OK, I understand the concept of "Blue Flag" rules for North American railroads, so that's not the question. As usual for my question, it's the physical and historical details:1a) I presume that originally blue flagging involved blue flags (or blue lights at night). When did blue signs like these, made of plastic or metal plates, enter common usage (I think I've seen them in early 1970s RR safety training films, but I'm not sure). Are these now the dominant form of blue flagging (not counting blue lights)?1b) When did blue signs like this that you hang off of rolling stock become common (I'm sure I saw flags like that in those 1970s films) - is there a preference when you'd use these signs hanging on rolling stock vs. "free standing" blue signs mounted on posts (usually clamped to the rail)?2) Speaking of blue signs mounted on posts, when you have rail clamped blue signs like this, and the rolling stock needs to be protected overnight, is it preferred practice to clamp a flashing blue light to the sign, or fasten it on the rolling stock or locomotive that the sign is protecting.3) What equivalent sort of marking do other countries (UK, France, Germany, Russia, China, Australia, Brazil and so on) use. I know Canada uses Blue Flags, as evidenced by this RAC "Blue Flag Best Practice" document (which doesn't really answer any of my previous questions, although it does seem Canada favors signs mounted on posts)
chutton012) Speaking of blue signs mounted on posts, when you have rail clamped blue signs like this, and the rolling stock needs to be protected overnight, is it preferred practice to clamp a flashing blue light to the sign, or fasten it on the rolling stock or locomotive that the sign is protecting.
When blue flagging you also protect the switch leading to the blue flagged car(s) with a special lock (ie, one which uses a key other than the standard switch lock). This is usually spelled out in the rules. This prevents anyone from entering the siding in the first place.
If a locomotive is attached to a consist (as might possibly happen at a grain elevator), a blue flag is also placed on the control stand.
We don't usually have anyone around at night, so lights (while available) generally aren't a consideration.
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...
Blue Flag rules in the US go back at least to the late 1800's. Use of Blue Flags predate the operating practices regulations of FRA (1967-today) and the ICC (1887-1967[1996])... I have seen ICC circulars from 1921 in old USRA dockets. No idea where uniform codification started.
Blue flags in lockout/tagout practice seem unique to North America.
I'm curious if blue flags predate lockout/tagout in other industries. A lot of the rules for LOTO seem to derived from blue flag rules.
An interesting variation on blue flags. At the resort where I recently stayed while on vacation, you get the usual red door tag for Do Not Disturb and a green tag requesting that the room be made up. The housekeeper places a blue tag on the door while the room is being made up.
My hotel rooms always end up with a "do not hump" sign hanging on the door. Very irritating...
Randy Stahl My hotel rooms always end up with a "do not hump" sign hanging on the door. Very irritating...
Never thought of you as "fragile cargo" but, hey, if the sign fits...
Interesting historical fact that Pacific Fruit Express required a semaphore or searchlight signal with blue aspects be afixed to every ice dock it owned to prevent unwanted movement of reefers during the icing process.
Dave
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