If you are cleared through the Form B Limits ?

Question

If you get cleared through the Form B limits by the EIC, is it necessary to stop for a RED Board, even if you were given permission? My take is that even if the Employee in Charge says you can enter and you have milepost limits confirmed....you still have to stop and get permission .

That person may have said you can enter - but said nothing about that board or flag.

Answer 1

I have the BNSF rule book here. It states, "Train must stop short of the red flag and not proceed unless authorized by foreman (EIC)."

"If authority to proceed is received by foreman (EIC) before the stop is made, train may pass red flag without stopping."

There's some other clauses in there too. But this is the jist of it.

Answer 2

When we are cleared through a form b the EIC uses the wording you are authorized to pass the red flag located at mp whatever without stopping and proceed through the limits at --mph Stopping is not required for the red flag.

Answer 3

You dont state what carrier you are working for, but most are covered under the General Code of Operating Rules.

You do not have to stop if  you have permission to enter. GCOR rule 5.4.7 clearly states "If permission to proceed is received before the train stops, the train may pass the red flag or red light without stopping".

Most foremen state "without stopping" but that is not necessary, it is a throwback to an old rule.

As stated above, better to stop if you are not sure, but it is better yet to know.

Answer 4

You still have to stop.pp

Answer 5

Im with Andy F, any foreman will tell you "pass red flag displayed at ___ without stopping" when giving you permission through his/her limits.  If the dont, ask .....as an  old head engineer told me " better to ask permission, than beg for foregiveness"

Answer 6

The employee in charge of the work area can only give permission for movement within that work area.  The dispatcher is still in control of all the signals and interlockings, and you need his permission to move from the work area back to the in-service area.  Usually, if there's work going on in multiple blocks through interlockings, then either the signal system will be taken out of service and track warrants will control movement, or you will need to have dispatcher's permission past red boards (at interlockings.  If it's a 'distant' signal, it's not under dispatcher's control).  

I once was going through an area where a new interlocking was being installed, and I got permission to move through the work area from the dispatcher (it was after hours and the workers were gone).  I then noted that I had a red board at this interlocking, and asked permission through it, and the dispatcher came on and gave me a track warrant taking the signal out of service (so the new signal essentially didn't exist).  So, I was the first one to go through a red board at this location!  You treasure moments like that...