5.8.2 Sounding Whistle
When weather conditions impair visibility, sound
the whistle frequently.
If the whistle fails, ring the bell continuously while moving.
When other employees are working in the immediate area, sound the required
whistle signal before moving.
The radio may be used in place of whistle signals, except signals (1) and (1
1). See following chart.
The required whistle signals are illustrated by "o" for short sounds and "-"
for longer sounds:
Sound Indication
(1) Succession of short Use when an emergency exists, or persons
sounds or livestock are on the track. When crews on
other trains hear this signal, they must stop
until it is safe to proceed.
(2) - When stopped: air brakes are applied,
pressure equalized.
(3) - - Release brakes. Proceed.
(4) o o Acknowledgment of any signal not
otherwise provided for.
(5) o o o When stopped: back up. Acknowledgment
of hand signal to back up.
(6) o o o o Request for signal to be given or repeated or
not understood.
(7) - o o o Flagman protect rear of train.
(8) o o o - Flagman protect front of train.
(9) - - - - Flagman may return from west or south.
(10) - - - - - Flagman may return from east or north.
(11) - - o - Approaching public crossings at grade with
engine in front, start signal not less than 1/4
mile before reaching crossing, if distance
permits. If distance does not permit, start
signal soon enough before the crossing to
provide wan-dng. Prolong or repeat signal
until engine occupies the crossing.
Use this signal to warn employees when
view is restricted.
(12) 0 - Inspect brake system for leaks or sticking
brakes.
This rule outlines the
requirements for protecting occupied outfit cars. As used in this rule, the
following definitions apply:
Outfit Car. Any on-track vehicle, including outfit, camp, or bunk car
or modular home mounted on a flat car to house railroad employees. Such
equipment is not considered an outfit car when placed in a wreck train.
Effective Locking Device. When used in relation to a manually operated
switch or a derail, a lock that can be locked or unlocked only by the craft or
group of workmen applying the lock.
Rolling Equipment. Engines, cars, and one or more engines coupled to
one or more cars.
Switch Providing Direct Access. A switch that if used by rolling
equipment could permit the rolling equipment to couple to the equipment being
protected.
Warning Signal. A white sign that reads, "OCCUPIED CAMP
CAR" in black lettering. At night, an illuminated white light must also
be used.
When occupied outfit cars are placed on a track, the employee in charge of
the outfit car occupants (or a designated representative) must provide or
request protection using one of the following methods:
A. On a Main Track
One of these two methods or a combination of these methods must be provided:
1. Each manually operated switch that provides direct access to that portion
of the main track where occupied outfit cars are located must be lined against
movement to that track, secured with an effective locking device, and spiked or
clamped. Waming signals must be displayed at or near each switch.
2 If remote control switches provide direct access to the
main track where occupied outfit cars are located, the control operator will
line the switch against movement to that track and apply blocking devices to the
control machine to prevent movement onto that track. The control operator must
complete the above tasks before informing the employee requesting protection
that protection is provided.
Blocking devices must not be removed until the employee in charge of
the outfit car occupants (or a designated representative) informs the control
operator that protection is no longer required. a. Warning signals
must be displayed at or near each remote control switch.
b. In addition, a derail capable of restricting access to the portion of main
track where occupied outfit cars are located must be placed at least 150 feet
from the end of the occupied outfit cars. The derail must be locked in derailing
position with an effective locking device. Warning signals must be displayed at
each derail.
c. The control operator must maintain for 15 days a written record of each
notification. The record must contain the following information:
- Name and craft of employee requesting protection
- Identification of track protected
- Date and time employee in charge of outfit car occupants is notified that
protection was provided
- Date, time, name, and craft of employee authorizing removal of protection
B. On Other than a Main Track
One of these three methods of protection or a combination of these methods
must be provided:
1. Each manually operated switch that provides direct access to the track
where occupied outfit cars are located must be lined against movement to that
track and secured with an effective locking device. Warning signals must be
displayed at or near each switch.
2. If remote control switches provide direct access to the
track where occupied outfit cars are located, the control operator will line the
switch against movement to that track and apply blocking devices to the control
machine to prevent movement onto that track. The control operator must complete
the above tasks before informing the employee requesting protection that
protection is provided.
Blocking devices must not be removed until the employee in charge of
the outfit car occupants (or a designated representative) informs the control
operator that protection is no longer required. a. Warning signals
must be displayed at or near each remote control switch.
b. The control operator must maintain for 15 days a written
record of each notification. The record must contain the following information:
- Name and craft of employee requesting protection
- Identification of track protected
- Date and time employee in charge of outfit car occupants is notified that
protection was provided
- Date, time, name, and craft of employee authorizing removal of protection
3. A derail capable of restricting access to that portion of the track
where occupied outfit cars are located will fulfill the requirements of
protection when the derail is:
- a. Positioned at least 150 feet from the end of the occupied outfit cars.
-
- or
- b. Positioned at least 50 feet from the end of the occupied outfit cars
where the maximum speed on that track is 5 MPH.
Warning signals must
be displayed at each derail.
C. Warning Signals When a warning signal is displayed
to protect occupied outfit cars:
- Occupied outfit cars must not be coupled to or moved.
- Rolling equipment must not pass the warning signal.
- Rolling equipment must not be placed on the same track in a manner that
would block or reduce the crew's view of the warning signal.
5.13 Blue Signal Protection of Workmen
This rule outlines the
requirements for protecting railroad workmen who are inspecting, testing,
repairing, and servicing rolling equipment. In particular, because these tasks
require the workmen to work on, under, or between rolling equipment, workmen are
exposed to potential injury from moving equipment.
Blue Signal Protection of Workmen
As used in this rule, the following
definitions apply:
Workmen. Railroad employees assigned to inspect, test, repair, or
service railroad rolling equipment or components, including brake systems. Train
and yard crews are excluded, except when they perform the above work on rolling
equipment not part of the train or yard movement they are handling or will
handle.
- "Servicing" does not include supplying cabooses, engines, or passenger
cars with items such as ice, drinking water, tools, sanitary supplies,
stationery, or flagging equipment.
- "Testing" does not include an employee making visual observations while on
or alongside a caboose, engine, or passenger car. Also, testing does not
include repositioning the activation switch or covering the photo-electric
cell of the marker when the rear of the train is on the main track. The
employee inspecting the marker must contact the employee controlling the
engine to confirm that the train will remain secure against movement until the
inspection is complete.
Group of Workmen. Two or more workmen
of the same or different crafts who work as a unit under a common authority and
communicate with each other while working.
Rolling Equipment. Engines, cars, and one or more engines coupled to
one or more cars.
Blue Signal. During the day, a clearly distinguishable blue flag or
light, and at night, a blue light. The blue light may be steady or flashing.
The blue signal does not need to be lighted when it is attached to the
operating controls of an engine and the inside of the engine cab area is lighted
enough to make the blue signal clearly distinguishable.
Effective Locking Device. When used in relation to a manually operated
switch or a derail, a lock that can be locked or unlocked only by the craft or
group of workmen applying the lock.
Car Shop Repair Area. One or more tracks within an area where rolling
equipment testing, servicing, repairing, inspecting, or rebuilding is controlled
exclusively by mechanical department personnel.
Engine Servicing Area. One or more tracks within an area where engine
testing, servicing, repairing, inspecting, or rebuilding is controlled
exclusively by mechanical department personnel.
Switch Providing Direct Access. A switch that if used by rolling
equipment could permit the rolling equipment to couple to the equipment being
protected.
A. What a Blue Signal Signifies
A blue signal signifies that workmen are on, under, or between rolling
equipment and requires that:
- Rolling equipment must not be coupled to or moved, except as provided in
"Movement in Engine Servicing Area" and 'Movement in Car Shop Repair Area" of
this rule.
- Rolling equipment must not pass a blue signal on a track protected by the
signal.
- Other rolling equipment must not be placed on the same track so as to
block or reduce the view of the blue signal.
- a. However, rolling equipment may be placed on the same track when it is
placed on designated engine servicing area tracks or car shop repair area
tracks, or when a derail divides a track into separate working areas.
- Rolling equipment must not enter a track when a blue signal is displayed
at the entrance to the track.
Blue signals or remote control blue
signals must be displayed for each craft or group of workmen who will work on,
under, or between rolling equipment.
Protection Removed. Blue signals may be removed only by the craft or
group who placed them. Remote control display may be discontinued when directed
by the craft or group that requested the protection. When blue signal protection
has been removed from one entrance of a double-ended track or from either end of
rolling equipment on a main track, that track is no longer under blue signal
protection.
B. How to Provide Protection
When workmen are on, under, or between rolling equipment and exposed to
potential injury, protection must be provided as follows:
On a Main Track. A blue signal must be displayed at each end of the
rolling equipment.
On Other than a Main Track. One of these three methods of protection
or a combination of these methods must be provided:
Each manually operated switch that provides direct access must be lined
against movement onto the track and secured by an effective locking device. A
blue signal must be placed at or near each such switch. In addition, any facing
point crossover switch must be lined against movement and secured by an
effective locking device.
2. A derail capable of restricting access to the track where
work will occur must be locked in derailing position with an effective locking
device and:
- a. Positioned at least 150 feet from the rolling equipment to be
protected.
-
- or
- b. Positioned at least 50 feet from the end of rolling equipment on a
designated engine servicing track or car shop repair track where speed is
limited to not more than 5 MPH.
A blue signal must be displayed at
each derail.
3. Where remote control switches provide direct access, the
employee in charge of the workmen must tell the switch operator what work will
be done. The switch operator must then:
- a. Inform the employee in charge of the workmen that the switches have
been lined against movement onto the track and devices controlling the
switches have been secured.
- b. Not remove the locking devices unless the employee in charge of the
workmen says it is safe to do so.
- c. Maintain for 15 days a written record of each notification that
includes:
- Name and craft of the employee in charge of the workmen requesting
protection
- Identification of track involved.
- Date and time the employee in charge of workmen is notified that
protection was provided
- Date, time, name, and craft of the employee in charge of workmen who
authorized removal of the protection
C. Blue Signal Readily Visible to Engineer
In addition to providing protection as required in 'On a Main Track"
and "On Other than a Main Track," when workmen are on, under, or between
an engine or rolling equipment coupled to an engine:
- A blue signal must be attached to the controlling engine.
- A blue signal must be visible to the engineer or employee controlling the
engine.
- The engine must not be moved.
D. Protection for Workmen Inspecting Markers
Blue signal protection must be provided for workmen when they are:
- Replacing, repositioning, or repairing a marker, and the rear of the train
is on any track.
-
- or
- Inspecting a marker by repositioning the activation switch or covering the
photo-electric cell, and the rear of the train is on other than a main track.
E. Protection for Emergency Repair Work
If a blue signal is not available for employees performing emergency repairs
on, under, or between an engine or rolling equipment coupled to an engine, the
employee controlling the engine must be notified and appropriate measures taken
to provide protection for the employees.
F. Movement in Engine Servicing Area An engine must not enter a
designated engine servicing area until the blue signal protection is removed
from the entrance. The engine must stop short of coupling to another engine.
An engine must not leave a designated engine servicing area unless the blue
signal is removed from the engine and the track in the direction of movement.
Blue signal protection removed to let engines enter or leave the engine
servicing area must be restored immediately after the engine enters or clears
the area.
An engine protected by blue signals may be moved on a designated engine
servicing area track when:
- An authorized employee operates the engine under the direction of the
employee in charge of workmen.
- The blue signal has been removed from the controlling engine to be
repositioned.
- Workmen have been warned of the movement.
G. Movement in Car
Shop Repair Area When rolling equipment on car shop repair tracks is
protected by blue signals, a car mover may reposition the equipment if:
- Workmen have been warned of the movement.
- An authorized employee operates the car mover under the direction of the
employee in charge of workmen.
Employees may use other hand
signals only if all crew members understand the signals. When employees are not
giving hand signals, they must not make any gestures or movements that may
resemble a hand signal.
