Red flag on the last carriage of the train

[Gostav]

I discovered an interesting rule while reading some nineteenth-century articles: If the last carriage of a train is with a Red Board or Red Flag, it means that there is another extra or special train behind the train in the same direction. train. For single-track lines, this indicates that the station master or signalman must not clear the oncoming traffic until the special train has passed.

Now l finally find the rule detail on a regulations of LNWR, and it seems that such rule is only useful on single-track railways. These early operation rules seem to have been easily forgotten in history.

REGULATIONS FOR ENGINEMEN
42. Whenever a Red Board or Red Flag is carried on the last carriage or waggon of a passing Train, it is to indicate that a Special or Extra Train is to follow; and when such Extra Train is to run at night, an additional Red Light must be attached to the tail of the preceding Train.

THE TRAIN NOW DEPARTING

It seems that similar rules are found in all railway systems with British origins. I have heard that on China railways, in old days they used to release multiple trains in the same direction on some single-track lines, and only the last one taken the token to ensure that the signalman would not clear the opposite traffic before this batch of group trains had completely passed. Not sure if it fit in there.

 

[Taunton]

USA the same, but the flags are flown on the front of the locomotive, both sides, so much more obvious. White is an Extra train not in the timetable - on some routes this was most, or even all. Green is Extra Following In Same Direction. Another in can't recall (yellow?) is Extra Following In Opposite Direction, which is most commonly the same train will be reversing and coming back. You even got the flags on interurban electric cars.

Although now given up, US railroads, especially tourist operations, still like to fly white flags for historic effect. They turn up in many old photographs.

I have heard that on China railways, in old days they used to release multiple trains in the same direction on some single-track lines, and only the last one taken the token to ensure that the signalman would not clear the opposite traffic before this batch of group trains had completely passed. Not sure if it fit in there.

Same in Britain with Staff & Ticket working, only the last train takes the staff. Preceding trains are given a ticket instead, and must be shown the staff when this is handed over. Some heritage lines still have this.

 

[Rescars]

I discovered an interesting rule while reading some nineteenth-century articles: If the last carriage of a train is with a Red Board or Red Flag, it means that there is another extra or special train behind the train in the same direction. train. For single-track lines, this indicates that the station master or signalman must not clear the oncoming traffic until the special train has passed.

Now l finally find the rule detail on a regulations of LNWR, and it seems that such rule is only useful on single-track railways. These early operation rules seem to have been easily forgotten in history.



It seems that similar rules are found in all railway systems with British origins. I have heard that on China railways, in old days they used to release multiple trains in the same direction on some single-track lines, and only the last one taken the token to ensure that the signalman would not clear the opposite traffic before this batch of group trains had completely passed. Not sure if it fit in there.

The red board or flag by day or extra tail lamp at night rule denoting an extra train is to follow appears in the LNWR's Rules and Regulations dated January 1849. These are reproduced in Stokers and Pokers by Sir Francis Head.