I have been trying to find a link to the new masking requirements from TSA that is not geared just to the passenger. One of the railroads I volunteer at is in a state, county and city that does not have a mask mandate. Of course we have masked on the train and around customers. But we don't when working on equipment outdoors in the off season. The president of the group has just received a call from the TSA and as a result we now need to mask at all times while on the property.

If you don't mind my asking, what state are you in and to what railroad are you referring? Is it a museum line or a tourist line that is governed by FRA regulations? I guess I'm somewhat surprised that the President of your group got a direct call from TSA which resulted in the mask-wearing requirement. Seems highly unusual to me.

Very strange unless you are in interstate travel...
Not like the TSA viper teams have the man power to enforce this.

I have questions as to whether 1) TSA has jurisdiction over the shops of a volunteer(?) operation, or 2) this makes an iota of sense.

And I say this as an employee of a facility that requires masks on all individuals on the property anywhere outside a person's personal auto, save for the obvious eating and drinking.

The how. My organization is required to have appointed a security contact and an alternate for the TSA / Homeland Security to be able to contact us. The regulatory background came out of a recommendation of the 9/11 commission. More info here:
https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/surfac ... ining-rule

My first e-mail came from DC on Feb 2, and since then I have had half a dozen e-mails and four or five phone calls.

Do they have regulatory authority? The answer to that question depends entirely on whether an entity falls under FRA jurisdiction. For the average STATIC train museum or a trolley museum, NO. But, if you fall under any part of FRA jurisdiction the answer is yes. And that would include the shops.

Iota of sense - I really would like to dodge this question of opinion, beyond the statement that this is a part of Biden's attempt to make an impact on the COVID infection spread. I ask that we please leave that subject alone here and let's keep the discussion to the regulatory application end of things.

The old Smokey Hill group in Belton, MO. Some of us are in the process of painting etc. of the SLSF 1632. Obviously, I am going to comply with whatever rules the railroad has.

Sounds to me that someone is "killing flies with sledgehammers and heavy artillery" again........

Here’s TSA’s press release on masks: https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2021/01/31/tsa-implement-executive-order-regarding-face-masks-airport-security

You’d naturally assume that the TSA would have jurisdiction over public transportation but they’ve made no exclusions for tourist or museum operations. Generally, they would have no authority on train rides that are more in the amusement/museum category since you aren’t delivering passengers from Point A to Point B as a conveyance. However, I can see where they would have jurisdiction over something like the Grand Canyon since they are a conveyance for the public.

I can’t fathom the TSA having any jurisdiction over masks in your workplace and they make no mention of it outside of their own facilities.

Could be just me but isn’t it odd that they would call and not contact you by mail? Government agencies don’t cold call because of all the scam crap and there is no written record.

[Edit] just saw kcrailroader’s post. This is a fuzzy area that needs to be addressed with the TSA and FRA.

Since we are subject to TSA security rules, are we subject to all the Covid rules, not just the on train and in station masking rules?

Tom Hamilton

OK, I find the Belton, Grandview and Kansas City RR is in Belton, a suburb of Kansas City, MO. Is this a railroad governed by the FRA rules? That is, is the railroad isolated (no physical track connection) from the main US railroad system?

Again, I find it somewhat surprising that this museum line would get a phone call from TSA (would they even know the railroad existed) as opposed to a formal letter. I'm assuming the railroad's president verified the bonafides of the caller.

The way I understand it, if you have a connection, but don't interchange freight or store cars you don't have to comply with all the FRA rules.

Here:
Is the scope of 1580:

§ 1580.1 Scope.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, this part includes requirements for the following persons. Specific sections in this part provide detailed requirements.

(1) Each freight railroad carrier that operates rolling equipment on track that is part of the general railroad system of transportation.

(2) Each rail hazardous materials shipper.

(3) Each rail hazardous materials receiver located within an HTUA.

(4) Each freight railroad carrier serving as a host railroad to a freight railroad operation described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section or a passenger operation described in § 1582.1 of this subchapter.

(5) Each owner/operator of private rail cars, including business/office cars and circus trains, on or connected to the general railroad system of transportation.

(b) This part does not apply to a freight railroad carrier that operates rolling equipment only on track inside an installation that is not part of the general railroad system of transportation.

Pay attention to (b). Per the FRA, just because you have a connection to the general system doesn’t make you a part of it. Unless your equipment is running on rails owned by a railroad that is part of the network then you may be exempt. This really does need to be looked into as a whole for our industry.

If your track is “insular” (no grade or navigable water crossings), then no FRA oversight. If “non-insular”, then you have what we refer to as FRA Lite - limited oversight. If you operate over someone else’s track, i.e. a common carrier, then your equipment falls under full FRA oversight with any heritage equipment exemptions.

Scanning through 1570 and 1580.... This can open a whole can of worms with the TSA what with security training requirements and program submittal, records, and on and on. Is this a requirement that somehow blew past me in the last seven months and I didn’t notice or is this something that everyone here is aware of and I’m just sort of ignorant? I’m seeing manhours and dollars flying out the window.....

Interesting topic. First I’ve heard of any of this. Kinda thought they’d “stay in their lane” at the airports. I haven’t seen any TSA agents or checkpoints at any stations in my area including Amtrak, Metro-North, and CDOT.