Flagman (rail)
Encyclopedia
On the railroads, a flagman is an employee of the railroad who is assigned to protect contractors or any one performing work on a railroad right of way. When a train approaches a location where workers may foul the track, the train crew will call the flagman for permission to pass the work area. Usually a flagman is a conductor
qualified for the territory.
a train approaching the work area is to call the flagman for permission through the work area. Example, "Q390-29 Engine CSXT 5219 calling flagman at milepost 151.2, like permission though the work area". If workers are in the clear the flagman will advise crew to proceed and advise the crew that workers are not fouling the track. If a flagman fails to answer, the train crew is required by rule to stop short of milepost location and proceed at restricted speed. However on Norfolk Southern there is no flagman. Rather NS has a track supervisor obtain track authority from the train dispatcher to take the track out of service until it is certain that workers are in the clear and trains may safely pass the area.
Conductor (transportation)
A conductor is a member of a railway train's crew that is responsible for operational and safety duties that do not involve the actual operation of the train. The title of conductor is most associated with railway operations in North America, but the role of conductor is common to railways...
qualified for the territory.
Jobs that may require a flagman
- Workers installing fiber optic cables underneath the right of way.
- A construction gang building an overpassOverpassAn overpass is a bridge, road, railway or similar structure that crosses over another road or railway...
or underpass for the purpose of eliminating a grade crossing.
- Any construction project that requires workers to be on railroad right of way, and may foul track.
Additional information
Rules pertaining to a flagman may vary depending on different railroad's operating rules. For instance on CSX TransportationCSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
a train approaching the work area is to call the flagman for permission through the work area. Example, "Q390-29 Engine CSXT 5219 calling flagman at milepost 151.2, like permission though the work area". If workers are in the clear the flagman will advise crew to proceed and advise the crew that workers are not fouling the track. If a flagman fails to answer, the train crew is required by rule to stop short of milepost location and proceed at restricted speed. However on Norfolk Southern there is no flagman. Rather NS has a track supervisor obtain track authority from the train dispatcher to take the track out of service until it is certain that workers are in the clear and trains may safely pass the area.