Sunshine and chequered flags

May 29, 2009 10:42

Well the lambs have got their way – the rain has gone away. In it’s place we have blazing blue skies… and they’re set to stay for the weekend. Hooray!

If you aren’t signed up to Lamb Cam Alerts, you may have missed out on the railway worker recently waving a chequered flag on the railway line and being honked at by passing trains. We weren’t sure what the flag was for and posed the question in an alert message. Thankfully, BTP Officer Amanda, emailed us with the answer:

“The flag is to let the workers up the line know a train is coming, it also let’s the driver know there are workers up the line. The chap on his own is the look-out who must warn the others. The driver must honk his horn to acknowledge the look-out and the look-out must wave acknowledgement back. It’s called track safety. All railway workers from platform staff to the British Transport Police must do regular track saftey courses.”

-Thanks Amanda!