PTS Basic 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does a blue flag displayed at the end of a track or equipment mean?
- Workers are on or near the track and the equipment must not be moved (Correct answer)
- Track maintenance is complete and the track is clear
- A train is approaching from that direction
- The track is closed for inspection only
Correct answer: Workers are on or near the track and the equipment must not be moved
A blue flag signal indicates that workers are on, under, or between railroad equipment, and that equipment must not be coupled to or moved until the blue flag is removed by the same workers who placed it.
Question 2: Which situation would require a roadway worker to immediately stop work and clear the track?
- Receiving an unexpected radio call from the RWIC
- Observing a train approaching outside of the authorized work window (Correct answer)
- Discovering a defective rail within the work limits
- Losing sight of the flagger's position
Correct answer: Observing a train approaching outside of the authorized work window
A train approaching outside the authorized time or space limits is an immediate danger requiring all workers to clear the track to a place of safety without delay.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of establishing 'movement authority' before beginning roadway work?
- To ensure train dispatchers know who is working and where, preventing train movements into the work zone (Correct answer)
- To document worker hours for payroll purposes
- To notify the railroad's insurance carrier of the work activity
- To allow supervisors to track worker productivity
Correct answer: To ensure train dispatchers know who is working and where, preventing train movements into the work zone
Movement authority creates a formal record with the train dispatcher, establishing protected limits that prevent trains from being authorized into the roadway worker's work area.
Question 4: When a train or on-track equipment approaches a work zone, workers should move to a place of safety that is at minimum:
- At least 25 feet from the track centerline or as far as site conditions permit (Correct answer)
- Directly behind a large piece of equipment
- On the opposite side of an adjacent track
- At least 6 feet from the nearest rail
Correct answer: At least 25 feet from the track centerline or as far as site conditions permit
Workers must clear to at least 25 feet from the track centerline where possible, or as far as site conditions allow, to avoid debris and air displacement from passing trains.
Question 5: A 'shunting failure' in a track circuit means that:
- A worker or equipment on the track may not be detected by the signal system (Correct answer)
- The train's braking system has malfunctioned
- The track dispatcher has lost communication with the locomotive
- A signal is displaying an incorrect indication
Correct answer: A worker or equipment on the track may not be detected by the signal system
Shunting failures occur when the electrical connection between rails through workers or equipment is insufficient to trigger the track circuit, making the occupancy invisible to signals and dispatch systems.
Question 6: Who has the authority to remove a blue flag that has been placed to protect roadway workers?
- Only the workers who placed it (Correct answer)
- The train dispatcher
- Any supervisor at the work site
- The locomotive engineer upon request
Correct answer: Only the workers who placed it
FRA regulations require that only the roadway worker or work group who placed a blue flag may remove it, ensuring workers cannot be endangered by unauthorized removal.
Question 7: What is the correct action when a roadway worker loses communication with the RWIC during on-track work?
- Stop work and clear the track until communication is re-established (Correct answer)
- Continue working and attempt to restore communication every 5 minutes
- Designate a temporary RWIC from the work crew
- Post a lookout and continue working
Correct answer: Stop work and clear the track until communication is re-established
Loss of communication with the RWIC eliminates the worker's ability to receive warnings or updates, requiring all work to stop and workers to clear the track until communication is restored.
PTS Basic 3
What does a blue flag displayed at the end of a track or equipment mean?