G FIRST TENTATIVE DRAFT * ; ••f. V r- : J : r%': INSTRUCTIONS FOR FIELD WORK OF THE SIGNAL BRANCH OF THE ENGINEERING SECTION • OF THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION DIVISION OF VALUATION 1 WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRUNING OFFICE 1916 FIRST TENTATIVE DRAFT INSTRUCTIONS FOR FIELD WORK OF THE SIGNAL BRANCH OF THE ENGINEERING SECTION OF THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION DIVISION OF VALUATION WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1916 INTRODUCTORY LETTER. To railway carriers: This circular contains the first tentative draft of instructions for the guidance of the signal branch of the Interstate Commerce Commission engaged in the preparation of an inventory of the fixed physical property of railway carriers. Suggestions and criticisms are invited from all interested parties, and may be pre¬ sented either through the medium of committees or individually. All such communi¬ cations should be filed with the Commission not later than May 1,1916. C. A. Prouty, Director. January 3, 1916. 18454—16 (3) SYNOPSIS. I. General Information. 1. Intent. 2. Valuation act. 3. Classification of investment in road and equipment. 4. Instructions to other branches. 5. Inventory forms. 6. Carrier's plans and other data. 7. Carrier's representative. II. Organization. 8. Senior signal engineer. 9. Signal party. III. Duties of Personnel. 10. Senior signal engineer. 11. Signal engineer. IV. General Instructions. 12. Property to be inventoried. 13. Modification of instructions. 14. Form of notes. 15. Abandoned property. 16. Condition of property. V. Special Instructions. 17. Account 27. Signals and interlockers. 18. Account 15. Crossings and signs. 19. Account 10. Other track material. [FIRST TENTATIVE DRAFT.] SIGNAL BRANCH OF THE ENGINEERING SECTION. INSTRUCTIONS FOR FIELD WORK. I. GENERAL INFORMATION. 1. Intent. These instructions are intended to describe the field work to be done by the signal branch of the Division of Valuation of the Interstate Commerce Commission under the valuation act of March 1, 1913, and to*set forth specifically the information to be ascertained and recorded. 2. Valuation Act. A copy of the act will be furnished signal parties for reference and general instruc¬ tion as to the scope of the work. i 3. Classification of Investment in Road and Equipment. A copy of classification of accounts will be furnished signal parties as an aid to the classification of physical property of carriers, and to which the inventory shall conform as nearly as practicable. 4. Instructions to Other Branches. Copies of instructions to field parties of other branches will be furnished to signal parties for information as to what work is to be done by other branches in order to avoid any unnecessary duplication of field inspections and inventories. 5. Inventory Forms. A set of inventory forms for assembling data will be furnished signal parties, which shall be studied and consulted to show the ultimate form and extent of infor¬ mation required for valuation. 6. Carrier's Plans and Other Data. Each signal party will be furnished such plans and other data as may be available to assist in making the inventory. 7. Carrier's Representative. In general, a representative of the carrier who is familiar with the property under survey will accompany each signal party. The carrier's representative will cooperate with the signal party in identifying, measuring, and making a record of the physical property. II. ORGANIZATION. 8. Senior Signal Engineer. The senior signal engineer in each district shall be responsible, through the district engineer, to the member of the engineering board in charge, for the work of the signal department. 9. Signal Party. The field inspections and inventories* of the signal branch will be made by a signal party consisting of one signal engineer. (7) 8 III. DUTIES OF PERSONNEL. 10. Senior Signal Engineer. The senior signal engineer shall, when practicable, prior to placing signal parties in the field, make a general inspection of the property to be inventoried and of the carrier's records pertinent thereto. He shall secure through proper channels from the carrier such plans^ specifications, and other records of signal property as are available and shall ascertain the complete¬ ness of this data for the purpose in hand. He shall at all times direct the field work and keep the signal parties fully advised as to what work is necessary in order that the fiel 1 measurements and inspections may be reduced to a minimum. 11. Signal Engineer. The signal engineer shall record in prescribed notebooks all data relating to the quantity, character, and condition of the property inventoried. He shall consider with the representative of the carrier such matters as character, extent, age, and actual condition of the property, and any special condition affecting cost, and shall note where the two agree. "Where they do not agree, the views of each shall be record ed. IV. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS. 12. Property to be Inventoried. The signal parties, unless otherwise directed, shall inspect and inventory all prop¬ erty classified under road and equipment account No. 27, signals and interlockers. and such items related to signals and similar property as may be assigned which are classified under accounts Nos. 10 and 15. 13. Modification of Instructions. These instructions shall not be modified except upon written authority of the member of the engineering board in charge. 14. Form of Notes. All notes of signal parties shall be made in duplicate upon prescribed loose-leaf forms. The original copies shall be forwarded to the district office, and the carbon duplicates shall be disposed of as may be directed. Each sheet shall show the date of inventory, the names of owner or owners, the valuation section number, the names of the signal engineer in charge, and of the carrier's representative. The sheets of notes shall be numbered consecutively for each valuation section. Cross reference shall be made in the field notes to the plans of the carrier in order to identify such notes with the plans. In case of change or correction of the original notes, no erasures shall be made, but this shall be done by crossing out the incorrect and inserting the correct notes. 15. Abandoned Property. "Where the carrier files claims on account of abandoned property, the signal party shall make such investigation of same as may be directed. All notes of abandoned property shall be kept separately from those of property not abandoned. 16. Condition of Property. The signal engineer shall make notes on the condition of all property which it is his duty to inventory. The notes shall generally be made in accordance with the following outline: (a) Age. Ascertain, where practicable, year of construction, installation, or"purchase of the property, and whether at that date the property was new or second-hand. If used prior to its present service, give such facts as may be obtained as to length and nature of service elsewhere. State source of data. 9 (b) Wear and decay. Record such facts as to wear and decay as may be practicable from field obser¬ vations. (c) Maintenance. Record whether maintenance is normal; that is, if the standard of maintenance prevailing is such as to secure the average service life from the property. If the maintenance is above or below normal, give facts on which conclusion is based. Where extensive or unusual repairs are needed to put property in serviceable condition, note such facts in detail. (d) Probable service life. Record any local condition which may operate to shorten or lengthen the service life of the property as compared with average service life of similar prop¬ erty elsewhere. Record any evidence which may be ascertained in the field as to the inadequacy or obsolescence of the property. Where any definite field evidence can be ascertained as to the probable remaining service life of units of property, note shall be made of same. V. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS. 17. Account No. 27—Signals and Interlockers. The signal party shall inventory all property classified under this account. The following general information shall be recorded: For each interlocker or other signal apparatus: Names and number as indicated by the carrier's records; name of manufacturer; by whom installed; and other data which can be obtained in regard to material changes made since installation. The following detail information shall also be recorded for (a) Interlocking machines: Type (mechanical, electromechanical, electro- pneumatic, pneumatic, electric, etc.); kind of locking, type of lead-out (vertical or horizontal); number of working levers; number of spare levers; number of spare spaces; and special attachments. (b) Lever locks: Type and description. (c) Circuit controllers: Type and number of contacts. (d) Floor pushes: Type and method of support. (e) Indicators, annunciators, relays, and similar apparatus: Type; number of fingers; resistance of windings; and special features. (/) Slow and emergency releases: Type and number of normal and reverse con¬ tacts. (,g) Lightning arresters, terminals, knife switches, and similar apparatus: Type and manufacturer's reference. (h) Batteries: Primary or secondary, with such description as may be necessary for purpose of complete identification, classification, and inventory. (i) Battery, relay, indicator, and other types of shelters and supports. (j) Resistances, rheostats, and similar apparatus: Type, size, and capacity. (7c) Tower lead-out: Type, with such further description as may be necessary for complete identification, classification, and inventory. (7) Mechanical pipe and wire runs and ground connections: Type and classified • quantities. (Where pipe and wire are contained in oil runs record the special fittings, depth under ground, and other conditions affecting cost of construction.) (m) Switch and derail connections: Type, size, and length of detector bar; num¬ ber and kind of clips, cranks, and gauge plates. (n) Crossing bars: Type; size; length; number and kind of clips, cranks and other connections. (o) Signals: Type; kind and dimension of pole; kind of spectacle casting; and how operated. 10 (p) Outlying switch loclcs: Type, and description of mechanical connections. (q) Foundations: Kind and quantities. (r) Electric wire runs, wire and cable: Kind, size, and length. (Note where wires or cables are laid in pitch and where placed under ground; note depth below surface, character of ducts and how laid.) (s) Aerial lines: Length, size, and kind of single wires or cables; poles and fittings; size and number of conductors; character of insulation; number and kind of cable supports. (t) Power-plant equipment: Types, number, and description. (u) Air-pipe runs: Length, size, and kind of pipe; and number, size, and kind of fittings. (v) Rail bonds: Type; number, kind, and length of wire per joint; average num¬ ber of joints per mile. Automatic block signal systems shall be inventoried separately from interlockers, and the method of control shall be described. Controlled manual block (including staff system), manual block, train-order, switch, and other signals shall be recorded by type and quantities of materials and methods of control. Specific instructions shall be given signal parties where signal and interlocker buildings and bridges and appurtenances to same are to be inventoried. 18. Account No. 15—Crossings and Signs. Highway-crossing signal bells shall be recorded by type, method of control, and description and quantities of materials. Where plans are not available, sketch shall be made showing length of starting section and other information affecting costs. 19. Account No. 10—Other Track Material. Insulated rail joints shall be recorded by type and weight of rail to which they are applied. The insulations of switch rods shall be recorded by type. o