I was watching the Baily Yard webcam and I noticed a small, blue blinking light which appeared to be mounted on the coupler of an ES44. The engine was at the refueling facility and was coupled to several other engines. the set was not moving. Please could I have info?
This is a signal that someone is working between cars or under cars--it tells everyone else DO NOT MOVE THIS CAR (OR TRAIN)! Only the person who put it there or someone else in his trade is authorized to remove it.
Johnny
Generally referred to as blue flag protection. As noted, a blue flagged unit cannot be moved. Only the person (or craft) that placed the flag can remove it. If I find a unit is blue flagged and I know that all of the mechanical department folks are gone for the weekend, I have to roust one of them out to come pull the blue flag down.
Here's the rule from NORAC:
16. Blue Signal Protection of Workers This rule prescribes the procedures for the protection of railroad workmen who work on, under or between equipment. “Workmen” refers to one or more employees assigned to inspect, test, repair, or service engines and/or cars. Train and Engine Service Employees are excluded except when assigned to perform work on equipment that is not part of movement they have been called to operate. a. Restrictions Once a Blue Signal has been displayed, the following restrictions apply: 1. The equipment must not be coupled to or moved. EXCEPTION: When under the direction of the employee in charge of the workmen, engines may be repositioned within an Engine Servicing Track Area, and cars may be repositioned within a Car Shop Repair Track Area. Employees on the affected track must be informed of the movement, and Blue Signals must be removed from the equipment to be repositioned or coupled. The Blue Signals need not be removed from the switches or derails providing access to the track. 2. Other equipment must not be placed on the same track in a manner that will reduce or block the view of a Blue Signal. 3. Equipment must not pass a displayed Blue Signal. 4. Only a person of the same group or craft that displayed the signals may remove it, after all the workmen are clear. b. Responsibilities of Workmen Before going on, under, or between engines and/or cars, workmen must take the actions prescribed below. Each craft or group of workmen must display their own Blue Signals. If the equipment is on a track other than a main track or controlled siding: 1. Attach a Blue Signal to the controlling engine(s) at a location where it will be clearly visible to an employee at the controls of that engine. 2. Line each hand-operated switch providing access to the track against movement to the track, and lock each switch with an effective locking device. EXCEPTION: A derail locked in derailing position with an effective locking device may substitute for the hand-operated switch requirement. The derail must be positioned no less than 150 feet from the end of the equipment, except as follows. When equipment is in an Engine Servicing Track Area or a Car Shop Repair Track Area, where maximum authorized speed is not more than 5 MPH, the derail must be positioned no less than 50 feet from the end of the equipment. 3. Display a Blue Signal at each of the hand-operated switch and/or derail locations mentioned above. 4. Request and receive protection from the employee controlling any remotely controlled switches that provide access to the track. This procedure also applies to hump yard classification tracks where employees couple air hoses or adjust coupling devices. If the equipment is on a main track or controlled siding: 1. Display a Blue Signal at each end of the equipment. 2. Attach a Blue Signal to the controlling engine(s) at a location where it will be clearly visible to an employee at the controls of that engine. c. Responsibilities of Employee Controlling Remotely Controlled Switches When requested to provide protection, the employee in charge of remotely controlled switches providing access to the track on which the equipment is located must line the switches against movement to the track and apply blocking devices. The employee must not remove the blocking devices until informed by the employee in charge of the workmen that the work has been completed. The employee controlling the switches must immediately make a written record on the prescribed form of the application and removal of the blocking device protection. This record must be retained for 15 days following the date of removal. d. Blue Signal Unavailable When emergency repair work is to be done on, under, or between engines and/or cars, and a Blue Signal is not available, the Engineer must be notified. The Engineer must take three actions: 1. Apply the brakes. 2. Place the reverser lever in neutral position or the controller in off position. 3. Open the generator field and/or control switch where equipped. The engineer must maintain this protection until notified by the employee who requested it that the protection is no longer required. e. Markers Blue Signal protection must be provided for workmen when they are: 1. Replacing, repositioning or repairing markers, and the rear of the train is on any track. 2. Inspecting markers by repositioning the activation switch or covering photoelectric cell, and the rear of the train is on a track other than a main track or controlled siding. f. Alternate Protection for Utility Employees A Utility Employee is a train and engine service employee who is temporarily assigned to a train or yard crew to assist the crew in assembling, disassembling, or operating trains. When the protection procedures and restrictions prescribed below have been complied with, Utility Employees may engage in the following activities without blue signal protection: setting or releasing brakes; coupling or uncoupling air hoses or other electrical or mechanical connections; preparing equipment for coupling; setting wheel blocks or wheel chains; performing air brake tests, including the cutting in or out of air brake components and the positioning of retaining valves; inspecting, testing, installing, removing or replacing markers or end of train devices. Under all other circumstances a Utility Employee working on, under or between equipment must have blue signal protection. The following procedures and restrictions apply to the protection of Utility Employees: 1. A Utility Employee may perform service with only one train or yard crew at a time, and no more than 3 Utility Employees may be assigned to the same crew. 2. The train or yard crew must be assigned a controlling engine that is under the control of the assigned Engineer. 3. The Engineer must be in the cab of the controlling engine. If the engine is stationary, the Engineer may be replaced in the cab by another crew member. 4. Before beginning any duties with a crew, the Utility Employee must obtain permission from the crew’s Conductor, or Engineer if no Conductor is assigned. 5. The Conductor, or Engineer if no Conductor is assigned, must notify each crew member of the presence and identity of the Utility Employee before authorizing the Utility Employee to work as part of the crew. Thereafter, communication must be maintained so that each crew member understands the duties to be performed and whether those duties will cause any crew member to go on, under, or between the equipment. 6. When the Utility Employee has finished working with the crew, the Utility Employee must notify the Conductor, or Engineer if no Conductor is present, who in turn must notify each crew member that the Utility Employee is no longer part of the crew. After each crew member has acknowledged the Utility Employee is no longer part of the crew, the Utility Employee must be notified that he is released from the crew.
a. Restrictions Once a Blue Signal has been displayed, the following restrictions apply:
1. The equipment must not be coupled to or moved. EXCEPTION: When under the direction of the employee in charge of the workmen, engines may be repositioned within an Engine Servicing Track Area, and cars may be repositioned within a Car Shop Repair Track Area. Employees on the affected track must be informed of the movement, and Blue Signals must be removed from the equipment to be repositioned or coupled. The Blue Signals need not be removed from the switches or derails providing access to the track.
2. Other equipment must not be placed on the same track in a manner that will reduce or block the view of a Blue Signal.
3. Equipment must not pass a displayed Blue Signal.
4. Only a person of the same group or craft that displayed the signals may remove it, after all the workmen are clear.
b. Responsibilities of Workmen Before going on, under, or between engines and/or cars, workmen must take the actions prescribed below. Each craft or group of workmen must display their own Blue Signals. If the equipment is on a track other than a main track or controlled siding:
1. Attach a Blue Signal to the controlling engine(s) at a location where it will be clearly visible to an employee at the controls of that engine.
2. Line each hand-operated switch providing access to the track against movement to the track, and lock each switch with an effective locking device. EXCEPTION: A derail locked in derailing position with an effective locking device may substitute for the hand-operated switch requirement. The derail must be positioned no less than 150 feet from the end of the equipment, except as follows. When equipment is in an Engine Servicing Track Area or a Car Shop Repair Track Area, where maximum authorized speed is not more than 5 MPH, the derail must be positioned no less than 50 feet from the end of the equipment.
3. Display a Blue Signal at each of the hand-operated switch and/or derail locations mentioned above.
4. Request and receive protection from the employee controlling any remotely controlled switches that provide access to the track. This procedure also applies to hump yard classification tracks where employees couple air hoses or adjust coupling devices.
If the equipment is on a main track or controlled siding:
1. Display a Blue Signal at each end of the equipment.
2. Attach a Blue Signal to the controlling engine(s) at a location where it will be clearly visible to an employee at the controls of that engine.
c. Responsibilities of Employee Controlling Remotely Controlled Switches When requested to provide protection, the employee in charge of remotely controlled switches providing access to the track on which the equipment is located must line the switches against movement to the track and apply blocking devices. The employee must not remove the blocking devices until informed by the employee in charge of the workmen that the work has been completed. The employee controlling the switches must immediately make a written record on the prescribed form of the application and removal of the blocking device protection. This record must be retained for 15 days following the date of removal.
d. Blue Signal Unavailable When emergency repair work is to be done on, under, or between engines and/or cars, and a Blue Signal is not available, the Engineer must be notified. The Engineer must take three actions:
1. Apply the brakes.
2. Place the reverser lever in neutral position or the controller in off position.
3. Open the generator field and/or control switch where equipped.
The engineer must maintain this protection until notified by the employee who requested it that the protection is no longer required.
e. Markers Blue Signal protection must be provided for workmen when they are:
1. Replacing, repositioning or repairing markers, and the rear of the train is on any track.
2. Inspecting markers by repositioning the activation switch or covering photoelectric cell, and the rear of the train is on a track other than a main track or controlled siding.
f. Alternate Protection for Utility Employees
A Utility Employee is a train and engine service employee who is temporarily assigned to a train or yard crew to assist the crew in assembling, disassembling, or operating trains. When the protection procedures and restrictions prescribed below have been complied with, Utility Employees may engage in the following activities without blue signal protection: setting or releasing brakes; coupling or uncoupling air hoses or other electrical or mechanical connections; preparing equipment for coupling; setting wheel blocks or wheel chains; performing air brake tests, including the cutting in or out of air brake components and the positioning of retaining valves; inspecting, testing, installing, removing or replacing markers or end of train devices. Under all other circumstances a Utility Employee working on, under or between equipment must have blue signal protection.
The following procedures and restrictions apply to the protection of Utility Employees:
1. A Utility Employee may perform service with only one train or yard crew at a time, and no more than 3 Utility Employees may be assigned to the same crew.
2. The train or yard crew must be assigned a controlling engine that is under the control of the assigned Engineer.
3. The Engineer must be in the cab of the controlling engine. If the engine is stationary, the Engineer may be replaced in the cab by another crew member.
4. Before beginning any duties with a crew, the Utility Employee must obtain permission from the crew’s Conductor, or Engineer if no Conductor is assigned.
5. The Conductor, or Engineer if no Conductor is assigned, must notify each crew member of the presence and identity of the Utility Employee before authorizing the Utility Employee to work as part of the crew. Thereafter, communication must be maintained so that each crew member understands the duties to be performed and whether those duties will cause any crew member to go on, under, or between the equipment.
6. When the Utility Employee has finished working with the crew, the Utility Employee must notify the Conductor, or Engineer if no Conductor is present, who in turn must notify each crew member that the Utility Employee is no longer part of the crew. After each crew member has acknowledged the Utility Employee is no longer part of the crew, the Utility Employee must be notified that he is released from the crew.
Every railroad will have virtually the same rules.
As noted in section 'd', the alternative to blue flagging is the use of "three step," or "red zone." As a matter of course, you'll find shop forces using blue flags for extended work, while operational personnel will use three step, etc, if someone has to foul.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
NO TOUCHEE! - DON'T EVEN THINK OF MOVING THAT THING (or track) until the person who placed the blue flag/blue light removes it.
Railroad version of lockout/ tagout. ( & much older than the OSHA rule!)
mudchicken NO TOUCHEE! - DON'T EVEN THINK OF MOVING THAT THING (or track) until the person who placed the blue flag/blue light removes it. Railroad version of lockout/ tagout. ( & much older than the OSHA rule!)
mudchicken Railroad version of lockout/ tagout. ( & much older than the OSHA rule!)
I remember doing the lockout/tagout training a few times and thinking how much it reminded me of the blue flag rules. Specifically only the person who placed the blue flag was authorized to remove it.
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