We have had some incidents lately and our GC wanted some information available to members who may encounter this situation. When ordered to operate in areas you are not PC qualified you may operate as long as the requirements of the CFR are satisfied. Essentially you can go into a non-main track area (yard) and operate at restricted speed as long as the distance does not exceed a mile. See below for more details
- 242.301 Requirements for territorial qualification.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c), (d), or (e) of this section, a railroad, including a railroad that employs conductors working in joint operations territory, shall not permit or require a person to serve as a conductor unless that railroad determines that the person is certified as a conductor and possesses the necessary territorial qualifications for the applicable territory pursuant to §242.119.
(b) Each person who is called to serve as a conductor shall:
(1) Meet the territorial qualification requirements on the segment of track upon which he or she will serve as a conductor; and
(2) Immediately notify the railroad upon which he or she is employed if he or she does not meet the required territorial qualifications.
(c) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, if a conductor lacks territorial qualification on main track physical characteristics required by paragraph (a) of this section, he or she shall be assisted by a person who meets the territorial qualification requirements for main track physical characteristics.
(1) For a conductor who has never been qualified on main track physical characteristics of the territory over which he or she is to serve as a conductor, the assistant shall be a person who is certified as a conductor, meets the territorial qualification requirements for main track physical characteristics, and is not an assigned crew member.
(2) For a conductor who was previously qualified on main track physical characteristics of the territory over which he or she is to serve as a conductor, but whose qualification has been expired for one year or less and who regularly traversed the territory prior to the expiration of the qualification, the assistant may be any person, including an assigned crewmember, who meets the territorial qualification requirements for main track physical characteristics.
(3) For a conductor who was previously qualified on main track physical characteristics of the territory over which he or she is to serve as a conductor, and whose qualification has been expired for one year or less but who has not regularly traversed the territory prior to the expiration of the qualification, or a conductor whose territorial qualification on main track has been expired for more than a year, the assistant may be any person, including an assigned crewmember other than the locomotive engineer so long as serving as the assistant would not conflict with that crewmember’s other safety sensitive duties, who meets the territorial qualification requirements for main track physical characteristics.
(d) If a conductor lacks territorial qualification on other than main track physical characteristics required by paragraph (a) of this section, where practicable, he or she shall be assisted by a person who is a certified conductor and meets the territorial qualification requirements for other than main track physical characteristics. Where not practicable, the conductor shall be provided an appropriate up-to-date job aid.
(e) An assistant is not required if the movement is on a section of main track with an average grade of less than 1% over 3 continuous miles, and
(1) The maximum distance the locomotive or train will be operated does not exceed one mile; or
(2) The maximum authorized speed for any operation on the track does not exceed 20 miles per hour; or
(3) Operations are conducted under operating rules that require every locomotive and train to proceed at a speed that permits stopping within one half the range of vision of the locomotive engineer.
[76 FR 69841, Nov. 9, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 6491, Feb. 8, 2012]- 240.231 Requirements for locomotive engineers unfamiliar with physical characteristics in other than joint operations.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no locomotive engineer shall operate a locomotive over a territory unless he or she is qualified on the physical characteristics of the territory pursuant to the railroad’s certification program.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, if a locomotive engineer lacks qualification on the physical characteristics required by paragraph (a) of this section, he or she shall be assisted by a pilot qualified over the territory pursuant to the railroad’s certification program.
(1) For a locomotive engineer who has never been qualified on the physical characteristics of the territory over which he or she is to operate a locomotive or train, the pilot shall be a person qualified and certified as a locomotive engineer who is not an assigned crew member.
(2) For a locomotive engineer who was previously qualified on the physical characteristics of the territory over which he or she is to operate a locomotive or train, but whose qualification has expired, the pilot may be any person, who is not an assigned crew member, qualified on the physical characteristics of the territory.
(c) Pilots are not required if the movement is on a section of track with an average grade of less than 1% over 3 continuous miles, and
(1) The track is other than a main track; or
(2) The maximum distance the locomotive or train will be operated does not exceed one mile; or
(3) The maximum authorized speed for any operation on the track does not exceed 20 miles per hour; or
(4) Operations are conducted under operating rules that require every locomotive and train to proceed at a speed that permits stopping within one half the range of vision of the locomotive engineer.
