On-track safety planning, insulated joint at CP West Birch Ford

The on-track safety plan, track and time request and track outage request are completed from defect 26-04187 on the Birch Subdivision. Eastward signal 2E at CP West Birch Ford, which the prefilled request used as the west limit, sits inside the work location and is rejected. The working limits run instead from CP Fernleaf to CP West Birch Ford and fit the work window on Tuesday, Nov 17.

Defect 26-04187, track inspection Nov 3, 2026Birch Subdivision, CP Fernleaf to CP West Birch Ford, MP 111.20 to MP 118.29Work windows Nov 16–22, 2026Prepared Nov 5, 2026

Summary

West limit

Signal 2E at CP West Birch Ford rejected as the west limit

The insulated joint is 20 ft east of eastward signal 2E (MP 118.20), and the hi-rail excavator sets on at the KY 319 crossing (MP 117.90). The work location, MP 117.89 to MP 118.22, includes the signal. The west limit moves to the eastward signals at CP Fernleaf, and the working limits grow from 0.09 to 7.09 miles.

Source: Work plan, p. 3, and track chart, sheet 1.

To confirm: the signal designations and the GCOR track and time terms have not been checked against the railroad's current timetable and operating rules. The railroad's engineering department should confirm the limits.

East limit

Siding signal 6W missing from the request

The request was prefilled from last year's switch tie job, when Birch Ford siding was out of service under separate track and time and only main-track signal 4W was needed. A westward move off the siding now goes through the CP switch into the limits, so both 4W and 6W must be blocked.

Source: Last year's track and time, p. 2, and track chart, sheet 2.

Protection and window

Exclusive track occupancy on Tuesday, Nov 17

Hi-rail equipment occupying the track and a cut rail rule out foul time and train approach warning, and controlled track rules out inaccessible track. The work needs 3 hr 40 min. The first work window that fits before the Nov 24 due date is 8:50 AM–12:55 PM on Tue, Nov 17 (4 hr 5 min).

Source: Work window schedule, Nov 16–22, and 49 CFR Part 214, Subpart C.

To confirm: the defect is a cracked joint bar on Class 3 track, which 49 CFR 213.121(b) requires to be replaced. Whether it may stand as Priority 2 until Nov 24 without an interim measure, such as a speed restriction, should be decided by the railroad's engineering department.

Working limits, on-track safety and completed forms

Switch between the forms as prefilled and the checked plan, or choose the limits and the on-track safety method yourself. The checks and the filled-in fields update as you go. Click a signal, the work location, the crossing or the defect on the track diagram to see the source.

Starting point
Time needed per the work plan
Signal, head points in the direction it governs Selected limit Work location Working limits Defect

The main track between CP Fernleaf and CP West Birch Ford is shortened in the diagram. Signals with a filled head can be selected as a limit.

Checks

    Source

    Completed forms

    The fields follow the choices above. Click the source tag on the right to see where each entry comes from.

    Sources and method

    Sources

    • BFS_Defect_26-04187_Birch_Sub_MP118.20.pdfTrack inspection defect report, Nov 3, 2026: insulated joint at signal 2E, CP West Birch Ford, Priority 2, due Nov 24, 20261 page
    • Birch_Sub_Track_Chart_MP110-121.pdfTrack chart with control points, signals, switches, the KY 319 crossing and mileposts, CP Fernleaf to CP East Birch Ford3 sheets
    • BFS_Timetable_7_Special_Instructions_Birch_Sub.pdfTimetable special instructions: single main track, CTC, timetable speed 40 mph, FRA Class 34 pages
    • Birch_Sub_Work_Windows_Nov16-22_2026.xlsxWork window schedule for Nov 16–22, built from the train lineup7 days
    • Work_Plan_Insulated_Joint_CP_West_Birch_Ford.pdfMethod, equipment, set-on point and time needed (Table 1)5 pages
    • Track_and_Time_CP_West_Birch_Ford_Switch_Ties_2025-09.pdfLast year's track and time for switch tie renewal at CP West Birch Ford, source of the prefilled limits6 pages
    • BFS_MW-201_On-Track_Safety_Plan.docxRailroad form for the on-track safety planform
    • BFS_MW-202_MW-205_Track_Time_and_Outage_Requests.docxRailroad forms for the track and time request and the track outage request2 forms
    • 49 CFR Part 214, Subpart C, Roadway Worker ProtectionWorking limits, exclusive track occupancy, foul time, train approach warning, inaccessible track and job briefingsFRA
    • General Code of Operating Rules (GCOR)Operating rules adopted by the railroad, including track and timeOperating rules
    • MUTCD Part 6, Temporary Traffic ControlTraffic control on KY 319 during hi-rail set-on and take-offFHWA

    Method

    1. The defect was read from the inspection report: location, component, condition, priority and due date.
    2. The work plan gave the method, equipment, set-on point and time needed. The work location runs from the set-on point at KY 319 to 100 ft east of the joint.
    3. Control points, signals, switches and mileposts came from the track chart. Each possible limit was tested: it must be outside the work location, and every route into the limits must be blocked.
    4. The on-track safety method was tested against the equipment and the work method under 49 CFR Part 214, Subpart C, and the railroad's GCOR operating rules.
    5. Work windows between CP Fernleaf and CP West Birch Ford for Nov 16–22 were compared with the time needed and the due date.
    6. The fields in forms MW-201, MW-202 and MW-205 were filled in with a source for each field. Last year's track and time was used only for comparison.

    Assumptions and limitations

    • Extra trains shown as possible in the train lineup are treated as running.
    • The 3 hr 40 min estimate assumes no wait for rail temperature before welding.
    • Signal locations are taken from the track chart and have not been verified in the field.
    • The roadway worker in charge confirms the limits and blocking devices with the train dispatcher before anyone fouls the track, and holds the job briefing on site.
    • A traffic control plan for KY 319 is not part of the source files and is prepared separately.
    • Priority 2 and the 21-day due date are the railroad's own scale; Part 213 has no priority classes. The plan describes no speed restriction or other interim measure for the cracked joint bar, so the railroad's engineering department should confirm the due date against 49 CFR 213.121(b) and 213.9(b).
    • The GCOR edition in force and the signal designations 2E, 4W and 6W are not verified. They should be checked against the railroad's current timetable and special instructions.