When reporting clear of limits in non-signaled territory, advise the train dispatcher which item must be satisfied?

• A. All main track switches operated have been restored and locked in normal position
• B. The crew has completed the job briefing
• C. The conductor report form is properly initialed
• D. The dispatcher has acknowledged the clear.

Answer: (A)

In non-signaled territory, clearing the limits hinges on a tangible safety condition: the track must be in a known safe configuration for the next train. The essential requirement is that all main track switches that were operated have been restored to normal position and locked. When switches are returned to normal and secured, there’s a reliable physical indication that the route is set for ordinary operations, preventing the next train from being routed into a work area or onto an incorrect path.

Other steps like finishing a job briefing or having paperwork properly initialed, and even the dispatcher acknowledging the clear, are important parts of the overall process. However, they do not by themselves guarantee safety in the track's physical configuration. The switches being restored and locked in normal position is the specific condition that must be satisfied to declare the track clear of limits.