LunarLight Photography BNSF Harbor Sub Index Page

Track Warrant Control

During the later years of through operation, train movements on the Harbor Subdivision were by Track Warrant Control. Train crews that traveled over or worked within the district received authority from the Harbor Subdivision Dispatcher in the form of Track Warrants. A Track Warrant is a standard form that allows the dispatcher to give clear direction to each train crew. Typically, the dispatcher gave his instructions for filling out a Track Warrant Form over the radio. The crew member that copied the instructions onto a blank form was required to read back the instructions copied onto the completed form. If the read-back was correct, the dispatcher would give his approval by time and initials.

TWC image thanks to J. C. Blackwell

At left is an example of a completed Track Warrant form. The form consists of 21 "boxes" that can be checked for different types of instructions. For example, the dispatcher might direct that Box 2 be checked to allow movement over part of the district, and would then give beginning and end points for that approval. These beginning and end points could be station locations, siding switches, or mileposts. Instructions for Box 1 are given if the current Track Warrant supercedes a previous Track Warrant. If work needs to be performed along the way, or if the dispatcher is allowing the crew to work directly with crews of other trains to work out passing or clearance locations, instructions for Box 4 are given. Box 7 allows the dispatcher to give a Track Warrant for a train holding clear of the main line until another train passes.

What with through trains having to work around the on-line switch jobs, most Track Warrants included instructions for Boxes 11 and 12, which told the crew to proceed slowly where other on-line work was being performed. Box 12 was also used when any of the frequent maintenance work was behind done on the line. Boxes 20 and 21 were often given to trains using the passing siding at Alcoa, as they allowed the crew of a train to leave the switches lined behind them without the need to walk back from the engine to re-set a switch after the train entered the siding.

When a train crew reaches the end of the limits authorized by a track warrant, they must call the dispatcher and release the authority by location and time. The bottom line of the Track Warrant form provides space to record the time the dispatcher approved the release.

For the rail fan, Track Warrant Control is a real boon, since all instructions from the dispatcher to the crews can be easily monitored by listening to the dispatcher's radio frequency. You don't have to monitor the frequency very long before you can form a fairly accurate picture of what trains are on the line and where they are located. This makes anticipating when a train will arrive at a good photo location possible, which greatly aids getting good pictures of trains working the district.

Next: End of Through Operations

Update December 28, 2004