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Twin Cities Division Twin Cities Division 2014-2015 Winter Preparedness Plan The purpose of the 2014-2015 Winter Preparedness Plan is to establish a unified division protocol that provides an effective means of addressing the full spectrum of winter weather conditions the Twin Cities Division may encounter. This plan will identify procedures, priorities, and responsibilities for minimizing the impact caused by winter conditions. Revised: September 30, 2014 The Twin Cities Division Winter Preparedness Plan can be found on SharePoint/Transportation TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENT PAGE TWIN CITIES DIVISION WINTER PREPAREDNESS TEAM 4 WINTER CONDITION REPORTS 5 WINTER PREPARATIONS PLAN 6 WINTER OPERATIONS SUGGESTED TRAIN SIZE CHART 10 INVENTORY OF SNOW REMOVAL EQUIPMENT 11 EMERGENCY BALLAST SUPPLY/TRACK PANELS INVENTORY 16 INVENTORY AND LOCATION OF END OF TRAIN DEVICES 17 HIGHWAY OPERATIONS 18 HIGHWAY CONDITION BROADCAST 19 TERMINALS NORTHTOWN 20 NORTHSTAR COMMUTER 23 MIDWAY HUB 26 UNION YARD 27 DAYTONS BLUFF 28 SUPERIOR / DULUTH / ALLOUEZ 29 FARGO / DILWORTH 32 GRAND FORKS 34 MANDAN 36 WILLMAR 38 SIOUX CITY 41 SIOUX FALLS 43 ABERDEEN 45 OUTLYING POINTS 47 COLD WEATHER CREW CONSIDERATIONS 48 WINTER PREPAREDNESS – STEPS TO PREPARE FOR SAFE WINTER OPERATION (Frost Bite Hypothermia Snow Blindness) 51 WINTER WEATHER JSA – VEHICLE PREPARATION 54 FACILITY WINTER PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST 56 CALL OUT POLICY – TRACK LIGHTS OR RED SIGNAL REPORTS 58 2 SWITCH HEATERS / SIDINGS BY SUBDIVISION ABERDEEN 59 APPLETON 59 ALLOUEZ 59 BRAINERD 59 CASCO 60 DEVILS LAKE 60 GRAND FORKS 60 HILLSBORO 60 HINCKLEY 61 JAMESTOWN 62 KO 63 LAKES 65 MARSHALL 66 MITCHELL 66 MIDWAY 67 MOORHEAD 67 MORRIS 68 NOYES 68 PROSPER 68 STAPLES 69 ST PAUL 71 WAYZATA 72 TRAIN SPEED RESTRICTION – COLD WEATHER 73 OPERATIONS BELOW -100F 77 LOCOMOTIVE COLD WEATHER PROTECTION 78 WINTER FOOTWEAR POLICY 81 EMERGENCY GENERATORS 82 HOTEL LOCATOR 83 LESSONS LEARNED 86 3 Twin Cities Division 2014 - 2015 Winter Preparedness Plan INTRODUCTION The 2014- 2015 Winter Action Plan establishes the process to address predicted, and emergency, winter weather conditions on the Twin Cities Division. All employees will participate in Winter Awareness Job Safety Briefings or related marathon before November 1, 2014. The Winter Action Plan is in effect from November 1, 2014 - May 1, 2015. EMPOWERMENT GCOR 1.1.1 Maintaining a Safe Course In case of doubt or uncertainty, take the safe course. An Empowered Workforce Empowerment is about people making personal choices about risk and willing to stand up for their safety beliefs. Empowerment encompasses supervisors and employees taking ownership and responsibility for safety and having the courage to do what needs to be done for themselves and others safety. A safe working environment is everyone’s right. WINTER PREPAREDNESS TEAM Supt Ops, GM or GDT will activate Winter Contingency Plan. Upon notification of activation of Winter Action Plan, Corridor Superintendent will page the following team members when entering into Phase 2. Entering into Phase 3 or 4 requires at least 8 hours prior notice: Terminal Superintendent John T Wright Corridor Superintendent Jan Ruby Jr Superintendent Operations Bob Burn Superintendent Operations Sean Kilcullen Superintendent Operations Jon Taylor Superintendent Operations Dale Trepanier Asst Corridor Supt Lance E. Wolf Manager Crew Support Mia Blanchard Gen Dir Line Maintenance Douglas J. Jensen Dir of Maintenance Bob Rindy Division Engineer Keith Jones Division Engineer Todd Kuhn Division Engineer Steve Lyne Manager Signal Steve Phillips Asst Dir Maint. Prod. Karl Carson Manager Structures David Douglas Mgr Signal (D.L. & Mob MP805) Mont. Division Manager Mtce Excellence Chris Jordan Superintendent Ops Practices Mike Lund Hub Manager Justin Elijah Terminal Manager Northstar Jan Ruby Sr. If no response in 30” from team members, call cell then home numbers. Chief Dispatcher will notify the following individuals: Manager Telecomm Chris Stjern General Car Foreman II Carlos Canchola Shop Superintendent Jeff Kirby General Car Foremen I Bill Snider Superintendent Mechanical Larry Stover General Car Foremen I Mike Hale If no response in 30” from team members, call cell then home number. All Winter Contingency Plan conference calls held on BNSF line: 785-676-7065 - 315021# *6 to Mute & Unmute 1-800-539-0387 - 315021# 4 WEATHER CONDITION REPORTS State Weather/Road Conditions Web Address Iowa 1-515-288-1047 http://www.dot.state.ia.us/ National Weather Service http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/graphicsversion/rbigmain.html National Weather conditions (Radar Loop) http://www.intellicast.com National/State Weather conditions http://weatherchannel.com Interstate Road Conditions http://www.weather.com/activities/driving/interstate/?from=secondarynav Local detail http://www.weather.com/outlook/driving/interstate/map/interactive/56301?from=36hour_map_large&zoom=8&interactiveM apLayer=radar AccuWeather http://bnsf.aes.accuweather.com/ NOAA Storm Prediction Center http://www.spc.noaa.gov/ NOAACentral Region Weather http://www.crh.noaa.gov/crh/ State Weather/Road Conditions Web Address Minnesota http://weatherlook.net/mn.shtml National Weather Service http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/graphicsversion/rbigmain.html National Weather conditions (Radar Loop) http://www.intellicast.com National/State Weather conditions http://weatherchannel.com Local detail http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/driving/interstate/regional?reg=cn TWI DIVISION CORRIDOR SUPERINTENDENT Phone: 817-352-2761 (06:00 until 17:00) Cell: 817-578-6932 TWI DIVISION ASS’T CORRIDOR SUPERINTENDENT Phone: 817- 352-2761 (06:00 until 17:00) Cell: 817-219-9825 NORTH REGION AGST Phone: 817-352-2992 (24/7) TWI- NORTH CHIEF DISPATCHER TWI - SOUTH CHIEF DISPATCHER Phone: (817) 352-2948 Phone: (817) 352-2726 Fax: (817) 352-7093 Fax: (817) 352-7091 5 WINTER OPERATIONS PLAN PHASE 1 Winter weather consists of the prediction, or actual occurrence of: Snow accumulation 1" to 6" or freezing rain Sustained wind speed of <15 MPH. Action Plan - Minimal Maintenance of Way (MOW) force called out during daylight hours. Clean and sand all walkways and driveways in yard areas. Clean and sand major parking lots to keep access open. When snow ends, complete plowing operations will commence. Clean switches starting with 1) mainline, 2) yard, 3) industries; if needed. PHASE 2 Winter storm consists of the prediction, or actual occurrence of: Snow accumulation of 1" to 6" accompanied by sustained winds of 15 - 24 MPH or freezing rain Snow accumulation greater than 6" with no wind Action Plan Division wide conference call at 0830 and 1900 on 785-676-7065, code 315021# or 1-800-539-0387 to discuss current and anticipated operations status. Action plans for anticipated problem areas (local train operations, grain spotting & pulling) along with specific placement of men and equipment. Operations Responsibilities Initiate priority switch plan on affected subdivisions and or terminals Crew management Dead Head only by train, it is acceptable to pay held away to avoid deadheading Identify DH and Relief crews to be moved by Light engine DH and Relief crews moved by AMTRAK on Staples, Hillsboro and Devils Lake subdivisions Corridor superintendent & Chief Dispatcher’s Broadcasts and emails must include storm specifics such as: Trains impacted Priority routes Current and forecasted subdivision levels Anticipated hours in phase 2, or anticipated movement to phase 3 Priority meets for Northstar, AMTRAK and Z trains. Call Customers if an industry switch is required during the current weather conditions Engineering Responsibilities M/W employees providing call out as needed, work force shifts within DOT hours of service, (11 hours). M/W employees may be prepositioned at Priority switches Secure lodging as necessary and coordinate positioning with Division Managers and Roadmasters. Signal Responsibilities Respond to power off calls with backup generators Identify & position Electrical rapid response trailers for stand-by power Send maintainers home, secure lodging, to avoid HOS issues Mechanical Responsibilities Ready 2 engines, lead qualified back-to-back, for shuttle service in impacted areas Diesel Shop/Roundhouse – ensure calcium chloride, brooms are available on Road & Switch engines 6 PHASE 3 Winter storm consists of the prediction, or actual occurrence of: Blizzard conditions or continued heavy snow accumulations of more than 6" in a 24 hour period or sustained wind conditions greater than 25 - 34 MPH. Employees may have difficulty getting to/from work. In most instances, phase 3 will be territory specific, i.e. a terminal or subdivision. Please follow appropriate protocol for individual terminals and subdivisions. Action Plan 24 hour command center activated in Santa Fe conf. room, Division GOB (operations, track, and signal) Pre-notify NOC and division officers of command center start up time at least 8 hours in advance Open conference bridge Establish directional running and/or fleeting when feasible Command center communicates with NOC, and adjacent divisions. Discussion items include: Develop train operating plan to avoid placing our employees at risk Reduction or Suspension of local and yard operations Modification of Power swaps, cut-off engines Specific review of terminating coal trains and Utility receiving tracks Review all intermodal block swaps and switching for Midway, Minot, Dilworth Modification of switching, blocking, bypass trains to adjacent locations Train holding locations with access for startup
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