2.2.8 Interchange Instructions

Prototype Information

In the early days of railroading all tracks were not of standard gauge. It was necessary in many instances to transfer the lading from the car of one railroad to a car of another for the shipment to continue to its destination. Today, all railroads in the U. S. have a standard gauge and a freight car can be moved on any railroad, provided there is a track which connects one line with another. When freight cars are moved from one line to another on such tracks they are said to be “Interchanged”. Certain
records are necessary in order to determine the amount of freight transportation charges that are payable to each line participating in the movement.

Rules governing the delivery of cars

Association of American Railroads Car Service Rule 7: Cars shall be considered as having been delivered to a connecting railroad when placed upon the track agreed upon and designated as the interchange track for such deliveries, accompanied or preceded by necessary data for forwarding
and to insure delivery, and accepted by the car inspector of the receiving road.

Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph, the receiving road all be responsible for the cars, contents and per diem after receipt of the proper data for forwarding and to insure delivery. This responsibility shall continue as respects cars rejected by the car inspector of the receiving road until such cars have been returned to the delivering road, The effect of this paragraph may be altered by special arrangements made between the roads concerned.

Official delivery time.

Since per diem charges are paid by the carrier on all foreign cars( with certain exceptions) on its lines as of 12:01 AM., it is important that the time of delivery be noted on interchange reports using military time. If foreign cars are interchanged to another carrier before 0001 hours (12:01 A.M.), that carrier becomes responsible for per diem charges. If foreign cars are still on our line at 0001 hours, we must pay the per diem charges. The official time for delivery of cars to a connecting line is established the moment the engine is uncoupled from the cars in the designated interchange track.

Interchange Reports

Interchange reports are prepared by the carrier delivering cars to an interchange track. This report is then forwarded to the carrier receiving the cars in interchange. The receiving carrier must verify
that these cars were actually received and that the initials and numbers of these cars were correctly shown on the Interchange Report. Verification can be made by checking the interchange
track or making a roll—by check at time of delivery.

It is of particular importance that the originating and destination stations be shown clearly and in such a way as to indicate definitely whether the car is delivered in switching service, road haul or carrier
service. Interchange reports from both the delivering and receiving railroads must comply with the above requirements.

Accepting cars in interchange

When a loaded freight car is offered in interchange (providing proper instructions are received and car is mechanically fit) it will be accepted for movement. A car must be accepted even though destined to a
nonagency station, billed collect or is insufficiently prepaid. When cars are ordered from a railroad by a customer located on the tracks of another railroad, the cars furnished will be interchanged in the usual manner, even though they may be returned to the delivering railroad for movement.

Cars delivered in error or with mechanical defects

When a car has been delivered to a railroad on an interchange track and this car is found to have mechanical defects or has been delivered in error and the interchange report has been signed acknowledging receipt of the car, this car must then be interchanged by the receiving railroad back to the delivering road. Interchange reports must be prepared covering the return of this car.

Reporting of time

The time of day from midnight to midnight will be reported and numbered successively in minutes and hours in military time. Following are examples of reporting time: 

  • When reporting hour use last complete hour.
  • Show midnight as 0001

The WWSL

The WWSL has six interchange locations with five connecting railroads:

  • The Olympic Peninsula Lumber Company at Coal Grove, Wash and Camp 1, Wash.
  • The Northern Pacific Railway at Brady, Wash.
  • The Milwaukee Road at Preacher's Slough, Wash.
  • The Union Pacific Railroad at Preacher's Slough, Wash.
  • The Saginaw Timber Company at Wickwood, Wash.

The WWSL is the receiving railroad for the Olympic Peninsula Lumber Company, and the Saginaw Timber Company for all interchange activities. The WWSL maintains interline settlements, per diem on foreign cars and mileage of privately owned cars for these carrier. 

The WWSL will use the WWSL Form 8 Switch List  completely filled in, to record official delivery times.

 WWSL Interchange Manual

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