A road switcher is a type of railroadlocomotive used for delivering or picking up cars outside of a railroad yard. Since the road switcher must work some distance away from a yard, it needs to be able to operate at road speeds, it must also have high-visibility while it is switching, and it needs to run in both directions. For these reasons, road switchers are generally hood units. The set-back cab of a hood unit provides more safety in the event of a collision at speed than most switcher designs, and the rear visibility is much better than that of a cab unit. Due to their ability to both run at road speeds and switch cars, road switchers are also sometimes used for yard switching and through freight duties.
Regular roadswitcher assignments may be established to provide roadswitcher service at any location provided that roadswitcher assignments are assigned to go on duty at a location where suitable lodging and eating facilities are available, in accordance with BN Labor Agreement OPS 27-80, effective August 1, 1980.
Roadswitcher crews may operate in any direction (within the limits of their territorial boundaries), including into, out of; and through terminal locations, but may not be run beyond the tenitorial limits of their assignment, except as starting a new day.
Roadswitcher crews will be allowed a reasonable length of time to eat, without deduction in pay, at nearly as possible to the expiration of every six hours, provided they notify the dispatcher a reasonable time in advance.
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