February 2016 Work Planning

[Steve Smith]

Thanks, Start, for the explanation of the various uses.

How long are the stands, Bill?

I'm guessing 5 feet.

[Paul Uhland]

Thanks for the practical flagholder explanation. I'm a strong believer in using a standard way with similar appliances to indicate possible safety issues.
I'm familiar with RR flag use, having been a summer ATSF switchman/brakeman, put  blue flag markers on C&TS freight cars being rebuilt in Chama.

Ya just can't be too careful around potentially dangerous rail movements and equipment.

I would also suggest putting up mainline EOT "red boards" at Sheepscot and, as of now, TOM...a painted square mounted on a short  fence post between the rail ends, as done in Belen by NM Rail Runner commuter line.
Would show riders WW&F is very safety conscious.

[Bill Baskerville]

Steve,

I thougt about making them 5 feet but decided on 60 inches instead. They barely fit in my Insight to bring them to Sheepscot.

Paul,

I like the idea of the red square at Sheepscot but the red flag at the TOM works better because we take the work trains past to continue building North. I am told, for safety reasons we won't take passengers down the grade until we have built to 218.  I guess we could put the square off to the side like we do the flag.

Bill

[James Patten]

making them 5 feet but decided on 60 inches instead

I think you'll find that 5 feet = 60 inches.

[Dave Buczkowski]

James;
I think Bill's attempt at humor went right over your head...
Dave

[Ed Lecuyer]

I don't think it went over James' head.... maybe Linda's.

[Paul Uhland]

Bill,
I'm proposing permanent  EOT safety red 'stop'  boards, commonly used on US railroads,  since WW&F is "dark", has no signal system.
  
Board at TOM could be:  
<for now, unmistakably centered at the very end of mainline track and highly visible, day or night.
<removed daytimes during next mainline extension project to not obstruct work vehicles; at project's finish, replanted at TOM, newest EOT or to where newly laid rails are deemed useable.
<should be the same size and design as Sheepscot's proposed red board, both  reflectorized.

 Standardization promotes familiarity and fast recognition, shows public that safety is taken seriously on WW&F.  

[Bill Baskerville]

I guess i need to not attempt humor any more. Actually what I told the welder was make them 60 inches long, that way we get 4 pieces out of a 20 foot stick of 1/2 inch bar rod stock.

As to the red square ...... Since it will take about 5 or so years to get to 218 we could put a piece of PVC pipe in the ground twix the rails and ties at TOM so the sign could be easily placed there and on work weekends moved to another tube beside the track or replaced with a red flag for the weekend.

Another red flag could be placed at the ever creeping Northward EOT. It's a variation of what we now do with the red flags.

This would require a few extra sentences in the rule book which is ways above my pay grade.

[Ira Schreiber]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The red flags next to the ROW work just fine.