Looking out my office window at the BNSF track approximately 20 feet away. In the last couple weeks, a sign approximately 12 X 18 inches has been installed just before a switch. The top half of the sign is yellow with a black line around the border and the lower half is red/orange with a black line around the border. The sign was removed for a couple days and now it is back. What does this sign mean?
The trains seem to be slower than usual. Maybe something to do with the sign?
Sounds like a tempary speed rection is in place for track work for MOW crews. That sign is suppose to be treated just as yellow over red indication on the signals. It means proceed at restricted speed being prepared to stop with half the distance of persons or equipment fouling the track unless otherwise noted.
Form “B” limits protecting men an machines on the track two miles ahead (or less). Most likely there is a temporary red board ahead that the train will stop at until the M/W employee in charge will allow the train to pass. One place where the track gang and the roadmaster can pull rank on the dispatcher and show who really “owns” the railroad. Hopefully the gang foreman gives the railroad back to the DS at the end of work and doesn’t take the railroad home in his pocket!
Dirty Bird
I had a DS call my cell the other day thinking that I took the RR home in my pocket (TWC). Amtrak was on its way and he was hot! What happened is the brakeman’s radio went B/O and we used a backup pacset that didn’t have that road channel programmed in. We tried to tone the DS up to notify him of this and as usual, he didn’t answer. After 10 min. off we went on the new channel. He had no idea what channel we were on…whos fault was this? the DS for not answering his damn radio. The chief called and was in a major toot and I told him to answer their damn tone ins and there wouldn’t have been a problem and we were just about to clear the limits. I just love the RR…mass confusion.
Ken
Therailnut, the yellow red flag is not intended to be interpreted as a restrictive indication. A yellow over red signal on my road is an approach, restrictings are flashing red or lunar. The yellow red flag indicates to be prepared to stop short of a red flag in 2 miles, no speeds are attached to this. You must be prepared to stop short in 2 miles unless otherwise specified in writing (sometimes less). We usually try to contact the foreman well before the Y/R flag and usually, he will call us back to give us permission to enter his limits or will give us permission at that time with the appropriate instructions.
Ken
Inadvertantly I think we just gave Mookie a new term to put in her slang dictionary / thesaurous…
Iron Feathered One
Ken! I am getting there! I read this and understood everything you said! I am so pleased! Starting to get the lingo down so I will be able to come to work pretty soon! [^]
Mookie
Thanks for the info. The sign is gone this morning and the trains are hauling a**
again outside my window.
Thanks for the clarification Ironken. Sorry got that mixed up.
Therailnut, just wanted to clarify to the best of my knowledge for you. I get squared away on stuff by old heads every day…
Mook, put in your app. I’ll put in a good word for you. I just got one of my buddys an interview in Denver. If he gets the job, he will probably wanna punch me in the nose when he figures out what it is all about…Oh well.
Ken
No good deed goes unpunished!
Mook