PATH Conductor/EES Exam Study Guide

General Rules of Conduct

• Employees must display and produce required identification credentials to supervision, Port Authority Police, security personnel, or authorized representatives upon request.
• Employees on duty must have a copy of the following in their possession or at an accessible location:
  • Book of Rules
  • Required books and manuals for their craft
  • Notices and forms required to perform duties correctly
  • Identification or certification required for duties

Rules and Special Instructions

• Employees must know and obey all general rules, special instructions, and applicable General Notices.
• Ignorance of rules and regulations will not be accepted as an excuse for neglect or omission of duty.

Attention to Duties

• Employees must devote themselves exclusively to PATH service while on duty and report any violations of rules and special instructions to the proper official.
• Participation in unauthorized activities while on duty or on PATH property is prohibited.
• Employees must perform all tasks assigned or directed to them by proper authority.

Prohibited Conduct

• Employees must be of good character and not commit dishonest, immoral, illegal, violent, insubordinate, disruptive, destructive, or reckless acts.
• Employees must conduct themselves at all times, whether on or off PATH property, in a manner that does not bring discredit upon PATH.

Treatment of Customers

• The traveling public must be treated with courtesy and consideration.
• Employees must not engage in disputes or quarrels with customers and may not have unnecessary physical contact with customers.

Drugs and Alcohol

• Possession or use of intoxicants or narcotics by employees while on duty is prohibited.
• Employees may not present themselves for or perform any service for PATH while under the influence of intoxicants or narcotics.

Buzzer Signals

• Buzzer signals are used for onboard communication between the Conductor and Engineer.
• Sound indications:
  • _: STOP at once
  • __: START
  • ooo: BACK UP, used when standing
  • ___: Stop at next station or employee stop, used when running
  • ____: Apply or Release Brakes, used during air brake test
  • o_o: Request for the Conductor to contact the Engineer

Interlocking Whistle Signals

• Sound indications:
  • _: All movements within interlocking limits STOP immediately
  • oo: Resume normal movement after receiving the proper signal or permission of Tower Operator
  • ___: Call for Car Inspector
  • ____: Call for Signal Maintainer
  • ooooo: Call for Trackman or Power Rail Maintainer

Fixed Signals

• Fixed signals are divided into three classes:
  • A. Interlocking Signals: govern trains entering and using a route, identified by a plate with the signal's number and letters, including the letter "X".
  • B. Automatic Block Signals: govern the movement of approaching trains, identified by number and the letter Z or D.

Definitions

• Fouling: when a person or equipment could be struck by a moving train or is within four feet of the field side of the near running rail.
• Benchwall: a designated safety zone that must remain unobstructed.
• Frog: a track device that permits wheels to cross an intersecting rail.
• Gap Train: a train operated to replace or augment a regular schedule.
• Indication (Signal): the information conveyed by a signal aspect.
• Interlocking: an arrangement of signals and signal appliances that route trains from one track to another.
• Interlocking limits: the tracks between the opposing home signals of an interlocking.
• Interlocking Signal: a fixed signal at the entrance of a route, identified by a plate with the signal's number and letters, including the letter "X".
• Lamp: a flashlight or other lighted instrument.
• Light Train: a train operated without customers.
• Locomotive (MU): rail rolling equipment self-propelled by any power source.
• Third Rail Cover-Board: a non-conductive material board that provides cover over the Third Rail.
• Third Rail Side Incline: an electrified extension along the side of the Third Rail that allows the contact shoe to ride up onto the Third Rail at switch locations.
• Track Indicator: an illuminated device used in conjunction with an interlocking signal to indicate the track to which the train will be routed.
• Transponder: a passive device mounted in the road bed that the train will interrogate to identify its current location.
• Trailing Point Switch: a switch where the train or railroad equipment approaches from one of the two diverging routes.
• Train: one or more rail cars, coupled together, displaying proper front and rear lights, with a crew and destination.
• Train Stop: a roadway element that when engaged will automatically result in an emergency brake application.
• Turnout: an arrangement of a switch and a frog that permits a train or other rail vehicle to be transferred from one track to another.
• Watchman: a person designated at a worksite to warn the work group of an approaching train and who can communicate with the Engineer of an approaching train.
• Wayside Mode: a territory where CBTC has no control over CBTC-equipped trains, and the train automatically transitions to Wayside Mode.
• Work Train: one or more non-passenger cars for the purpose of supporting construction or maintenance work activity on PATH.
• Yard: a system of tracks provided for the making up of trains, storing of rail cars, and other purposes.
• Yard Mode: ATC Carborne equipment limits the speed of train movement in CBTC yard to 12MPH, but does not otherwise constrain the train movement.