Rules and Instructions for the Guidance of Employees Working in and around Shops.
The following practices or manner of doing work is prohibited:
Rule 49. Removing safeguards from saws, emery wheels, gears, or other parts of machinery except for the purpose of making repairs.
Source: The Washington Terminal Company, Safety Rules, Effective February 1, 1934.
Rule 40: Injectors on locomotives must not be started at places where anyone is liable to be scalded, and water must not be allowed to overflow from engines at station platforms.
Source: The Washington Terminal Company, Safety Rules, Effective February 1, 1934.
Rule 13. Any object waved violently by any one on or near the track is a signal to stop.
Source: Grand Trunk Railway System. 1911. Operating Rules and General Regulations. Effective June 18, 1911.ployees, Effective November 1, 1933.
Rule 1213. Standing or placing any part of the body between side or end of car body and lumber, pipe or other lading likely to shift, is prohibited.
Rule 1214. Stepping from side ladder to brake board is prohibited. Step to end ladder first and have secure hand hold while doing so.
Rule 1215. Using any part of an adjacent car for foot rest when applying or releasing brake, is prohibited.
Source: The Pennsylvania Railroad, The Long Island Rail Road Company, Safety Rules, Train, Engine, and Other Employees, Effective November 1, 1933.
Rule 99(F). When an employee alone finds track or bridge unsafe for trains at normal speed, he must immediately place a red flag by day, or a red light by night, between the rails of the track, or to the right of the track as viewed from an approaching train, in both directions one-fourth mile from the point to be protected. After the red signals are placed, he must go in the direction from which the first train is expected. One mile from the red signal, he must place two torpedoes on the rail not less than 150 feet apart. Continuing back two miles from the red signal he must place two torpedoes on the rail not less than 150 feet apart. He must then place torpedoes in the same manner in the opposite direction. Where there are two or more main tracks, signals must be place in both directions on all tracks affected. After the signals have been placed, flagman must return to the point of obstruction and remain until relieved by another flagman, except that it a train approaches, he must go toward it and flag it with hand signals.
Union Pacific Railroad Company. Operating Rules Effective May 1, 1972.
Rule 95. When large numbers of inexperienced men are working on the track, they should be divided into small squads, and each squad placed in charge of an experienced man, and all necessary additions precautions taken to prevent accident.
The Washington Terminal Company, Safety Rules for the Guidance of Employees, Effective February 1, 1934
Rule 40. Injectors on locomotives must not be started at places where anyone is liable to be scalded, and water must not be allowed to overflow from engines at station platforms.
The Washington Terminal Company, Safety Rules for the Guidance of Employees, Effective February 1, 1934.
Rule 256. Conductors report to and receive their instructions from the Train Master.
Rule 257. They must report for duty thirty minutes before leaving time and when necessary, assist in the switching and making up of their trains.
Grand Trunk Railway System, Operating Rules and General Regulations effective June 18, 1911.
Rule 169. (b) “Attend to lightning, warming, ventilation, cleaning and supplying of cars, and to closing of car doors; provide for the comfort and safety of passengers; see that they are directed to the proper cars, that seats are provided, and that women, children and infirm persons are assisted; protect them against rudeness, threatened violence, abusive or obscene language, or annoyance from intoxicated or quarrelsome persons.“
Northern Pacific Rules and Regulations effective June 1, 1899.
Rule 2. You will look your engine and tender over thoroughly at the end of each trip. You will be held responsible for the condition of the ash pan and smoke stack, and will see that they are in good order, so as to prevent the escape of fire, that would be liable to endanger the train or property upon the line of the road.
Rule 6. You will in no case allow the furnace door to be opened for the purpose of regulating the steam, but will, in all cases see that the damper is used for that purpose; as running with the furnace door open is very injurious to the tubes, and liable to set fires along the road.
Rule 10. You will in no case be allowed to carry more than 125 pounds of steam.
Source: Rules and Regulations to be observed by Locomotive Engineers in the employ of the Central Pacific Railroad Company March 1874. Written by A. J. Stevens, General Master Mechanic.
DCNRHS is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization founded in 1944 in the District of Columbia.
Copyright © 2000-2025 National Railway Historical Society, Washington, D.C. Chapter Inc.