Louis short flagging was pretty routine. Especially when it was for what appears here to be a westbounder on main 1 picking up at the "Park". As you mentioned there's no flag or fusee displayed so the flagman is expecting a routine short stop. One didn't wonder too far back for fear of getting left or having to set the air from the rear waiting on the flagman to get back on board.
I came very close to being left at La Grange road westbound on a dinky in knee deep snow when
The train went into emergency to avoid hitting an auto on the crossing which was hung up in the snow.
Leo
September 15, 2015
Leo, Archie and other retired Chicago-Aurora trainmen - Question,
without pouring over the Rules Of The Operating Department, was "short
flagging" tolerated during severe winter weather? In the attached image dated
January 1962, a flag man stands a short distance from his way car on what
appears to be a bitterly cold late afternoon in Brookfield, IL. I say the man
shown all bundled-up in a parka is a flag man as you can see his bag (I know
there's a term for it) full of fusees and flags for protecting stopped
trains. I suppose that may be this man is protecting the grade
crossing in front of him for a backing movement, but I do not see a lit
fusee on the road nor a flag in his hand. I'd appreciate any input on just
exactly what this trainman is doing (other than stamping his snow covered feet
to keep warm). GLAD I live in sunny, warm South Alabama
having grown-up in the Midwest on Everywhere West.... Best Regards -
Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL