According to USOR 104, when does the crew first take charge of a train?

• A. After completing yard switching.
• B. Upon arrival at the destination.
• C. When a train departs the initial terminal.
• D. After signaling the next block.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is when responsibility for the train actually transfers to the crew. In this rule set, that moment is when the train departs the initial terminal. Until then, yard operations and switching within the terminal are under control of the yard crew or terminal facilities. Once the train leaves the origin and moves onto the main line, the train crew—typically the engineer and conductor—assume full charge of the train, responsible for its movement, signaling, and compliance with rules for the trip.

Why the other moments don’t fit: taking charge after completing yard switching would delay the start of the trip and create ambiguity about who has authority once the train is ready to move; arriving at the destination marks the end of the trip and transfer of responsibility to the receiving facility, not the start of the movement; signaling the next block is an operational action during movement, not the formal transfer of control from yard to train crew at the origin.