When were metal blue “flags” first used to prohibit movement of equipment that personnel were working on/around/under?
Hello “Shishole,”
My book, “The Model Railroader’s Guide to Passenger Equipment & Operations,” includes photos from the early 1950s showing metal blue flags in use. I don’t know how long before that they were used, but they may go back quite a while earlier.
So long,
Andy
Thanks, Andy, early 50s works great for my late 50s layout.
I have a New York Central “Rules For The Operating Department” dated Sept. 26, 1937 that lists…
RULE 26. A blue signal, displayed at one or both ends of an engine, car or train, indicates that workmen are under or about it; when protected it must not be coupled to or moved. Each class of workman will display the blue signals and the same workmen are alone authorized to remove them. Other equipment must not be placed on the same track so as to intercept the view of the blue signals without first notifying the workmen".
Some railroads, I know UP for sure, had brackets on the cab sides of locomotives where the car inspectors would hang their blue flags while the train was being serviced. Blue flags are also used to protect “Camp Cars” or M-of-W equipment on sidings.
Today, I have seen blue strobe lights on a magnetic base used the same way.
ED
Hi Ed,
The use of blue flags and lights as signals to protect men working on, around, and under trains and rolling stock goes back quite a long time ago, at least to the early 20th century. It’s clearly prescribed in railroad rules such as the one you quoted. The original questioner wanted to know when metal flags painted blue appeared alongside or replacing traditional blue cloth flags. Since some roads were using metal white and green flags as classification signals in the 1930s, it wouldn’t surprise me to find metal blue flags that long ago. I mentioned the early 1950s in my earlier post because I knew of two photos to document their use at that time.
So long,
Andy