Minutes of System CAB Committee Meeting
Montreal, Que. - February 5, 1998

Meeting Commenced: 0930

A) REVIEW MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

Minutes of previous meeting were reviewed and accepted as written.

B) OLD BUSINESS

Cab Seat Renewal Program Update (G. Lamontagne) - Program is progressing - 923 of 962 (95.9%) high horsepower units (3000 HP & Up), have been completed. 154 of 261 (59%) of low horsepower units have been completed. Majority of units which have not been modified or are not in the program, are scheduled for retirement. Reclining seats have been installed on 51 locomotives with a 1998 target of 400 by year end. (ONGOING) (attach)

Microwave Oven Installation Update (G. Farrer) - As of Feb. 4, 923 of 937 (98.5%) of the identified locomotives have been completed. Completion date for the remaining 14 units is September 20th. Reports from field indicate excellent durability and reliability as to workings of the microwaves. (ONGOING) (attach)

Radio Control Both Sides of Cab (Farrer/Wightman) - The committee was provided with a prototype portable radio holder that will accomodate all radio models. Following discussion and design endorsement, it was decided that holder would be mounted on front left corner post to assure easy access and ability to hear radio transmissions. Secondary location would be on back electrical panel behind left hand seat. Implementation 01 April 1998. (RESOLVED)

New Baultar Seat Design: The new reclining or 'sleeper' seat is being well received in the field. The "third" seat design, incorporating a fold-out mechanism from the rear wall has also drawn rave reviews and has provided much more usable space in the locomotive cab. Both designs are the standard for modification programs and new purchases. (ONGOING)

Local Cab Committees: This concept has been ongoing and latest report indicated formalized local committees at Moncton and Montreal on the Champlain District. Great Lakes District still working on membership/location structure but Dan Guitard and Colin Mann to progress. LaVenrendrye and Great Plains Districts have informal local committees and Bruce MacDonald to work with them re: formalizing their status. Bruce also to investigate best means for Pacific District involvement. (ONGOING)

Locomotive Toilet Facilities - Email from field outlined problems encountered with toilet compartment size which is further compromised by the garbage receptacle on the door. A garbage receptacle is required by regulation and the locomotive manufacturers are not prepared to modify their design to increase compartment size. This issue has been raised at previous meetings and after discussion this meeting is resolved on basis of a retrofit from door location to back wall with a small receptacle. This will also be the spec for new purchases. (RESOLVED)

Leading Cabs for Extended Runs - The ccommittee received report that an improvement in comfort/best cab leading since last year was evident. Discussion re: need to relocate power, no turning facilities available and other priorities could foster perception that best leading cab may not always be present. One concern expressed was that use of 5000 and 5100s as lead cabs be avoided if at all possible. (RESOLVED).

Cab Conditions/Servicing Issues - The day-to-day servicing of locomotive cabs is suffering due to infrequent cleaning and service schedules brought on by shop closures, by-pass train operations and other issues. Tom Thompson, Gaby Lamontagne and Guy Farrer to investigate present policy and initiate contact with local shops to ensure compliance. Issue primarily with By-Pass Trains, outpost locations and yard fleet. (ONGOING)

C) NEW BUSINESS

Locomotive Securement/Door Locks: To address consistency of application committee decision that all locomotive exterior doors (main entrance) be equipped with dead-bolt and switch lock. Additionally, all doors leading to exterior of the cab to be equipped with interior dead-bold. Gaby to progress with Mechanical Dept. for immediate modification. (RESOLVED)

AR-10 Compartment GMs/Door Locks: Issue raised that the AR-10 Compartment door did not have an interior door latch assembly which could result in an employee being locked inside. There is no record of such occurance and other methods of precaution could be utilized to ensure protection. The door could be braced open, other employees could be notified of intention or a portable radio could be utilized. The consensus of the committee was that the door latch configuration is not a hazard nor worthy of modification process. (RESOLVED)

Reverser Cable Attachment CN 2500's: The reversers on the new GE's are cable attached to the control stand. This was not part of the CN specification but rather a GE design from other railway orders. After discussion committee decision is that cable be removed and GE reverser to be handled as with all other locomotives in CN fleet. (RESOLVED)

New GE's Feedback: Lack of "whisper" cab still a concern but good reviews re: Baultar seats and especially utilization of the fold-down third seat. The horn/bell sequencer on the GEs is very good and better than the GM design. It will be specified on future orders and to achieve consistency, the GM sequencer on present fleet will be replaced with the GE design. Software change only required. Observation that GEs are slower "loading" than GMs. (RESOLVED)

Microwave Location Problems, CN 5000 and 5100s: Complaints from field re: location of microwave behind two-seat arrangement on left side of cab causing cramped quarters. This has led to argument/delay at shop track and removal of the third seat in some circumstances. Given the configuration of these locomotive cabs, the microwave location is the only viable one available. After uch discussion, committee decision that smaller seat on left side should be removed and replaced with small fold down middle seat on back wall. (RESOLVED)

Concern with 5600/5700 Units (C. Mann): Outside door securement problems account handle travel restricted on some units. Seats keep slidding down on some units account pedestal brake not holding. Mirrors keep coming loose and need attention. Such conditions are local maintenance issues and should be logged on Form 538D. (RESOLVED)

• Whistle lever on 5639 replaced with a push-button. Not acceptable and G. Lamontagne to ensure lever is reinstituted and feels must have been emergency repair issue. (RESOLVED)
  
• Perception expressed that Dynamic Brake mot working properly e.g. 5679. Reviewed with committee that DB is working perfectly on 5600/5700's and explained incident that was at root of this perception. The incident involved 27 pin connector wiring error on trail unit in consist and not a result of any DB integrity problem with 5600/5700s. (RESOLVED)
  
• Clips for hanging operating authority forms on new 2500s are excellent and should be the standard on all locomotives. Committee endorsed the concept and G. Lamontagne to arrange installation all High-Horsepower locomotives. (RESOLVED)
  
• Radio speaker/volume control issues in cab of locomotive resolved as per initiative to install portable radio holder left side of locomotive. (RESOLVED)

D) GENERAL DISCUSSION

• Locks on interior and exterior doors of locomotives. Agreed at committee that all locomotives must have ability to be locked from inside. Exterior locks should be standardized as bolt and switch lock arrangement and do away with any "coach/locomotive key" issues. G. Lamontagne to initiate required inspection/modification. (ONGOING)

• Garbage receptacle maintenance/positioning highlighted as a problem. In the case of defective latches on specific locomotives, this a form 538D log and maintenance issue. Much discussion as to optimal location for garbage receptacles within cab, and excluding toilet room issue. Gaby and Ken DeJean to incorporate suggestions received in new design specifications and any retrofit process. Also, discussed that supply of green garbage bags on a regular basis would see employees able to handle much of the garbage issue themselves. Mechanical Dept. to investigate and advise. (ONGOING)

• Concern raised as to overall cab conditions, noise levels and door/window sealing on 6000 series locomotives. These locomotives were part of a modification order and are not the caliber of the new GE/GM cabs but within standard as to lead-locomotive status. Mechanical Dept. committed to review issues raised and attempt correction during shop repair or inspection process. (ONGOING)

E) NEXT MEETING: 24 September, 1998. (To be Confirmed)

Meeting Concluded: 1645

May 12/98 UPDATE: DB Conversion, "Taper" to "Flat"

The last unit outstanding for the subject conversion (Unit #5518) has now been confirmed modified. This completes the activity on the 293 locomotives targeted for the modification, classes and road numbers as follows:

SD40-2 (92 units)
5241, 5242, 5243, 5244, 5245, 5246, 5247, 5248, 5249, 5250, 5251, 5252, 5254, 5255, 5256, 5257, 5258, 5259, 5260, 5261, 5270, 5271, 5272, 5284, 5289, 5294, 5295, 5296, 5297, 5298, 5299, 5301, 5302, 5303, 5304, 5305, 5306, 5307, 5308, 5309, 5310, 5311, 5312, 5313, 5314, 5315, 5316, 5317, 5318, 5319, 5320, 5321, 5322, 5323, 5324, 5325, 5326, 5327, 5328, 5329, 5330, 5331, 5332, 5333, 5334, 5335, 5336, 5337, 5338, 5339, 5340, 5341, 5342, 5343, 5344, 5345, 5346, 5347, 5348, 5349, 5350, 5351, 5352, 5353, 5356, 5359, 5360, 5363, 5378, 5379, 5380, 5381.

SD50 (60 units)
5400 to 5459.

SD60 (63 units)
5500 to 5513, 5515 to 5563.

DASH-8 (55 units)
2400 to 2454.

DASH-9 (23 units)
2500 to 2522.

If you have any questions, or comments about the new seats from Baulter in the new GE 2500 series, please contact Glenn Wightman at lr_div_091@sympatico.ca.

Return to BLE Canada Index
What is the BLE? - Canadian Officers - News Flash - Committee Work
Arbitration Decisions - Benefits / Collective Agreements - Links of Interest

Copyright 1997 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers - National Legislative Board - Canada