Use of 2-way radios on railroad frequencies shall be limited to the following situations...
-Life Threatening Health Emergencies
-Catastrophic Mechanical Failure
-Fire
-Criminal Acts
The correct way to initiate a message to the train crew by a private car radio operator on railroad frequencies is to say... "Private car (name) to the crew of Train #
We have an emergency!... Acknowledge?"
Always check with the Conductor or train crew of the train about opening the top vestibule Dutch Doors. The occupancy of observation decks and open platforms of any Private Rail Car is prohibited while moving.
Please show courtesy and respect to railroad employees. All of us are "guests" of the railroad and a favorable impression of the private car owner and passengers is vital to our continued enjoyment of riding the rails. Your insistence of proper conduct and behavior will reflect to the railroads your concern for the welfare of your passengers. Remember that we're all in this together.
A clarification from the owner of the Tioga Pass private railcar I rode over Tehachapi Pass to the thread was as follows....
The rules quoted were apparently sent to AAPRCO and RPCA for comment. They are NOT in effect yet. Those organizations and others are actively pressing Amtrak to back off on imposing these rules, because there have been almost no reported injuries in the past few years by passengers on private cars. IN short, these rules are not needed, but perhaps intended to accomplish a bigger purpose.....
I hope this is not put into effect. It is a big selling point for private railcars and would be the end of an era. Welcome to the modern world of risk management and liability even though the railcar's owner has private insurance on the car that allows being on the open deck while moving.
Since I can watch a LIVE stream and control my back porch mounted camorder through an app on my iPhone using wifi from inside the railcar, I still would have been able to record this video had the rule been in effect. But it would have robbed me and the others of the privilege of riding the rails in the open air that has been a tradition since the dawn of passenger railroading. I just feel lucky to have been able to do it.
