MTA Conductor Study Guide
BULLETIN ORDER (BO) - CORRECT ANSWER-order issued by authority of the Senior
Vice President - Operations that contains temporary items affecting the movement of
trains. Bulletin Orders remain in effect until fulfilled or cancelled.
DAILY TRAIN OPERATIONS BULLETIN ORDER (DTOBO) - CORRECT ANSWER-
order issued by authority of the Senior Vice President - Operations containing Working
Limits Stop Sign locations (Rule 22- A), temporary speed restrictions, bridge strikes,
and other safety critical instructions and information.
GENERAL NOTICE (GN) - CORRECT ANSWER-notice issued by authority of the Chief
Transportation Officer that contains instructions that do not affect the movement or
operation of trains.
GENERAL ORDER (GO) - CORRECT ANSWER-order issued by authority of the Senior
Vice President - Operations that contains permanent changes in Operating Rules, the
Special Instructions, or other Operating Manuals.
OPERATIONS NOTICE (ON) - CORRECT ANSWER-notice issued by authority of the
Senior Vice President - Operations that contains items of an advisory, explanatory,
and/or cautionary nature related to Operating Rules, the Special Instructions, and other
instructions.
DEADHEAD TRAIN - CORRECT ANSWER-a passenger train on which no revenue
passengers are carried.
ENGINE - CORRECT ANSWER-a unit, other than a track car, propelled by any form of
energy, or a combination of such units operated from a single control, used in train or
yard service. Engines include diesel and electric multiple unit cars.
EQUIPMENT - CORRECT ANSWER-railroad cars, engines, or track cars.
EXTRA TRAIN - CORRECT ANSWER-a train not designated by operating schedule or
bulletin order. It may be designated either "Extra" or "Passenger Extra". The direction of
travel must be included in the designation; for example: "Extra 2024 East".
FREIGHT TRAIN - CORRECT ANSWER-any train that is not a passenger train.
, ABSOLUTE BLOCK - CORRECT ANSWER-a block established between block limit
signals or controlled signals in which no train is permitted to enter while it is occupied by
another train or equipment.
BLOCK - CORRECT ANSWER-a length of track of defined limits, the use of which is
governed by block limit signals, cab signals, or Form M.
CONTROLLED BLOCK - CORRECT ANSWER-the block, or series of consecutive
blocks, between successive controlled signals in Centralized Traffic Control (CTC)
territory.
MANUAL BLOCK - CORRECT ANSWER-a length of main track between two
successive block limit signals.
LIGHT ENGINE - CORRECT ANSWER-an engine consisting of one or more units
without cars. Does not apply to multiple-unit cars.
M-SERIES EQUIPMENT - CORRECT ANSWER-MU passenger cars of the M-3, M-7,
or M-8 series.
NON-SHUNTING EQUIPMENT - CORRECT ANSWER-equipment that may not shunt
track circuits, including a single light engine, a single MU car or a single pair of MU cars,
track cars, and equipment indicated in the Special Instructions.
TRACK CAR - CORRECT ANSWER-specialized equipment, including highway rail
vehicles, operated on track for inspection or maintenance purposes.
TRAIN - CORRECT ANSWER-multiple-unit cars coupled, or an engine, with or without
cars, displaying a marker.
BLOCKING DEVICE REMOVED (BDR) CODE - CORRECT ANSWER-a computer
generated, unique, random number transmitted from the Operations Control Center
(OCC) to a Roadway Worker-in-Charge (RWIC) before fouling a track or beginning work
where CTC or Interlocking Rules apply.
INTERLOCKING - CORRECT ANSWER-an arrangement of signals and appliances so
interconnected that their movements must succeed each other in proper sequence and
for which interlocking rules are in effect.
INTERLOCKING APPLIANCE - CORRECT ANSWER-a movable apparatus within an
interlocking that either allows or prevents movements over designated routes, including
switches, movable frogs, mitre rails, and derails. An interlocking appliance is blocked
when an approved device is applied to the control console that prevents the control for
that appliance from being operated. An interlocking appliance is secured when a
qualified employee either applies an approved device to the appliance that prevents it
BULLETIN ORDER (BO) - CORRECT ANSWER-order issued by authority of the Senior
Vice President - Operations that contains temporary items affecting the movement of
trains. Bulletin Orders remain in effect until fulfilled or cancelled.
DAILY TRAIN OPERATIONS BULLETIN ORDER (DTOBO) - CORRECT ANSWER-
order issued by authority of the Senior Vice President - Operations containing Working
Limits Stop Sign locations (Rule 22- A), temporary speed restrictions, bridge strikes,
and other safety critical instructions and information.
GENERAL NOTICE (GN) - CORRECT ANSWER-notice issued by authority of the Chief
Transportation Officer that contains instructions that do not affect the movement or
operation of trains.
GENERAL ORDER (GO) - CORRECT ANSWER-order issued by authority of the Senior
Vice President - Operations that contains permanent changes in Operating Rules, the
Special Instructions, or other Operating Manuals.
OPERATIONS NOTICE (ON) - CORRECT ANSWER-notice issued by authority of the
Senior Vice President - Operations that contains items of an advisory, explanatory,
and/or cautionary nature related to Operating Rules, the Special Instructions, and other
instructions.
DEADHEAD TRAIN - CORRECT ANSWER-a passenger train on which no revenue
passengers are carried.
ENGINE - CORRECT ANSWER-a unit, other than a track car, propelled by any form of
energy, or a combination of such units operated from a single control, used in train or
yard service. Engines include diesel and electric multiple unit cars.
EQUIPMENT - CORRECT ANSWER-railroad cars, engines, or track cars.
EXTRA TRAIN - CORRECT ANSWER-a train not designated by operating schedule or
bulletin order. It may be designated either "Extra" or "Passenger Extra". The direction of
travel must be included in the designation; for example: "Extra 2024 East".
FREIGHT TRAIN - CORRECT ANSWER-any train that is not a passenger train.
, ABSOLUTE BLOCK - CORRECT ANSWER-a block established between block limit
signals or controlled signals in which no train is permitted to enter while it is occupied by
another train or equipment.
BLOCK - CORRECT ANSWER-a length of track of defined limits, the use of which is
governed by block limit signals, cab signals, or Form M.
CONTROLLED BLOCK - CORRECT ANSWER-the block, or series of consecutive
blocks, between successive controlled signals in Centralized Traffic Control (CTC)
territory.
MANUAL BLOCK - CORRECT ANSWER-a length of main track between two
successive block limit signals.
LIGHT ENGINE - CORRECT ANSWER-an engine consisting of one or more units
without cars. Does not apply to multiple-unit cars.
M-SERIES EQUIPMENT - CORRECT ANSWER-MU passenger cars of the M-3, M-7,
or M-8 series.
NON-SHUNTING EQUIPMENT - CORRECT ANSWER-equipment that may not shunt
track circuits, including a single light engine, a single MU car or a single pair of MU cars,
track cars, and equipment indicated in the Special Instructions.
TRACK CAR - CORRECT ANSWER-specialized equipment, including highway rail
vehicles, operated on track for inspection or maintenance purposes.
TRAIN - CORRECT ANSWER-multiple-unit cars coupled, or an engine, with or without
cars, displaying a marker.
BLOCKING DEVICE REMOVED (BDR) CODE - CORRECT ANSWER-a computer
generated, unique, random number transmitted from the Operations Control Center
(OCC) to a Roadway Worker-in-Charge (RWIC) before fouling a track or beginning work
where CTC or Interlocking Rules apply.
INTERLOCKING - CORRECT ANSWER-an arrangement of signals and appliances so
interconnected that their movements must succeed each other in proper sequence and
for which interlocking rules are in effect.
INTERLOCKING APPLIANCE - CORRECT ANSWER-a movable apparatus within an
interlocking that either allows or prevents movements over designated routes, including
switches, movable frogs, mitre rails, and derails. An interlocking appliance is blocked
when an approved device is applied to the control console that prevents the control for
that appliance from being operated. An interlocking appliance is secured when a
qualified employee either applies an approved device to the appliance that prevents it
