scrap, drift, cinders, dirt, and other material from right of way and from road and terminal tracks (including tracks at stations, engine yards, and car yards) ; and cleaning streets used as roadways."

Under Account 272, "Removing Snow, Ice, and Sand," appears the following:

"This account shall include the cost of keeping track and roadway clear of snow, ice, and sand.

"It shall include cost of preventing accumulation, such as the cost of distributing, setting up, inspecting, taking down, and regathering portable snow and sand fences; and cost of tools furnished for the purpose; also cost of storing fences.

"It shall include cost of removing accumulations of snow, ice, and sand, cost of snow-plow and flanger service, and of work-train service; cost of applying and removing flangers from locomotives and cars, and of slatting pilots; cost of salt to keep switches clear; and cost of meals and lodging for men employed in removal service."

It will be noted from the text of the two Accounts that "cleaning of property" is separate and distinct from removing of snow. There is no connection between the two operations as the Interstate Commerce Commission has recognized. Consequently, since the Employees have based their claim on the phrase "cleaning of property," their claim must be denied.

OPINION OF BOARD: The record discloses that on December 31, 1947, Section Foreman Harold Howe was working four regular section men and live extra men in cleaning snow from tracks and switches. At the regular quitting time (4:30 P.M.) Howe was instructed to leave two regular section men on the job to assist two signalmen in cleaning ice and snow from switches. It is the contention of claimants that they should have been used in the place of the two signalmen who were used.

The Organization contends that Rule 2 (a), current Agreement, is controlling. It provides:

"Group 1 includes employes engaged in the construction and maintenance of tracks and switches, ditching, drainage, cleaning of property and oil switch lamp maintenance."

Ve think connection with kee in tracks and swlthes

ec ion men may be augmented by other avai able employes. But the quoted section of the agreement is ambiguous in that it generally assigns the construction and maintenance of tracks and switches, ditching, drainage, cleaning of property, and oil switch lamp maintenance to section men without referring to snow handling.

Signalmen are charged with the duty of maintaining the signal system and power controlled switches and interlockings. We think a signalman engaged in signal maintenance may properly remove snow and ice to insure the proper operation of signals, electrically controlled switches and Interlockings. Such work is incidental to the duties imposed on this craft. In the present case the two signalmen working overtime were cleaning switches within the area controlled by Tower No. 2. The record discloses that a bad storms was imminent and the Carrier decided that signalmen were required on duty to protect the service. The record does not disclose that the work performed was not incidental to this service. If the maintenance of signals or interlockings were not involved, the contentions of the Organization would appear unassailable. Here, the work performed by the signalmen involved keeping the interlocking operating, the removal of snow and ice was Incidental to that function and proper to be performed by signalmen. Unless the removal of snow and ice is in connection with work of the Signalmen's craft, and in furtherance thereof, it belongs to section men.

FINDINGS: The Third Division of the Adjustment Board, after giving parties to this dispute due notice of hearing thereon, and upon the whole record and all the evidence, finds and holds:

That the Carrier and Employes involved in this dispute are respectively carrier and employes within the meaning of the Railway Labor Act, as approved June 21, 1934;

That this Division of the Adjustment Board has jurisdiction over the dispute involved herein; and

That the Agreement was not violated.

AWARD