What exactly are blue boards please?
Are they fixed location or put where needed?
What do they do/say?
Who uses them?
When?
How?
Who removes them? … when/hoW
Do they have forms to be filled in when used / removed?
Are they used on RIP tracks? Elsewhere?
Thanks in advance…
I’ve had some brilliant answers lately… even a recipe!
Rule 26 goes into a lot more detail but here’s the short version. First they are usually called blue flags instead of boards. They indicate that there are workmen on, under or between rolling equipment. A blue flag or light is placed in the middle of the track, attached to the rail or to the engine. A signal on the track is attached at all entrances to the track or the equipment. When it is displayed the equipment can’t be coupled into, moved or the track entered.
They are not usually in fixed location, except a yard might have “permanent” flags at the entrance to the RIP track or engine facility, or sometimes in a departure yard there might be permanently mounted blue flags. They are a sign hinged at the base, that can be raised or lowered and locked into position.
They are applied by mechanical department employees and removed by an employee of the same craft that applied them.
There is no paperwork to use them.
Dave H.
The are usually called blue flags, indicate workman on, in or under equipment. Under blue flag protection, no one can enter, leave or move a track. The blue flag is accompanied by a blue lock on the switch to prevent the switch being thrown into the track.
Car inspectors working tracks normally uses portable blue flags, while shop, intermodal, and some industrial facilities have fixed blue flags. The yardmaster or shop forman may keep a log of when the flags are raised or dropped.
The can only be applied or removed by mechanical or intermodal/industrial facility employees.
Nick
Thanks both!
Why would Intermodal oir industrial facilities need/use them please?
Intermodal and industrial faciliies use them, usually in conjuction with derails, to protect workers loading and unloading cars.