Re: Flagging

Brian, your comment illustrates why the FRA is so concerned about tourist railroads--weekend railfans playing trains instead of operating dangerous equipment according to rules. If a museum/tourist line has such poor quality volunteers that it allows them unfettered access to torpedoes and doesn't reprimand or take other action against misuse, that's their own fault. That doesn't mean you throw safety out the window because of misuse by unauthorized personnel.
Erik, I'd rather use a dodo (your description of torpedoes) and have a train stop than be responsible for it plowing into a full passenger train.
Yes, torpedoes are dangerous, as are fusees and 100 ton locomotives moving at speed and coupling cars. Anyone who doesn't respect that danger doesn't belong in the operating department. And radios...I dare say there are probably a number of spots between Chama and Antonito where a radio is useless, even if it is fully charged and the crewman doesn't drop it.
And yes, even if you "know" there is nothing following, if you stop on the main and don't call out the flag and don't have some other authority which says you don't have to protect against following movements, you are in violation. Our training officers address this issue in every new training class. We know there is nothing behind us on our stub-end line and it seems to make more sense to protect the front of the train where another movement could possibly come from. However, the rule requires protecting the rear of the train. Period!
And yes, we have the FRA guys around frequently-announced and unannounced. And they will find the proper equipment on board and crews who know the drill. We've even had them lay down torpedoes or fusees to see what we do, and we pass.
Do I even dare ask about blue flag protection?