General Code of Operating Rules
Encyclopedia
The General Code of Operating Rules (GCOR) is a set of operating rules for railroads in the United States
. The GCOR is used by nearly every Class I railroad
west of the Mississippi River
, most of the Class II railroad
s, and many Short-line railroads.
Some railroads in northeast United States follow NORAC, while Canada
and Mexico
have their own set of operating rules that govern their railroad operations.
. The rules cover employee responsibilities, signaling equipment, procedures for safe train movement, dealing with accidents and other topics that directly and indirectly affect railroad safety. Some railroads modify the GCOR rules to suit their specific operations.
The GCOR is supplemented by System Special Instructions, Timetables, Hazardous Materials Instructions, Air Brake and Train Handling Instructions, and General Orders. These documents are issued by each individual railroad. System Special instructions, Timetables, and General Order can modify or amend the General Code of Operating Rules. GCOR 1.3.2 states that General Orders replace any rule, special instruction, or regulation that conflicts with the general order.
Most railroads are using the Sixth Edition, Effective April 7, 2010.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The GCOR is used by nearly every Class I railroad
Class I railroad
A Class I railroad in the United States and Mexico, or a Class I rail carrier in Canada, is a large freight railroad company, as classified based on operating revenue.Smaller railroads are classified as Class II and Class III...
west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, most of the Class II railroad
Class II railroad
A Class II railroad in the United States is a mid-sized freight-hauling railroad, in terms of its operating revenue. , a railroad with revenues greater than $20.5 million but less than $277.7 million for at least three consecutive years is considered a Class II railroad...
s, and many Short-line railroads.
Some railroads in northeast United States follow NORAC, while Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
have their own set of operating rules that govern their railroad operations.
Overview
The GCOR rules are intended to enhance railroad safetySafety
Safety is the state of being "safe" , the condition of being protected against physical, social, spiritual, financial, political, emotional, occupational, psychological, educational or other types or consequences of failure, damage, error, accidents, harm or any other event which could be...
. The rules cover employee responsibilities, signaling equipment, procedures for safe train movement, dealing with accidents and other topics that directly and indirectly affect railroad safety. Some railroads modify the GCOR rules to suit their specific operations.
The GCOR is supplemented by System Special Instructions, Timetables, Hazardous Materials Instructions, Air Brake and Train Handling Instructions, and General Orders. These documents are issued by each individual railroad. System Special instructions, Timetables, and General Order can modify or amend the General Code of Operating Rules. GCOR 1.3.2 states that General Orders replace any rule, special instruction, or regulation that conflicts with the general order.
Most railroads are using the Sixth Edition, Effective April 7, 2010.
Categories
The full set of GCOR rules is divided into 17 categories.- General Responsibilities
- Railroad Radio Rules
- Standard TimeStandard timeStandard time is the result of synchronizing clocks in different geographical locations within a time zone to the same time rather than using the local meridian as in local mean time or solar time. Historically, this helped in the process of weather forecasting and train travel. The concept...
- Timetables
- SignalsRailway signalA signal is a mechanical or electrical device erected beside a railway line to pass information relating to the state of the line ahead to train/engine drivers. The driver interprets the signal's indication and acts accordingly...
and Their Use - Movement of TrainTrainA train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
s and EnginesLocomotiveA locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th... - SwitchingShunt (railway operations)Shunting, in railway operations, involves the process of sorting items of rolling stock into complete train sets or consists. The United States terminology is "switching"....
- SwitchesRailroad switchA railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction....
- Block System Rules
- Rules Applicable only in Centralized Traffic ControlCentralized traffic controlCentralized traffic control is a form of railway signalling that originated in North America and centralizes train routing decisions that were previously carried out by local signal operators or the train crews themselves. The system consists of a centralized train dispatcher's office that...
(CTC) - Rules Applicable in ACS and ATS Territory
- Rules Applicable only in Automatic Train StopAutomatic Train StopAn automatic train stop is a system on a train that will automatically stop a train if certain situations happened to prevent accidents from happening....
(ATS) Territory - Rules Applicable only in Automatic Cab SignalCab signallingCab signalling is a railway safety system that communicates track status information to the cab, crew compartment or driver's compartment of a locomotive, railcar or multiple unit, where the train driver or engine driver can see the information....
(ACS) Territory - Rules Applicable only within Track Warrant ControlTrack warrantTrack warrants are systematized permissions used on some railroad lines to authorize a train's use of the main line. Dispatchers issue these permissions to train crews instead of using signals. The crews receive track warrants by radio, phone, or electronic transmission from a...
(TWC) Limits - Track Bulletin Rules
- Rules Applicable only in Direct Traffic ControlDirect traffic controlDirect Traffic Control is a system for authorizing track occupancy used on some railroads instead of or in addition to signals. It is known as "direct" traffic control because the train dispatcher gives track authority directly to the train crew via radio, as opposed to through wayside personnel...
(DTC) Territory - Rules Applicable Only in Automatic Train ControlAutomatic Train ControlAutomatic Train Control is a train protection system for railways, ensuring the safe and smooth operation of trains on ATC-enabled lines. Its main advantages include making possible the use of cab signalling instead of track-side signals and the use of smooth deceleration patterns in lieu of the...
(ATC) Territory
See Also
- Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee
- Canadian Rail Operating RulesCanadian Rail Operating RulesThe Canadian Rail Operating Rules is a set of operating rules for railways in Canada. The CROR is used by every Canadian railway.-Overview:The CROR rules are intended to enhance railway safety...