Station Master Responsibilities Quiz

Station Master Responsibilities

• Maintains Accident Register and Accident Charts
• Tracks stock figures and reports to control
• Investigates public complaints, sends extracts with staff explanations and personal remarks to Divisional Office
• Attends accidents, takes charge of the site, assists in relief measures, ensuring prompt evacuation of injured and stranded passengers
• Investigates yard accidents, obtains statements from responsible staff, and submits a report with conclusions and a joint note to the Divisional Office
• Ensures fire-fighting equipment at the station is in working condition
• Regularly tests points, signals, and track circuits
• Ensures signals return to the ‘ON’ position after train movement
• Prevents conflicting signals from being taken ‘OFF’ simultaneously
• Confirms signals are not taken ‘OFF’ until all points are correctly set and facing points are locked
• Obeys lawful orders of superiors unless contradicting existing rules
• Ensures proper indication of points, signals, track, circuits, crank handle, and level crossing gates
• Issues required papers to trains based on log ASM instructions
• Issues shunting orders following existing rules
• Monitors shunting staff performance
• Ensures clearance of running lines in case of track circuit failure
• Maintains a log book for train and shunting movement
• Provides complete train arrival information to log ASM supported by a private number
• Manages pad locking of points and train piloting in the absence of Deputy Station Manager or outdoor staff

Pointsman/Shuntman Responsibilities

• Obeys lawful orders of ASM on duty or supervising official during shunting operations
• Exhibits danger signal to the supervising official if the crossing is fouled during shunting
• Pilots trains in case of abnormal working conditions and when ordered by the SM on duty
• Maintains a neat and clean uniform while on duty
• Reports for duty after adequate rest, avoiding duty under influence of alcohol, drugs, or intoxicants
• Remains on duty unless properly relieved or authorized by superiors
• Sets points properly in non-interlocked yards and manages them for all shunting movements
• Ensures fouling marks are cleared after completion of shunting
• Uses hand signal lamps during nighttime and flags during daytime
• Verifies route setting before delivering papers to the loco pilot
• Assists the SM in determining line clearance in case of track failure
• Lights up indicators in the evening and extinguishes them in the morning
• Cleans and oils burners and trims wicks under the supervision of the Station Manager/Deputy Station Manager

Gateman Responsibilities

• Operates the gate according to SWRs for train passage
• Prevents train detention due to late gate closure
• Keeps check-rail channels clean and maintains the road within railway limits
• Cleans gate lamps and hand signal lamps daily
• Trims burner wicks to ensure proper lighting and continuous burning from sunset to sunrise
• Maintains a clean and tidy gate lodge, planting shrubs and plants
• Remains alert on duty until properly relieved
• Closes and locks the gate booms against road traffic before leaving the gate in emergencies
• Ensures equipment at L-xing is complete and functional
• Produces the public complaint book upon request
• Avoids unnecessary road traffic delays at the gate

Station Facilities and Information

• A list of nearby Doctors and Hospitals with phone numbers.
• Rules for using Rest Houses and Rest Rooms.
• A list of home addresses and phone numbers of staff in the Station Master’s office.
• A list of people with phone numbers who can provide transportation in emergencies, including tent houses.
• A list of nearby Fire Stations, Bus depots, Airports, OIL companies, with phone numbers.
• Phone numbers for Civil, Police, Military, and Railway officials.
• Other prescribed notices.
• A list of staff qualified in First Aid.
• Blood groups of staff.

Advertisement Policy

• Public advertisements require written permission from the competent officer in the commercial publicity branch.
• A register is maintained with details of all advertisements displayed at the station.
• Advertisements on engines, passenger coaches, and rolling stock require prior permission from the Divisional Railway Manager.

Rules Books, Manuals, and Records

• The Station Master is responsible for keeping rule books up-to-date and accessible to staff.
• Station Masters ensure proper maintenance of all registers, forms, and charts.
• Periodic returns are submitted accurately and on time.
• Destruction of obsolete records is recorded in a register.

Record Management

• Completed books/registers are bundled with a cover showing the commencement and completion dates.
• Records are stored in dry and secure locations to prevent unauthorized access.
• The period of preservation for various station records is defined, with guidelines on which records are considered permanent.

Station Master Responsibilities

• Maintaining accident registers and charts, ensuring they are up-to-date
• Keeping track of stock figures and relaying them to the control department
• Investigating public complaints, sending summaries with staff explanations and personal remarks to the Divisional Office
• Attending accidents promptly, taking charge of the accident site, assisting with relief efforts, ensuring prompt evacuation of injured and stranded passengers, protecting clues and evidence, informing the control office at regular intervals, requesting assistance (relief trains, medical vans) if necessary
• Investigating yard accidents, gathering statements from staff involved, submitting reports with conclusions and joint notes to the Divisional Office
• Ensuring fire-fighting equipment is in good condition and ready for use
• Testing signals, points, and track circuits regularly, recording the results in the charge book, including: ensuring signals return to ‘ON’ position, preventing conflicting signals from being taken ‘OFF’ simultaneously, ensuring points are correctly set and facing points are locked, performing any additional testing procedures authorized by the relevant officer
• Attending incidents or accidents promptly, assisting with relief measures, collecting information, informing the control office for required assistance, informing local civil authorities, safeguarding clues and evidence
• Handling the block instrument personally when on duty, preventing unauthorized personnel from manipulating or handling the block panel, block instrument, or block telephone
• Maintaining TSR and relevant documents in good condition, ensuring all entries are complete and up-to-date
• Completing transactions of trains for which line clear was given/obtained until the arrival of those trains
• Obeying lawful orders of superiors that do not contradict existing rules
• Ensuring points, signals, track circuits, crank handles, and level crossing gates are displayed in the appropriate places
• Issuing required papers to trains entering and leaving the yard under the instructions of the log ASM
• Issuing shunting orders for shunting operations according to existing rules
• Monitoring the work of the shunting staff
• Ensuring running lines are clear in case of track circuit failure
• Maintaining a log book for train and shunting movements
• Providing the complete arrival time of all trains to the log ASM, supported by a private number
• Cranking and pad-locking of points and piloting trains in the absence of the Deputy Station Manager or outdoor personnel

Pointsman/Shuntman Responsibilities

• Obeying lawful orders of the ASM supervising shunting operations, including coupling/uncoupling wagons, fixing rubber washers, closing wagon doors, displaying hand signals, etc.
• Exhibiting the danger signal when the crossing is "fouled" during shunting operations
• Piloting trains in cases of abnormal working or when ordered by the SM on duty
• Maintaining a neat and clean uniform while on duty
• Performing duty after taking adequate rest and without being under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or intoxicants
• Avoiding absence from duty or exchanging duty without prior permission from superiors
• Not leaving duty without being properly relieved or authorized by superiors

General Station Operations Information

• Rule Books and Manuals: The Station Master is responsible for ensuring rule books are kept up-to-date and available for staff reference.
• Registers, Forms, and Charts: The Station Master is responsible for ensuring all registers, forms, and charts are properly and neatly maintained and used only for their intended purpose.
• Periodical Returns: Station Masters are responsible for the accuracy and timely submission of all periodical returns.
• Obsolete Records: Destructions of obsolete records should be recorded in a register.
• Station Records: Completed books/registers are to be bundled with a cover indicating the commencement and completion dates. Records should be stored in dry, secure places to prevent unauthorized access or damage.
• Model Letters: SR.DOM should provide model drafts for frequently received letters to ensure polite, respectful, and courteous language.
• Forwarding Letters/Complaints: Station Masters are responsible for providing their own remarks when forwarding letters or complaints from staff.
• Letters Pertaining to Other Departments: Station Masters may mark letters relevant to other departments for the appropriate in-charge but remain responsible for ensuring timely compliance.
• Playing of Bands and Guard of Honor: Playing of bands and presentation of guard of honor on the station platform is prohibited without prior permission from the DRM.
• Photography and Film Shooting: Photography or film shooting is prohibited within station limits and on railway lines without permission from authorized railway administration officials.
• Religious Edifices: Employees are prohibited from occupying station areas for prayer, religious functions, or religious structure erection or alteration without the sanction of the General Manager.
• Station Operating Registers and Records: Specific timeframes for retaining station operating registers and records are outlined.
• Advertising: Public advertisement displays require written permission from the competent officer in the commercial publicity branch. Station Masters maintain a register detailing these advertisements.
• Advertising on Railway Stock: Advertisements are prohibited on engines, passenger coaches, or rolling stock without prior permission from the Divisional Railway Manager.
• Station Manager Responsibilities: Regularly update timetables and notices, ensure current telephone numbers are listed, and remove outdated materials.

Additional Information

• Station Resources: Stations should have access to various crucial resources such as a list of nearest doctors and hospitals with contact details, rules regarding the use of Rest Houses and Rest Rooms, a list of staff home addresses and contact numbers, a list of emergency contacts (transportation, tent houses), a list of local emergency services, lists of relevant officials, and information regarding staff qualified for First Aid treatment and blood groups.

Test your knowledge on the roles and responsibilities of a Station Master in railway operations. From handling accidents to managing signal systems, understand the crucial tasks that ensure passenger safety and station efficiency. This quiz will cover various aspects of the job, including emergency response and compliance with regulations.