Track warrants What are they ? in Tales of the Jointed Track

I was asked by a reader, Track warrants what are they, and why do you need them? A real good question . When I write, I sometimes think, yeah ya know. No you don't, and ask me and I'll do a glossary. Railroaders.. lol all ya all don't railroad?. Shame on ya .. It's better ya didn't, for sanity purposes.

Warrant or a Track Warrant is your authority to occupy the main-line. In Non Signaled or "Dark" territory, you are given specific instruction and the amount of track you will operate on.

IE; The warrant could read X in Box 2 "Proceed from the East YL Yard limits Walsenburg to MP 153.3 on the main 2 track Spanish Peaks Subdivision. Upon reaching MP 153.3, you have to stop, unless the dispatcher grants more track authority.

This is the train we are following, these are their limits

There might be a train occupying the track limits past 153.3. Let's say the train ahead clears the limits, or is requested, to "Roll Up" a little more track behind them. The Ds (dispatcher) will ask BNSF 9699 North, what is the Mile Post (MP) you train is clear of. "DS BNSF 9699 on track warrant 447-18 is clear of Mile Post MP 133." "BNSF 9699 North clear of Mile Post MP 133 is that correct" "Engineer Jones verifies train is clear of MP 133". Okay that has open up about 20 miles of track. The trains are moving, and the DS will issue the following for the train cleared to MP 153.3 A location will be asked and will report the following. DS to BNSF 4202 North, what MP are you clear of? "BNSF 4202 is clear of MP 146, The verification process is repeated, and the warrant follows.

"Make this track Warrant 447-26 ( numbers then spelled out) 4-4-7 Dash 2-6. X in Box one 447-22 is void ( that was our original from YL Walsenburg to 153.3) X in Box 2 Proceed from Mile Post MP 146 to Mile Post MP 133 Main 2 track Spanish Peaks Subdivision. This will be repeated by the Conductor, and an OKAY time issued. Track Warrant 447-26 is OK at 1037 DS BFH That is repeated now there's your new authority.

the new warrant giving us authority to proceed from the limits given.

The DS can now issue another set of limits to MP 146, for another train showing at Walsenburg.

Also if signaled, train can operate under the same limits, because the train is protected by track side signals. say there are four trains northward. Each will get a warrant and the warrant numbers change, to signify each operating train . You could get a warrant X Box 2 Proceed from CTC Palmer Lake to CTC Littleton on the Main 2 track on the Pikes Peak Subdivision .

I was asked about the term flimsies, these were a thin tissue paper like pages, that were "Train Orders" when I hired out. I have some and will show what those were like on the BN and the Santa Fe. I might have some Rio Grandes as well. I'll make a new page. Again thanks for reading