Flagging Protection

The following shall be observed:

Blue signals shall be placed at both ends of the rolling stock, if both ends of

the track are open, or at the open end of rolling stock if only one end of the

track is open.

The supervisor or the supervisor's designated representative in charge of the

personnel who are working in, on, under, between or around the cars shall be

responsible for placing and removing the blue signals. No person other than

the supervisor who placed the blue signal or the supervisor's designated

representative shall remove the blue signal.

The equipment shall not be coupled into or moved while the blue signals are

displayed.

When a blue signal is displayed at the entrance to a track, rolling stock shall

not enter that track. Cars shall not be spotted any closer than 50 feet from any

obstruction (truck, trailer, other equipment) that is fouling the tracks.

Except for servicing tracks or repairing tracks, or when a derail is used to

divide a track into separate working areas, other rolling stock shall not be

placed on the same track where it will obstruct the view of the blue signals.

When personnel are in, on, under, between, or around a locomotive or rolling

equipment coupled to a locomotive on either a main track or other than a main

track, a blue signal shall be attached to the controlling unit at a location where

it is readily visible to the engineer or operator at the controls of that engine.

When emergency repair work is to be done in, on, under, between, or around a

locomotive or rolling equipment coupled to a locomotive, and a blue signal is

not available, the engineer or operator at the controls of the locomotive shall

be notified and a clear understanding reached between the engineer or operator

and personnel doing the repairs.

(8) Red Flags. Out of service track and track under repair shall be locked out or

marked with a red flag on each open end of the track.

f. Flagging Protection. The Installation Commander shall designate highway grade

crossings that require flagging protection. At these crossings, the train crew shall stop the train

before the locomotive or lead railcar enters the crossing. A ground crew member shall stop

traffic. This crew member shall wear a safety vest and use a red flag during the day and a lantern

during the night. When stopping traffic crew members shall not get in front of moving traffic and

shall wave the train ahead only after all traffic has been fully stopped.

g. Switching and Spotting Cars.

(1) Coupling and uncoupling. Refer to Section 3.1.f.1& 2. Any movement of a

loaded car other than switching within a yard shall be done with the air brake system charged and

functional. When switching in a yard, empty cars may be moved without connecting the air hoses

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