GCOR - General Code of Operating Rules Securing Unattended Equipment Questions and Answers

Question 1

A crew must leave a cut of 20 cars unattended on a track with a slight grade. According to GCOR 7.6, which of the following is the most critical and required action?

Accepted Answer

Apply a sufficient number of hand brakes and then release the air brakes to verify the equipment is secure.

Answer

GCOR 7.6 explicitly prohibits depending on air brakes alone to secure unattended equipment, as they can leak off over time. The rule requires applying a "sufficient number" of hand brakes to prevent movement and then verifying they are holding by releasing the air brakes.

Question 2

When determining a 'sufficient' number of hand brakes to apply on unattended equipment, which of the following set of factors must be considered?

Accepted Answer

The track grade, weather conditions, and tonnage of the cars.

Answer

GCOR requires a performance-based approach to securing equipment. Employees must evaluate conditions that could cause movement, such as the steepness of the track (grade), wind (weather), and the weight of the cars (tonnage), to determine how many hand brakes are sufficient to hold the equipment safely.

Question 3

A train crew is leaving their entire train, with locomotives attached, on a main track siding. In this specific situation, which method of securement is permitted that is normally prohibited for unattended cars?

Accepted Answer

Depending on the automatic air brake system without applying hand brakes.

Answer

While GCOR 7.6 generally prohibits relying on air brakes, an exception exists when the engine(s) remain attached to the equipment. In this case, the locomotive's air compressors keep the brake system charged, preventing the pressure from bleeding off and making the air brake system a reliable means of securement.

Question 4

After a crew member applies hand brakes on a cut of cars and releases the air, they observe the cars begin to roll slightly. What is the immediate and correct action required by GCOR?

Accepted Answer

Apply additional hand brakes until the equipment is fully secured against movement.

Answer

The observation of movement after releasing the air brakes is a failed test, indicating that an insufficient number of hand brakes have been applied. The correct procedure is to continue applying hand brakes and re-testing until it is proven that the hand brakes alone are sufficient to hold the equipment.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is the most accurate summary of the GCOR rule regarding the minimum number of hand brakes to be applied to unattended equipment?

Accepted Answer

A sufficient number must be applied to prevent movement, based on prevailing conditions.

Answer

GCOR 7.6 uses performance-based language, requiring an employee to apply a "sufficient number of hand brakes to prevent movement." It does not specify a universal minimum number or percentage, as the requirements change drastically based on factors like grade and weather.

GCOR - General Code of Operating Rules Practice Test

GCOR - General Code of Operating Rules Practice Test

GCOR - General Code of Operating Rules Securing Unattended Equipment Questions and Answers