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Looking through a book on locomotives there was a photo of one carrying two white flags; caption saying it indicated the train was "extra". What does that mean? Do other colors of flags mean other things?
Posts: 363 | From: Southwest North Central Florida | Registered: Apr 2002
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An "extra" just means that the train is running with a second section. When there are too many cars to make up a single train, a second, or "extra" train is made up. Alternatively, an extra can simply be a train that is made up that is not on a predetermined schedule i.e., trains normally depart at specific times and carry specific designations such as "Sunset Limited" or "Z-WSPLAC08-05." These trains depart every day or every other day at the same time. Extras do not.
Years ago, extras used to carry white flags so that train crews and tower operators would know that this train was indeed an extra. Today, this practice is no longer heeded, although extras still run. Some types of extras are referred to as "bare-table" trains, which are usually made up of unscheduled trains of empty cars.
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