What determines exactly how many hand brakes are to be set when a train is tied down? By type train: Unit / Stack / Manifest and/or location?
Assuming all units plus X number of cars? Example: 3 engines and 5 cars.
Crews going off duty report to the dispatcher how many they set. On duty crews report on how many they released. The numbers must match or the train doesn't move until hand brakes are double checked again, as was the case recently with a train tied down at Jefferson Street in Atlanta. Just wondering if there is a standard for this task?
Brakes or Hand brakes are required to be applied. Most require at least two but many places on grades require many more. We had places that required 50% on cars left. The only place I know we did not put on hand brakes were in the forwarding and receiving yards at DeButts. That may have changed since I retired. DeButts is flat unlike most yards.