OldPoleBurner Wrote:
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> Having had part in rule book revisions (mostly for
> signal rules, and because I had been involved in
> so many investigations), I can tell you that is
> NOT an old wives tale. Beyond the barest of basic
> procedural structure governing train movements;
> historically, all the additional rules were put
> there one by one, after an accident showed the
> need.
>
> One example is the ATSF rule requiring a brakeman
> at a siding waiting for a meet, to stand well away
> from the switch stand (100ft if I recall) until
> after the last opposing train to meet has passed.
> That got put in only after it was discovered that
> humans are excitable creatures and may
> inadvertently throw the switch too soon if
> standing next to it. It was a deadly and bloody
> accident that demonstrated the need for that rule;
> not the smarts of management, nor even that of any
> employee. Further, it was only because an
> independent investigation revealed the true cause,
> that the rule was instituted at all. It was, as
> most were, written in the blood of those
> passengers and crewmen that died.
>
> Violate it, and more blood will get spilled, just
> as happened again in the late fifties, this time
> by a rookie fireman subbing for a suddenly ill
> brakemen. The fireman was not familiar with the
> brakeman's rules - so he died; as did twenty or
> so others.
>
> Just like now, managers back then were often too
> stupid to anticipate hazards until after the blood
> was spilled. Because those additional rules were
> not written until after blood got spilled, they
> WERE written in blood. And the process will
> continue on and on - unless human beings manage to
> learn how to anticipate fatal flaws before they
> ever kill anyone. Clairvoyance anyone!
>
>
> And no - I do not believe that frequent anything
> will necessarily make you go blind - unless it's
> frequent poking sticks into your eyes, or throwing
> battery acid around, or something like that. But
> seriously though, I do know a dude that while
> resting at an away point waiting for his call, did
> practice that art in the bunkhouse, and did go
> blind! At least for a few minutes. Turns out he
> had an unknown (at the time) medical condition
> (low blood pressure). So when he got really
> really busy, not enough blood pressure got to his
> head, and since the eyes are the first to go when
> that happens, there you are.
>
> Moral of the story - don't be so quick to scoff!
> Rare though it may be, almost anything is
> possible.

Here's what the GCOR says:

8.4: Lining Main Track Switch

When an employee lines the switch to let a train enter or leave the main track, the employee
must then go to the opposite side of the main track and not return to the switch stand until
movement is complete. If unable to go to the opposite side of the track, the employee must
stand at least 20 feet from the switch stand.

8.7: Clear of Main Track Switches

Except in switching movements, when a train or engine is approaching or passing on a main
track, employees must not go nearer than 20 feet to any main track switch.

When a train or engine that will be met or passed is on a siding or other track, the employee
attending the switch must be in a safe location. The employee must not be nearer than 150
feet, if possible, from the switch when the train is closely approaching and passing.

By creating a rule, any rule, it acts as a tool for the company to place blame on a offending employee, and thus limit the company's liablity (as in, "We have a rule against it, and the man violated it."), but it doesn't prevent the infraction from happening. Only an employee with the ability to follow instructions and use common sense can do that.

Saying that rules are written in blood is merely a scare tactic that one could apply to just about anything, whether they really do or not.