|
Just how important this can be is shown by an incident that happened on the MOP, back in pre-radio steam engine days. One of their big USRA 2-10-2's left Bush with about a hundred loads of coal headed west, late one night. These engines had two big cross compound air pumps. In the hill and dale area, of the Big Muddy River valley, west of Murphyboro, they pulled a drawbar, not far from the caboose. For some reason, the train did not go into emergency. The brakes applied on some cars near the end of the train but the big air pumps kept the rest of the train charged. The drag from these brakes just offset the loss of tonnage and the problem was not discovered until the train reached Gorham, the next open train order station. Of coarse, the operator didn't see the trouble until
the "train" ( partial train, remember no markers) was past his station, so he had to call ahead to Chester to stop the train. Meanwhile the conductor and flagman sat in the caboose. The parted train traveled about seventy miles before being stopped! From: Karl Rethwisch <qrailroadman@yahoo.com> To: "CBQ@yahoogroups.com" <CBQ@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 9:51 AM Subject: [CBQ] Re: Marker Lights The term "MARKER" is a well thought-out description of a device that is INTENDED to, and does, MARK the rear of a train. To be ABSOLUTELY SURE that the rear of a specific train has passed conveys information to the Cond. and Brakeman of the train being met relavent to preserving LIFE !!! Failing to observe the markers BEFORE re-entering the main track is both a violation of the rules as well as an invitation to a collision ! A marker is also an assurance to the crew of the train being met that the ENTIRE train meeting them is complete. Engine numbers are critically important, so also is the knowledge that the ENTIRE train you're meeting has passed. Karl __._,_.___
Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe __,_._,___ |