Railroad Accident Report 92-01/Appendixes

APPENDIXES

APPENDIX A
INVESTIGATION AND HEARING/DEPOSITION

Investigation

At 9 a.m. on December 12, 1990, the Federal Railroad Administration notified the National Transportation Safety Board of the derailment and collision of Amtrak train 66 with MBTA commuter train 906 at Back Bay station in Boston, Massachusetts. An investigator from the Eastern regional office arrived on scene at 1:30 p.m., an investigator-in-charge and the Safety Board investigative team were dispatched from Washington, D C Safety Board investigators examined operations, track, mechanical components, event recorders, signals, survival factors, and human performance issues.

The Federal Railroad Administration, the State of Massachusetts, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and the City of Boston Fire Department assisted in this investigation.

Hearing/Deposition

On March 21 and 22, 1991, the Safety Board staff conducted a deposition proceeding in Boston Twelve witnesses testified.

APPENDIX B
PERSONNEL INFORMATION

Willis E Copeland

The 53-year-old locomotive engineer of Amtrak train 66 began working for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad in August 1957 and was promoted to locomotive engineer in October 1969. He operated in the same territory for his entire career. In September 1976, Amtrak hired him in a supervisory position as a road foreman, and in January 1983, employed him as a locomotive engineer. He had been working his regular assignment since the end of October 1990.

Richard L Abramson

The 41-year-old apprentice engineer on Amtrak train 66 was in the OJT phase of the Amtrak locomotive engineer training program. In June 1990, he entered the locomotive engineer training program; in November 1990, he completed physical characteristics qualification on two routes, the engineer training school, and simulator training; and in December 1990, he entered the OJT phase. Before entering the locomotive engineer training program, he had been employed as an engine attendant at New Haven, Connecticut.

APPENDIX C
OUTLINE OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER TRAINING PROGRAM

AMTRAK	PROGRAM NUMBER:	OEL-101
HRD - 05/87	PROGRAM LENGTH:	20-25 WKS
REV - 07/89	NO. OF UNITS:	17

LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER TRAINING PROGRAM
MASTER SHEET

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The Locomotive Engineer Training program prepares participants to become qualified locomotive engineers. The program consists of four phases.

Phase I is six to nine weeks in length and is primarily classroom activity presented by Human Resources Development (HRD). The variance in the Phase I length is because participants from Zones 1 and 2 require additional instruction on electric locomotives and NORAC operating rules. Participants are required to complete courses on Rules, Signals, the Diesel Engine, Head-End Power (HEP), Air Brakes, and Train Handling. Safety education is an integral part of each course. Upon successful completion of these courses, each participant is given instruction and laboratory experience on a locomotive simulator. Each lesson in Phase I concludes with a quiz and/or work exercises which are used to review the unit and evaluate the participant's understanding and ability. After each major unit (diesel, air brake and simulator, rules, etc.), there is a final examination and/or a list of exercises which must be completed. A minimum grade of 85% is required to pass each of these major unit exams. Upon successful completion of Phase I, the participant becomes an Engineer Trainee.

Phase II training varies in length and is carried out on each engineer trainee's home division. Each trainee is required to qualify on physical characteristics over designated portions of the home railroad within an allotted time frame. During this phase, they are under the supervision of and are evaluated and monitored by the division road foreman or his/her designee.

Phase III lasts a minimum, often longer, of twelve weeks and consists of on the job train handling (OJTH). During this phase, the engineer trainee is assigned to a Promoted Engineer selected by the division who functions as an engineer instructor. The trainee is required to operate the train frequently and for progressively increasing intervals. After each trip, the trainee is evaluated by his/her Engineer Instructor. Biweekly, the engineer trainee is evaluated by his/her road foreman who sends copies of the evaluations to HRD for training documentation and program evaluation. Upon successful completion of Phase III, the road foreman contacts the Transportation Training Group to arrange for the trainee's final evaluation (Phase IV).

Phase IV consists of final evaluation of the trainee on a locomotive simulator and begins only when the road foreman judges that the trainee is sufficiently prepared. A member of the Transportation Training Group administers and evaluates the trainee's performance on the simulator. (NOTE: This final evaluation is not administered before the end of the 12th week of OJTH.) If the trainee successfully completes this final evaluation, he/she will return to his/her home division as a qualified engineer and be ready to complete any further qualification requirements of the home railroad (e.g., whatever is necessary to become a promoted engineer). If the trainee does not successfully complete the final evaluation, he/she returns to the home division and is given additional running time. Length of time will depend upon availability of runs to make and train handling deficiencies. At the end of this additional time, the trainee is reevaluated on the simulator. If the trainee does not successfully complete the second evaluation, he/she is disqualified unless otherwise specified in contractual agreements.

Upon completion of the Locomotive Engineer Training Program, each participant is presented a Qualification Card and Certificate of Achievement.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:

After successfully completing this program, each participant will be able to:

1. Operate an Amtrak passenger locomotive efficiently, safely and in accordance with Amtrak and home railroad operating rules and novel requirements;
2. Troubleshoot and take corrective action for enroute mechanical and electrical malfunctions; and
3. Be a positive influence on passengers and fellow employees through personal behavior and support of Amtrak's mission and management philosophy.

PROGRAM OUTLINE:

PHASE I

Unit I.

INTRODUCTION

1. New Employee Orientation
2. Duties and Responsibilities
3. Course Overview and Requirements
4. Customer Service
5. Personal Safety

Unit II.

NORAC—OPERATING RULES

1. Definitions
2. Signals
3. General
4. Manual Block System
5. Automatic Block System
6. Cab Signals
7. Interlocking
8. Radio
9. Track Out-of-Service
10. Miscellaneous

Unit III.

DIESEL ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES

1. Orientation
2. Types
3. Amtrak's Fleet

Unit IV.

DIESEL ENGINE

1. Description
2. Fuel System
3. Lubrication System
4. Cooling System
5. Governor

Unit V.

RUNNING GEAR

1. Trucks
2. Draft Gear
3. Alignment Control
4. Troubleshooting

Unit VI.

BASIC ELECTRICITY

1. Electron Theory
2. Magnetism
3. Elctro-Magnets
4. Electrical Circuits
5. Electrical Problems

Unit VIII.

GENERATORS

1. General Information
2. Elementary Generators
3. Control of Output
4. Alternators and Rectifers
5. Review

Unit VIII.

HIGH VOLTAGE SYSTEMS

1. Types
2. Amperage/Voltage
3. Wheel Slip System
4. Motoring
5. Transition
6. Dynamic Braking
7. Review

Unit IX

LOW VOLTAGE SYSTEMS

1. Description
2. Sources
3. Starting Systems
4. Sanding System
5. Central Air System

Unit X.

HEAD-END POWER (HEP)

1. Description
2. Trainline
3. Basic Rules

Unit XI.

INSPECTIONS AND REPORTS

1. Requirements
2. Forms
3. Daily Inspection

Unit XII.

AIR BRAKES

1. Orientation
2. Basic Principles
3. Compressors and Main Reservoirs
4. 26-L Locomotive Brake System
5. Car Brake Systems
6. Train Air Brake Tests
7. Speed Control/Cab Signals
8. Train Handling

Unit XIII.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION

1. Introduction
2. Case Studies
3. Emergency Procedures

Unit XIV.

TRAIN HANDLING ON THE SIMULATOR

1. Orientation
2. Territory
3. Equipment
4. Track
5. Signals
6. Consist Characteristics
7. Safety
8. Starting
9. Backing Up
10. Stopping
11. Speed Control
12. Enroute Troubleshooting
13. Evaluation

PHASE II - PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. Orientation
1. Overview of Territory
2. Emergency Evacuation Review

2. Track (Main Line Layout, Spurs, Cut Outs, Sidings, Crossings, Crossovers, Grades, Mileposts, etc.)
3. Signals
4. Bridges
5. Landmarks
7. Traffic (Freight, Passenger Railroad, Passeneger Car, Pedestrians, etc.)
8. Safety Emphasis
10. Evaluation

PHASE III - ON THE JOB TRAIN HANDLING (OJTH)

1. Review of Locomotive Operation

B.1 Hands on Training

B.2 Review of Enroute Troubleshooting Procedures

B.3 Review of Emergency Procedures

B.4 Review of Physical Characteristics

B.5 Review of Operating Rules

B.6 Review of Personal Safety

B.7 Review of Orientation to Amtrak

3. OJTH and Review Evaluation

PHASE IV - FINAL EVALUATION

1. Introduction
2. Practice on Simulator

C.1	Evaluation - Performance
C.2	Evaluation - Written
D.1	Simulator Results Analysis (with Trainee)
D.2	Reschedule OJTH, if necessary

QUALIFICATION CARD AND CERTIFICATE

Participants completing the program are presented with a qualification card to carry with them and a certificate of achievement suitable for framing

OEL-101
INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES

MEDIA

Workbooks and Manuals, 1 per participant:

1. Locomotive Operating Manuals (AEM-7, E-60, P-30, F-40)
2. F-40 Workbook
3. Locomotive Safety Standards & Locomotive Inspection
4. F-40 Troubleshooting Guide

Handouts, 1 per participant:

1. Rules - Hours Service Law, Form D, Car Defects
2. Air Brake Diagrams (various)
3. Programmed Instruction Booklets for Signal Indications and Signal Aspects
4. Amtrak Electrified Territory

Overhead Transparencies

1. Rule Situations
2. Air Brake Diagrams
3. Catenary System
4. Equipment

Videotapes:

1. Getting On and Off Equipment
2. Walking or Standing on Track
3. Diesels Working on the Railroad
4. ABC's of the Diesel Engine
5. Principles of Electricity
6. AC-DC Generation
7. ABC's of Traction Motor Flashover

Films:

1. NEC Trains (filmed from locomotive exterior and cab of AEM-7)

Slides/Slidetapes:

1. Fundamentals of Air Brake
2. Train Air Brake Tests
3. Locomotive Air Brake Inspection
4. 26-L Locomotive Brake
5. 26-L Locomotive Brake Test
6. Catenary Safety

Filmstrips/LaBelle:

1. Emergency Evacuation

Other (Audio Tapes, Prepared Flipcharts, etc.)

1. AEM-7
2. F-40
3. P-30

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

_X_	Overhead Projector	_X_	Projection Screen
_X_	Overhead Transparency Markers	_X_	Blank Transparency Acetate
_X_	Video Monitor & VCR (Circle One: 1/2" 3/4)	___	Video Camera & Microphones
_X_	Caramate Type Synchronized Sound/Slide Projector	_X_	16mm Film Projector
___	Audio Cassette Player/Recorder	_X_	Carousel Type Slide Projector
_X_	Flipchart Stands & Pads	_X_	LaBelle Projector
___	Contempo Board & Markers	___	Audio Recorder Microphones
_X_	Magic Markers for Flicharts	_X_	Chalkboard & Chalk
___	Other (Supplies, Tools, Meters, etc.):

• Tent Cards/Name Tags
• Enrollment Forms
• Writing Pads
• No. 2 Pencils

INSTRUCTOR REFERENCE MATERIALS

1. Code of Federal Regulations (FRA Part 232)
2. Management of Train Operation and Train Handling
3. NORAC Operating Rules
4. Air Brake and Train Handling (AMT-3)
5. Electrical Operating Instructions (AMT-2)
6. Safety Rules for Transportation Employees
7. Timetable Special Instructions
8. WABCO 26-1 Locomotive Brake Equipment
9. Air Brake Certification Manual (MCB-103)

ARCHIVE LOCATION: Amtrak Training Center, Wilmington, DE

REQUESTED BY:

1. Peter Cannito
   General Manager, Transportation

PRIMARY DEVELOPMENT AND CONTENT EXPRESS:

1. S. M. Cavalier, Mgr., Engr. Trng.
2. J. W. Gilfillan, Sr. Director
3. S. E. Pahl, Sr. Instructor
4. R. R. Peterson, Sr. Instructor

APPROVED BY:

1. P. J. Willis Director, Psgr. Serv. and Trans. Trng.
2. G. R. Tomey Sr. Instructor Human Res. Dev.
3. P. A. Cannito Gen. Manager