Editing Track Warrant Control (section)

==Operation==
Track warrants are issued granting main track use between two named points (i.e. [[milepost]] sign, [[train station|station]], or any fixed physical point, such as a [[railroad switch|switch]]). The dispatcher may also issue time constraints (known as "Box 6" on a standard form), although the track warrants remain in effect until cleared by a member of the receiving crew. Track warrants are sometimes used in conjunction with a [[block signal]] system to provide rear-end protection against following trains.<ref>GCOR Sixth Edition Section 14</ref>{{Better source|reason=More specific citation needed|date=December 2018}}

Track warrants usually allow a train to move in one direction only—a "proceed" instruction. Sometimes a train may also be given authorizing movements in either direction, called a "work between" instruction. However, only one train can have a section of track at one particular time if moving in the same direction. If there are two trains moving in the same direction, the leading train must give up the track before the trailing train can obtain a track warrant for that territory. For example, if Train 56 has a track warrant to proceed in the northbound direction from MP (milepost) 14 to MP 77 and there is a train following, then Train 56 must give up a portion or all of its warrant before the following train can be issued the track that Train 56 has already cleared. Many times this is accomplished by the dispatcher asking the leading train for their milepost location and then issuing a warrant up to that point to the trailing train. Continuing the previous example, if Train 56 is clear of MP 50, the dispatcher can issue a warrant to the trailing train up to MP 50, but not beyond it. Once a train has received a new track warrant or has left track warrant territory they will release the entirety of their warrant back to the dispatcher.<ref>GCOR Sixth Edition Section 14.3</ref>{{Better source|reason=The cited source doesn't appear to support most of the facts stated in this paragraph.  Please provide more specific citations which specifically support the article text|date=December 2018}}

[[Maintenance of way#Track maintenance|Maintenance of way]] crews receive track bulletins (usually called "Form A", "Form B" or "Form C") in order to perform track work that would otherwise be interrupted by passing trains. This is done by providing the maintenance crew with a form or protection, or allowing work to be done behind a passing train.<ref>GCOR Sixth Edition Section 14.5</ref>

=== Comparison with Direct Traffic Control ===

Track Warrant Control is similar to yet distinct from the concept of [[Direct Traffic Control]] (DTC), appearing later as railroads migrated fully from older forms of [[train order operation]].  DTC was designed to facilitate the movement of trains using concepts of blocks and sidings previously used with train orders.  DTC is only a mechanism to transfer movement authority and can work only within an arrangement of predefined blocks.<ref>GCOR Sixth Edition Section 16</ref>  Track warrant systems appropriate the remaining responsibility of train order systems to notify operating personnel of safety directives that include things like temporary speed restrictions, tracks out of service, etc. and combines them with the movement authority function of DTC.  Furthermore, track warrants are not limited to fixed blocks and can be issued and released from almost any explicitly identified landmark along the rail line.<ref>CSX Operating Rules 2007 Edition: Rules 170-175, 180-183</ref>