d. Example of the use of a switch list. The details of the
yardmaster's cuts for the train are as follows:
(1) Cut 1, as shown in the upper lefthand corner of figure
2.3, consists of 28 cars, starting with PRR 675699 and ending with
MDT 19495. It will be switched from the west end of the yard.
(2) Cut 2 consists of 15 cars, starting with NYC 431101 and
including the remaining cars in the bottom of the lefthand column of
the list and the first three cars at the top of the righthand
column, ending with NP 51320.
(3) Cut 3 starts at the lower righthand corner of the list
because this cut is going to be switched from the east end of the
yard and, therefore, starts from a position exactly opposite to that
of cut 1. In this cut are 15 cars, starting with USAX 25638, which
will be next to the switch engine, and ending with CBQ 72055.
(4) Cut 4 will also be switched from the east end of the yard.
It contains 18 cars, starting with WLE 30143, which will be next to
the switch engine, and ending with GTW 106504.
2.9. FREIGHT ON HAND
As previously explained, when planning the switching of any
train, the yardmaster must keep in mind the freight on hand or the
cars or blocks already on the various tracks in the yard. When a
yardmaster reports for duty he checks the lineup of incoming trains
and the cars already in the yard, and he immediately plans the
outbound trains to be made up and run out of the yard to make room
for inbound trains. The check is made from the yardmaster's journal
explained in the following subparagraphs.
a. Yardmaster's journal. A detailed record, called a
yardmaster's journal, is maintained to provide the information a
yardmaster needs in planning the switching and making up of trains.
The journal is a permanent record kept current by each yardmaster on
each shift. The information it contains is discussed in the next
subparagraph. It provides the yardmaster coming on duty with a
written picture of the status of every track in the yard; he keeps it
up to date to provide similar information to the yardmaster who
relieves him.
b. Example of a yardmaster's journal. Figure 2.4 illustrates a
page from the journal that might be kept for the combination yard
shown back in figure 1.2. The actual form may vary among railroads,
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