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- 20 - Several procedures were used in response to overruns. Sometimes, the train continued on to the next station. On other occasions, passengers were asked to walk back through the train or the train was backed up to the platform. A special instruction in Timetable No. 69, October 25, 1964, required an engineer to walk the length of the train and change controls when he was backing up. This instruction, however, was deleted from subsequent timetables, and the choice of how to handle a station overrun was left to the traincrew.

Flagging. Although traincrews in ICG suburban operations once included a crewmember with a title "flagman," an agreement between the United Transportation Union and the ICG on June 11, 1970, provided simply that suburban trains would be manned by a conductor and one additional trainman.

In recent years, there has been minimal flagging in suburban territory, and the ICG crewmembers who testified at the public hearing were unable to recall any recent instances of flagging. Flagging appliances had not been carried regularly by crew personnel nor had the appliances been consistently furnished on train equipment. During the 2 years preceding the accident, no discipline had been taken against employees for failing to have proper flagging equipment.

At the Safety Board‘s public hearing, the interpretation of Rule 99(a) came into question. This rule first appeared in Bulletin Order No. 66, dated September 17, 1964. The order stated that:


 * ". . .99 is modified as follows:


 * "When trains or engines are operating in automatic block signal . . . territory, protection against following trains or engines on the same track is not required. This modification does not apply to rear end protection of passenger trains. Any other rule, train order or State Law requiring flag protection must be observed.“

This order was reissued in a modified form on January 1, 1965, and was eventually replaced by Rule 99(a), which states that:


 * "Within interlocking, Automatic Block System or Centralized Traffic Control System limits, flag protection is not required against following movements on same track."