Simple Questions

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Watched a BNSF coal train go by.

Coal cars were UCEX for the most part. Some of the cars had a small placard on the side, above the normal routing card. This card had

A PRAN 2-02
DR PRAN 2-02
DO PRAN 2-02
T

or just a notation PRAN 11-02

Means what?

And - another coal train - DPU unit # 8818 - had a blue light on the nose, just above the door opening! This is an SD70MAC. Have never seen what looked to be a blue light - and on the nose yet! Was it an oops and someone left something there? It wasn’t huge, but was definitely blue and was the same shape, only not as curvy, as the old insulators on telephone poles, but larger. Looked really strange!

Any thoughts?

Mook

2

Was it a light fixture mounted to or part of the locomotive, or did it look like a portable light on or in a small stand?

If it was the latter, I bet a car man, engine service person or roundhouse worker is wondering where the heck their blue light went?

And if it is a blue flag/light protection device, some one is in for a pretty good butt chewing.

Ed

3

SD-70MAC, you don’t have to put on the blue light, pull coal drags for money, sell your engine life to the night, BNSF doesn’t care if it is wrong or if it is right.

OK, I know that was really bad, and sorry for the Sting/Another 48 Hours reference and interfering with cherished Mook posts, but endless job interviews, future uncertainty, and sleepless nights have me acting a little goofy at work this morning.

Gabe

4

“I know I left that light around here somewhere.” “How the heck would it get out of here?”

hahahahaha

Adrianspeeder

5

Ed: Driver and I both commented it wasn’t where it should be. I am almost positive it wasn’t attached to the unit - it just looked like it didn’t belong there. But the engine was moving and hard to see just exactly what it was.

Driver said looked like someone will wonder where their blue “lantern” went. But thought I would check - you never know when some new device will show up.

Gabe - you will always have a job on the forum. So the pay is lousy!

For the rest of you - there is still another unanswered question.

Moo

6

Well,
If it looked like a switchmans lantern standing on end, with the blue cone on top…someone is missing their “blue flag”…and someone moved a locomotive they should never have touched…much less moved.

The blue flag rule is the one rule you never, ever break…it truly can mean life or death for engine service people, and car men…
Ed

7

Gosh, Mookie, you ask pretty hard questions, for a cat. I prefer to think that the blue light was purely decorative. You think railroads can’t indulge in a little flair sometimes? And the placards - well, I have to run or I would explain them.

Larry

8

…As Ed commented…Blue flag or light…Nothing moves, nothing…! At least that’s the info I’ve always understood the railroad operating crew went by…

9

Sorry, Sis; can’t PRAN-der to you today (if you don’t see those placards on other than a UCEX train, you can assume that it’s some “local” notation).

That blue light was definitely where it shouldn’t be, on a moving locomotive. I, for one, would like to see this brought back to haunt somebody–whether it’s the guy who suddenly was without his protective equipment or the person who authorized the train to move that way.

10

Was of the same mind as Carl…
Blue light/blue flag protection is often the only protection some crafts have
Our carmen lace hoses, and air up trains in a live yard, so the blue flag or light is the only device thats keeps them safe.
Any violation of the flag will, at the least, mean harm to them, possible death.

Some one should be looking for their lantern cap/lens…and someone should be on the carpet for moving a locomotive with it in place.

Ed

11

could be that same railroad’s employees i see running around with the headlights off on the locomotives more often than should be…

12

Aw, c’mon! Isn’t it obvious that K-Mart is getting into the railroad business somehow?

What better name for a train than “The Blue Light Special” eh?

13

Does the blue flag/light apply when in yards or maintenance depots and could it even apply anywhere. Who fits the blue flag/light and are they responsible for removing it? In the UK we use a “Not to be Moved” target that hangs on the loco and has the names of the people working on the loco. The loco is not allowed to be moved until all names have been contacted, the target removed. No one may remove the name tags from the train/loco apart from the person responsible for their own tag. If the loco/train is inside the shed additional protection is added in the form of derailers which are locked and the key can only be obtained after all workers have removed their tags and took their lock off the derailer board.

When you work on a loco you look at what road its on. You take your name tag from the office which has a lock attached. On the wall are compartments for each road on the shed. So if you were working on road 12 you would put your lock on road 12 cubicle. Only you can open this lock, so the derailer cannot be dropped until you have removed your lock as the key for the derailers are protected by all the workers locks keeping the cubicle closed and the key for the derailer safe. So if there are 6 people working on 12 road then there should be 6 locks. There should all be 6 name tags hanging on the vehicles on 12 road. Nothing can enter or leave shed until all locks have been personally removed by their owners. The shed Team Leader has to ensure all are clear for any movements and that it is safe to move anything. Out in the field doing repairs you may have to rely on just the target boards to protect you, I always make sure there is one on either end, last thing you want is another loco creeping up on you and jostling you whilst underneath. I woul

14

Maybe it’s last turn was on a snowplow, “durn thing gets stuck in the dad-gummed snow”, and they forgot to take the blue flashing light off of it.

15

GCOR rule 5.13 reads…

5.13 Blue Signal Protection of Workmen
This rule outlines the requirements for protecting railroad workmen who are inspecting, testing, repairing, and servicing rolling equipment. In particular, because these tasks require the workmen to work on, under, or between rolling equipment, workmen are exposed to potential injury from moving equipment.

Blue Signal Protection of Workmen
As used in this rule, the following definitions apply:
Workmen. Railroad employees assigned to inspect, test, repair, or service railroad rolling equipment or components, including brake systems. Train and yard crews are excluded, except when they perform the above work on rolling equipment not part of the train or yard movement they are handling or will handle.

“Servicing” does not include supplying cabooses, engines, or passenger cars with items such as ice, drinking water, tools, sanitary supplies, stationery, or flagging equipment.
“Testing” does not include an employee making visual observations while on or alongside a caboose, engine, or passenger car. Also, testing does not include repositioning the activation switch or covering the photo-electric cell of the marker when the rear of the train is on the main track. The employee inspecting the marker must contact the employee controlling the engine to confirm that the train will remain secure against movement until the inspection is complete.
Group of Workmen. Two or more workmen of the same or different crafts who work as a unit under a common authority and communicate with each other while working.
Rolling Equipment. Engines, cars, and one or more engines coupled to one or more cars.

Blue Signal. During the day, a clearly distinguishable blue flag or light, and at night, a blue light. The blue light may be steady or flashing.

The blue signal does not need to be lighted when it is attached to the operating controls of an engine and the inside of

16

Thank you for that detailed reply, very interesting reading.

17

Mr and Mrs Pran had triplets (T) all born on 2-02.

18

You know Dan - between you and me - I’m gonna get one of those blue lights for Millie.