Re: railroad terminology question in re: banner test

kwilcomb Wrote:
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>
> 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 " Torpedoes"
> are strapped to the rail head and will go off when
> the locomotive rolls over them alerting the crew
> of a problem ahead.
>

It's still done today. On GC Ry GCOR test had quite a few questions on flagging.

Skip Luke
Switchman (ret): Grand Canyon Railway;
Engineer (ret): Georgetown Loop RR Inc., Sumpter Valley Ry., Monticello & Sangamon Valley;
Dispatcher(ret): Illinois Central, White Pass & Yukon, Burlington Northern Ry.
Mariner, Musician, Miner