grade crossings. The conductor rides inside the railing area of the last hopper, which has an extended platform, and has a back-up hose with a whistle to warn traffic.

Yup, I know what you're talking about. I've worked that Bardane plant before, out of Bennings.