BNSF-Conductor wrote:So very true, I think someone making a call home while sitting at a red or checking the weather on their cell phone is perfectly acceptable, But there is a time and place.. I think they are just turning us all into robots...slowly but surely ... apparently thanks to the new laws placed into effect because of some moron locomotive engineer we must all suffer the consequences.
I'm probably missing something ... the rules seem to be permissive enough to allow the call when stopped as long as no crew member is on the ground or preparing the train for movement:
Sec. 220.303 General use of electronic devices.
A railroad operating employee shall not use an electronic device if that use would interfere with the employee's or another railroad operating employee's performance of safety-related duties. No individual in the cab of a controlling locomotive shall use an electronic device if that use would interfere with a railroad operating employee's performance of safety-related duties.
Sec. 220.305 Use of personal electronic devices.
A railroad operating employee must have each personal electronic device turned off with any earpiece removed from the ear--
(a) When on a moving train;
(b) When any member of the crew is--
(1) On the ground, or
(2) Riding rolling equipment during a switching operation; or
(c) When any railroad employee is assisting in preparation of the train for movement.
Railroad supplied devices are less restricted.
The rules of the specific railroad would also apply ... but unless the train is considered moving while stopped there seems to be a loophole.
(The actual new rules are at the bottom of the page linked from the article.
Direct link.)