2/22/37 - MCCOY, IND.

[shlustig]

Located on the Big four between Cincinnati - Riverside Yard and Greensburg. Double-track with ABS Rules.

Train #51 (Local Freight) with Eng. 1575 and 8 cars + caboose stopped at the switch of the westbound siding and prepared to set out a car by means of a running switch. The Flagman and Rear Brakeman left the Conductor in the caboose and walked ahead to assist in the move. The Engr. did not whistle out a flag and the Conductor had not instructed the Flagman to flag.

A few minutes after stopping , #51 was rear-ended by Train #99 with Eng. 2926 and 33 cars + caboose at an impact speed of 10 to 15 mph at about 7:25PM. The Engr. of #99 admitted to crowding the blocks on successive "Approach" signals. No fatalities, 2 injuries (both on the 2926), and the caboose and 2 rear cars of #51 derailed.

[BR&P]

Was there something saying Rule 99 did not apply in ABS territory?

So many times incidents are caused by two separate actions, the sum of which cause the wreck.

[ExCon90]

Most railroads had a provision stating that Rule 99 was complied with if sufficient flag protection was provided against trains traveling at Restricted Speed. I think mostly the flagman stood on the ground next to the caboose steps, which was technically in compliance since Restricted Speed would require a train to be prepared to stop before reaching the caboose even without a flagman. I wonder whether the fact that the engineer didn't whistle out the flag and the conductor didn't instruct the flagman to flag (does a conductor need to instruct a flagman to comply with Rule 99?) suggests that maybe that crew had been working that job together for little too long a time and everyone expected the others to do the necessary. (None of which is an acceptable reason for #99's engineer not complying with a Stop-and-Proceed signal, after admittedly "riding the yellow.")