Re: D&S Protection-Related to A&M mishap

What's flagging distance on the Narrow Gauge?

On the Grand Canyon, it's 1 mile. Even though we use radio's for transmission of Track Warrants, we require flag protection for multiple trains to operate within the same Track Warrant Limits. It's easier than copying a new warrant every 15 minutes on a 2 hour trip.

Because of the requirement for flag protection, all new hires for operating crews must pass a physical endurance test - 1 mile in 15 minutes, uphill.

I myself have been the monkey required to protect a train's rear on occasion. On one instance, there was a small locomotive problem that required stopping. Well upon inspection, the mechanical issue turned out to be a non issue, but the conductor did not want to wait 15 minutes for me to walk the mile back to the train, so he left me.

With the radios, flagging almost becomes a formality because the following train is usually monitoring radio transmissions of the leading train. So, it would be an unusual event for an engineer to come around a corner and see a flagman (with lit fusees of course) that he didn't expect to see, but flagging gives you that extra layer of insurance in case of a radio failure, which does occur from time to time.

Eric