And this morning, this loco is still sitting here, with a blue light glowing. That blue light has been there since yesterday, so someone forgot it there. It is sitting on the sand track, which is why the hopper of sand is there. The yellow tower is for filling the sand gantry.
That blue light is basically the same as a blue flag that they put on locos so they don't get moved accidentally.
The blue flag rules are tightly enforced. Each employee in shops has a blue light and it has a name tag on it, blue of course. Under no circumstances is anyone allowed to get near that piece of equipment or train with another loco or car until the individual whose blue tag it is clears the unit. It is a rule for the safety of personnel working on equipment. Violation of the blue tag rules can result in immediate dismissal, seniority be damned.
Have wanted to get back and comment on these shots for a while. Excellent "time warp" photos. If one can ignore the auxiliary canteen, the second photo could have been shot at any point in the Big Boy's service life. It's easy to imagine a long freight stretched out behind her. Union Pacific has done a really wonderful thing bringing her back.
I am wondering- If someone did leave it by accident, and this engine was needed for some train service, how much of a tongue lashing that individual might receive for being forgetful.....
In order to work on our cars at the Austin Steam Train Association yard, well had to take a "blue flag" course. We were each issued a large washer with our name engraved on it. When we are working in the yard we have to hang it on a hook attached to a blue Men Working sign in the middle of the tracks at the throat of the yard. If a locomotive or cars have to be moved around in the yard, everyone has to be located and come take down their washer. If you are working on a track that is not involved in the move you have to put up another sign on your track and put a lock on the switch leading to it before you can return to what you were doing. When we were working on a car in an industrial yard in Houston with an active locomotive that had to use part of our track, we had to have a derail in place plus a blue sign. There are hefty fines if you are caught in violation and anyone involved that is employed by a railroad is in danger of losing their job.
They will call you at home or send someone to verify your whereabouts. Then the tongue lashings begin when you arrive for work the next shift. Did that once, only once!!
Did someone get a TARDIS and time travel to 3019? Look at the thread title... I don't know how long it's been like that, and how I never noticed it before....
