COMMERCIAL DUTIES OF GOODS GUARDS:
Sealing of wagons: While riveting of wagons is meant for preventing thefts, sealing serves the purpose of localizing them. After loading is completed and covered wagons are closed, bolted and secured with rivets, these should be sealed irrespective of the fact whether it is locked or not. Sealing should be done under the supervision of a responsible official in such a way that it is not possible for any person to get the goods without breaking the seals. Seals are of two kinds, viz., wax seals and wire lead seals.
Wax seals: The tape which should not have any knot on it after having been passed through the eyelet holes on the wagon doors should be knotted Both ends of the tape, should be passed through the top hole in the seal label from back to front and then through the bottom hole from front to back. Each end of the tape should then be passed separately from the two middle holes from the back and knotted it in front of the label. The was and station seal should be applied so as to give a clear impression on the wax on The top of the knot in the position indicated for the purpose of the seal labels. The two ends of the tape should trail at least to a length of 1-12″ (38.1 mm,) each from the knot. Twine must not be used for sealing wagons.
Wagons containing such commodities as explosives, gases, inflammable liquids, inflammable solids, oxidizing substances, bhoosa, etc., should not be sealed with wax, as this would necessitate the use of a lamp or a naked light near the wagons. Special lead seals with wire shackles, supplied to stations booking these goods, should be used for the purpose.
Wire lead seals: The wire should be passed through the eyelets of the wagon doors. After this has been done, both the ends of the wire should be passed downwards through the groove in the side of the lead rivet and then a loop should be made to take the seal label, after which the wire should be passed upwards to the second groove of the lead rivet, which should then be firmly punched with pliers until a clear impression of the seal is obtained. The end wire should be allowed to protrude to a length of at least 1-1/2″ (38.1 mm) from the lead seal. The lead seal should give the impression of the code station on the obverse side and code of the forwarding railway on the reverse side.
Examination of seals, rivets, and check lines etc on wagons:
Guards, when taking over trains at starting stations or when attaching wagons at intermediate stations, must, in conjunction with the Trains Clerk and the Seal Checker or the Rakshak or duty, carefully examine the seals and the rivets of each wagon on the train as also the check lines, sheets, ropes, etc., on open wagons and locks on the vans.
The check must be thoroughly conducted on both sides of the train to ensure that all seals, rivets check lines, sheets, ropes, etc., wherever these must necessarily be used, are intact, and that ventilators, windows, and doors on both sides are properly secured Wagons carrying livestock may be permitted ed to run with the swing doors open but the Guard must make sure that they are swung right back and secured against the wagon sides.
The result of the above examination should be recorded in a seal examination register which should be countersigned by the Guard, Trains Clerk and the Rakshak /seal Checker on duty.
The number of ropes and sheets as also their condition together with the painted numbers of the wagons on which these are used should also be shown in the seal examination register.
At seal checking stations, these registers will be maintained by the Seal Checker and at other stations, these will be kept with the Station Master on duty. A specimen of the seal examination registers at Appendix XV/F.
Action to be taken if seals are intact but rivets are missing: If it is found that rivets are missing although the seals of a wagon are an instance, action must be taken to have fresh rivets put on the wagon. The fact that rivets were missing and fresh rivets were put on, should be endorsed in the seal examination register/Rakshak’s book together with the painted number of the wagon over the signature of the guard.
Action to be taken at engine-changing stations and marshaling yards: The Railway Protection Force staff are responsible for checking loaded wagons at engine-changing stations and marshaling yards to verify that all passing covered wagons are duly riveted and sealed and that the check lines, sheets, ropes, etc., on open wagons are intact. They will bring the discrepancies, if any, to the notice of the proper traffic staff by a written memo, for which an acknowledgment should be obtained. It will then be the responsibility of the traffic staff to remove these defects to the extent possible. Wagons should on no account be allowed to move onwards without being properly sealed and riveted.
Action to be taken at intermediate stations: At stations where a goods train is timed to stop half an hour or more, or where a goods train is likely to be detained for that time, the Guard of the train along with the Trains Clerk and Seal Checker, Rakshak on duty, provided, must examine all seals, rivets, ventilators, windows, roofs and doors of covered wagons and the check lines, sheets, etc., on open wagons. The result of this examination must be recorded in the seal examination register/Rakshak’s book.
If at an intermediate station a covered wagon is found with the defective or deficient seal, the guard should give a memo to the Station Master on duty who should get the wagon sealed immediately. The fresh seal label should be signed jointly by the Station Master and the Guard. The Station Master should keep a record of such wagons in his daily diary, the memo received from the Guard being pasted against the entry.
Before the train leaves the station, a detailed report of the Guard should be obtained by the Station Master in the pro form appearing at Appendix XV/ G, in quadruplicate, which should be disposed of as under
- One copy of the Sub-Inspector, Government Railway Police
- One copy to the Sub-Inspector in charge, Railway Protection Force
- One copy of the Claims Prevention Officer and
- One copy of Station record.
When in the case of a covered wagon, the seals are deficient or defective, every effort must be de to have the contents checked at the intermediate station itself, provided it will not unduly delay the rain. If such a check is not possible on the train itself, the wagon should be detached for checking the contents.
If, however, the facilities for checking do not exist at the station, or the destination station or the train terminal station is close by, or the contents are liable to be damaged due to delay, the wagon should not be detained for checking but allowed to go by the same train after re-sealing.
The next station, where checking can be done or the destination station, as the case may be, should be telegraphed to arrange for such checking. The telegram should be copied to the Sub-Inspector in charge, Railway Protection Force and the Claims Prevention Officer.
A copy of the telegram should also be handed over to the Guard of the train.The check must be done in the presence of the Guard, and a representative of the Railway Protection Force, where they are available.
Action to be taken at terminals or stations at the end of Guard’s run:
Guards of Trains, on reaching terminals or stations at the end of the run, must remain with the train until the seals, rivets check lines etc. have been examined in conjunction with the Trains Clerk and the Seal Checker or Rakshak on duty. The result of this examination must be recorded in the seal examination register, which should be signed by the Guard, the Trains Clerk and the Seal Checker or Rakshak on duty.
If any defect or deficiency is noticed, the Guard must have the wagon re-sealed or contents re-checked in his presence, the fresh seal label being signed by him and the Seal Checker or Rakshak on duty. When all is correct and there is nothing to report as to the seals, rivets, etc., the fact should be noted in the register.
If an open wagon is found without labels, the Trains Clerk must pick up the necessary particulars from the vehicle summary and make out labels with available particulars endorsing the label over his signature to the effect that the wagon arrived without labels.
If the details are not available in the vehicle summary, he must detain the wagon, put “Not to go” labels and report the matter to the Station Master, who will at once arrange to issue a wire to the last, junction or engine-changing station to get the particulars of the wagon, taking assistance from the Control, if necessary. Simultaneously, efforts should be made to find out clues from the contents of the wagon, and if any positive evidence is available indicating the correct destination, the wagon may be connected and dispatched accordingly, advising the stations concerned by wire.
Booking of railway materials and stores by passenger/parcel trains:
- Railway materials and stores may be accepted for booking by passenger parcel trains subject to the weight not exceeding 2 quintals. Except in emergent cases, consignments weighing more than 2 quintals should ordinarily be sent by goods trains.
- Railway materials and stores booked by passenger/parcel trains should be treated as ordinary public traffic and accounted for as such the freight and other charges being collected through credit notes at the time of booking or delivery, as the case may be.
Free carriage of railway materials, stores publications, etc:
A list of articles of railway materials, stores, publications, etc., which are carried free, appears in the I. R- C. A. Goods and Coaching Tariffs. In such cases, free invoices way-bills should be issued.