Re: railroad terminology question in re: banner test

Flares carried on a locomotive or caboose used to signal emergencies to other trains in your track block (Fussie )

ie: train breaks down on the mainline in the good old days. The brakeman goes back along the line to a preset distance and sets a Fuse in teh middle of the track to signal approaching trains of a problem ahead. He then goes back a perscribed distance to signal approaching trains to stop. In addition to that to insure that the train crew is made aware of a flagman ahead if the flare burns out, small, but loud devices called " Torpeedoes" are strapped to the rail head and will go off when the locomotive rolls over them alerting the crew of a problem ahead.

for more info take a look here

[en.wikipedia.org]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/30/2009 04:21PM by kwilcomb.