4.1. GENERAL
Thus far, the discussions in this text explain how the rail
transportation planner obtains information and how he uses it to
determine the capacity of a railroad and the amount of equipment
required to operate it. The planner's next job is to determine how
many people are needed for the rail operation. The methods for
determining the number of road crews, switch crews, and subsequently
the number and kind of rail units required are explained in this
chapter.
4.2. ROAD CREWS
The number of road crews needed for each division is based on
the amount of time each crew works and the rest time each crew
requires. Work time includes a 2hour call period, the running time,
and a 1hour period at destination. Normally, crews should have 12
hours off before reporting back on duty. The 2hour call period is
necessary at the originating terminal of the division for crews to
report for duty, receive orders and instructions, move a locomotive
from the roundhouse to the departure yard, couple it to a train, test
the airbrake system, and check the train consist. The running time
(RT) is the length of time it takes to run the train over the
division. It is computed as stated in paragraph 3.6, by dividing the
length of the division by the average speed of the train. If the
average speed is not known, the planner should assume it to be 8 mph
for a singletrack operation in a theater and 10 mph for a double
track operation. Another time factor that must be included in the
computation is the 1hour period at the final destination. It allows
for placing the train on designated tracks, moving the locomotive to
the roundhouse, and submitting the necessary reports.
Normally the sum of the call period, the running time, and the
1hour period at the final destination should not exceed 12 hours so
that crews have sufficient time to rest before reporting back on
duty. The 12hour time limit can be exceeded for short periods in
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