Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee

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The Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee (NORAC) is a set of operating rules for railroads in North America. The NORAC rulebook is used by 12 Full and 29 Associate Members.

Contents

[edit] Members

[edit] Full members

  1. Amtrak
  2. Bay Colony Railroad (BCLR)
  3. Canadian Pacific Railway (CP)
  4. Conrail Shared Assets Operations (CR);
  5. CSX Transportation (CSXT)
  6. Genesee & Wyoming - NY/PA Region (G&W)
  7. New Jersey Transit rail operations (NJT)
  8. New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway. Corp. (NYS&W)
  9. Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS)
  10. Providence and Worcester Railroad Company (P&W)
  11. Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad (RBM&N)
  12. Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)

[edit] Associate members

  1. Adirondack Scenic Railroad
  2. Cape Cod Central Railroad
  3. Cape May Seashore Lines
  4. Central New England Railroad
  5. Central Railroad Company of Indiana
  6. Central Railroad Company of Indianapolis
  7. Connecticut Southern Railroad
  8. C&S Railroad Corporation
  9. East Jersey Railroad & Terminal Co.
  10. Finger Lakes Railway
  11. Flats Industrial Railroad
  12. Fore River Transportation Corporation
  13. Genesee Valley Transportation
  14. Housatonic Railroad Company
  15. Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad
  16. Luzerne and Susquehanna Railway
  17. Maine Coast Railroad
  18. Massachusetts Central Railroad
  19. Milford-Bennington Railroad Company
  20. Morristown and Erie Railway
  21. Mountain Division Railway Corporation
  22. Narragansett Bay Railroad Company
  23. National Park Service
  24. Naugatuck Railroad Company
  25. New Hope and Ivyland Railroad
  26. New York & Greenwood Lake Railway
  27. New York Cross Harbor Railroad
  28. North Shore Railroad
  29. Northern Central Railway

[edit] Overview

The NORAC rules are intended to enhance railroad safety. The rules cover employee responsibilities, signaling equipment, procedures for safe train movement, dealing with accidents and other topics that directly and indirectly affect railroad safety.

These rules govern operation on main lines, defined as those with some form of block control system.

[edit] History

In January 1985, six railroads (Conrail, Amtrak, Metro-North, New Jersey Transit, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, and Delaware & Hudson) met in Newark, NJ with the goal to create a common operating rulebook. In May 1985, a second meeting was held, with eight railroads present, five of the original six (Metro-North withdrew) plus Providence and Worcester, Long Island Rail Road, and Boston & Maine.

The first rulebook was released in January 1987. It contained rules for three types of train control: automatic block (ABS), manual block (MBS), and voice (VCS). The MBS and VCS systems were both governed by NORAC's Form D, which is a train order transmitted directly to the train.

In 1993 the fourth edition combined the MBS and VCS rules into a single "Form D Control System" (DCS).

[edit] Categories

The full set of NORAC rules is divided into 25 categories.

  1. Terminology, Definitions and Authorized Abbreviations
  2. General Rules
  3. Reporting for Duty
  4. Miscellaneous Signals
  5. Tampering
  6. Inspection of Equipment
  7. Movement of Trains
  8. Protection of Trains
  9. Movement Permit Form D
  10. General Signal Rules
  11. Signal Aspects and Indications
  12. Form D Control System
  13. Automatic Block Signal System
  14. Cab Signal System
  15. Interlocking and Controlled Points
  16. Radios and Telephones
  17. Movement of Track Cars
  18. Dispatchers
  19. Operators
  20. Train Service Employees
  21. Engine Service Employees
  22. Yardmasters
  23. Station Masters and Assistant Station Masters
  24. Foremen and Track Car Drivers
  25. NORAC Movement Permit Form D

[edit] External links

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