in the GCOR is there a rule or section that states the procedure for loading with a lift? looking for rule or section stating what the engineer and conductor must do prior to loading at station.

looking to add to our rulebook and procedures and would like to get it the wording the same as other railroads use.

Pete

I'll have to check for specifics in GCOR later, but the basic safety measure you should immediately employ is called "3-step protection". Once the train is properly spotted, the Conductor asks the engineer for 3-step protection, and the engineer applies. Then the boarding can proceed safely without fear of the train moving. Once the passengers are safely aboard, the Conductor then releases 3-step.

Only the person requesting 3-step can relinquish it. More than one person may have 3-step at a time, and each person having it must relinquish it before the train can move. That way, if the conductor has 3-step for boarding passengers, and someone needs to do a quick mechanical inspection or needs to foul the track for some reason, that person would also request 3-step from the engineer. If the conductor releases his 3-step, the other person still has his and the train cannot move until that person also releases his 3-step. The engineer has to keep track of who has 3-step to avoid a potentially fatal error. This is the equivalent of "lock out, tag out" under OSHA.

You didn't mention if yours is a steam or diesel powered train, but 3-step protection applies specifically to diesel operation since it involves centering the reverser, placing the generator field switch in the "open" position, making a full independent brake application and making a full service brake pipe reduction to prevent movement of the cars. On a steam loco, this would be centering the reverser, applying the independent and train brakes and maybe even locking the throttle closed. The idea is to prevent movement of the train until everyone is known to be in the clear.

The link below will take you to the US Dept. of Justice ADA home page. On the left side is a hyper link for US DOT ADA page. Info in both places. By "lift" I assumed you meant wheelchair type.

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/

we run both steam and diesel. we have basically used the 3 step. we want to incorporate this in our training manual, and make it understandable to all.

Is that the wording you are looking for, for 3-step? I would be happy to pass along what the SAM Shortline uses in our rule book. PM me if you would like it.