This is forwarded to you at the request of Louis Zadnichek to whom I addressed this earlier.
Gentlemen:
I consulted my copy of The General Code of Operating Rules; (Second Edition – October 29, 1989) Flagman’s Signals: Paragraph 10ff: “Temporary Restrictions” pretty well covers what should have happened to prevent this mishap from occurring.
The machine operator and track supervisor needed time and limits, on both tracks. Trains operating on tracks adjacent to the one on which they were working needed warning orders that the possibility existed of fouling the adjacent track (s) and to operate the train not to exceed 10 MPH in the work zone.
I am confident all of you already know this; apparently AMTRAK doesn’t subscribe to the content of the General Code as their name is not listed on the frontispiece of the General Code. Ah, well.
Cordially,
John Hodson, ATSF Ry., retired Engineering Department
Cadfael44@frontier.com