Steam & Excursion > I didn't know the controversy at the time...

Behind the individual in this photo. Didn't know his name or title. When I snapped this during UP 844's brief stop in Truckee, CA, a few years back, I figured he was just another member of the Steam Crew. I did know who Steve Lee was...or wasn't ;)...and that he retired a couple years proir. None the less, my camera was aimed at the right place at the right time, and I think this is a neat shot. If you feel inclined to flame away, I understand & wont take offence.  

Desmond Praetzel, "4451 Puff"

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No flame intended or implied ... just the facts ...
That be Ed Dickens ...

Odyssey
Evergreen, CO

Is that blue flag with the hardware dangling from it like a lockout/tagout thing? Scott GriggsLouisville, KY

sgriggs Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is that blue flag with the hardware dangling from
> it like a lockout/tagout thing? Scott
> GriggsLouisville, KY

Yes. Each crew member doing a job, must hang his/her name tag on the blue flag. 

Nice photo Desmond.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

"This key dosen't work in the ignition switch".

Is it me, or is he aging at a presidential pace?

Posted from Android

A-1 Wrote:
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> Is it me, or is he aging at a presidential pace?
>
No, it is not just you.  Mr,. Dickens does, indeed,
seem to be aging at a predidential pace.

About those tags on that blue flag:
What are the rules about exactly who can remove each tag?
Oonly the person who put his or her tag ther, or anyone in the
same craft?

TIA for answer to this!

Margaret_SP_fan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A-1 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Is it me, or is he aging at a presidential
> pace?
> >
> No, it is not just you.  Mr,. Dickens does,
> indeed,
> seem to be aging at a predidential pace.
>
> About those tags on that blue flag:
> What are the rules about exactly who can remove
> each tag?
> Oonly the person who put his or her tag ther, or
> anyone in the
> same craft?
>
> TIA for answer to this!


Each person has a tag and that is the only person that can remove it.

Posted from iPhone

Margaret_SP_fan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A-1 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Is it me, or is he aging at a presidential
> pace?
> >
> No, it is not just you.  Mr,. Dickens does,
> indeed,
> seem to be aging at a predidential pace.
>
> About those tags on that blue flag:
> What are the rules about exactly who can remove
> each tag?
> Oonly the person who put his or her tag ther, or
> anyone in the
> same craft?
>
> TIA for answer to this!

The person who FIRST hangs the blue flag is the ONLY person who can remove it. Subsequent workers/employees, then hang their ID tags beside the first person's ID tag. If and when all the other workers/employees have removed their ID tags, indicating that their tasks are completed, then, and ONLY THEN, can the original installer of the blue flag remove his/her ID tag, and remove the blue flag.

Blue signals, colloquially known as "blue flag"s:

GCOR Rule 5.13 (the CFR says pretty much the same thing)   
"Blue Signal Protection of Workmen"
.
.
.
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.
.
.
.
Blue signals may be removed only by the craft or group who placed them."

The tags identify each craft or group. Last I heard, the UP dominated the GCOR committee in a big way, so I imagine the UP follows the GCOR.

EtoinShrdlu --
Thank you very much!  I was pretty sure that it is
the craft or trade, not the person, who is allowed
to remove a blue flag.  Limiting permission to remove
a blue flag to an individual would not work.

>Limiting permission to remove a blue flag to an individual would not work.

Correct. Suppose a locomotive carpenter attached his (personal) tag to change a windsheld and then for some reason had to be rushed to a hospital (fell and broke his leg or arm, recevied bad cut and lacerations from the glass window, etc.). How then would his tag be removed if he had to do it personally? This is the reason why the Rule reads "craft": another locomotive carpenter could.

On that particular crew, each worker has a name tag with his photo ID
on it.  Each person is responsible for attaching his tag to the blue signal
before he starts doing any work covered by the rule, and is also responsible
for removing his tag when he is finished and is out of harm's way.

The blue signal may not be removed unless and until all tags have been
removed.

Since there are only a handful of employees involved (4 or 5) in this
instance, this makes perfect sense.