Steam era signals

[Brakie]

...A side note about whistle signals..We never use 'em during switching moves unless we cross a public crossing.You see the local citizenry frowned on constant whistle use,there may have been whistle ordinances and special instructions in the ETT....

I assume the whistle signals have been used intensive in much earlier times when the train needs rear protection without ABS etc.

With CTC and block signals there is no need to protect the train by flag unless your written orders called for flag protection..Then there was steps to be taken to include dropping a fuse between the rails 1/4 mile from the stop and the flagman had to be at least 1,000 feet from the train.The only time I ever flagged I was "called in" by radio.The reason I was flagging is our train went into emergency and there was another train following us in the same block.Of course he saw me waving a "washout" stop with a lighted fuse..He stopped where I was standing and ask want happen?

With old ready Freddy I'm not sure how they handle that unless its by radio.