You observe a yellow/red flag at MP 376.0 displayed on the field side of your train in the direction of travel. You do not have a form B track bulletin in effect at this location. What action is required?

• A. Attempt to contact EIC of the yellow red flag. Prepare to stop short of red flag 2 miles after the yellow red. If red is displayed, stop until given further instruction from EIC or it is removed by the craft that placed it. If not displayed, move at restricted speed. Only increase speed after a crew member has received instructions from the EIC or the leading wheels are 4 miles past the yellow red and the dispatcher has verified no track bulletin or warrant is in effect there.
• B. Proceed at restricted speed until a Form B bulletin is issued.
• C. Stop immediately and wait for a form B bulletin.
• D. Ignore flag if no Form B bulletin is in effect.

Answer: (A)

When you see a yellow flag with a red flag in front of you and there is no Form B track bulletin in effect, you’re dealing with flag protection that requires direct coordination with the Engineering Information Center (EIC). The crew must establish protection and follow the EIC’s instructions before proceeding. The correct action is to contact the EIC, be prepared to stop short of the red flag 2 miles beyond the yellow flag, and then proceed only under the conditions the EIC provides.

If the red flag is actually displayed, you must stop and wait for further instruction from the EIC or for the flag to be removed by the person who placed it. If there is no red flag displayed, you may move at restricted speed, but you should not increase speed until you have receipt of instructions from the EIC or you’ve passed the yellow-red location (the leading wheels past the yellow-red by the specified distance) and the dispatcher has verified there is no track bulletin or warrant in effect.

This approach keeps you protected where formal track authority isn’t in place and ensures you don’t miss any temporary restrictions or unsafe conditions that the flags are signaling. The other options would either bypass the required coordination (ignoring the flags or moving at normal speed without instructions) or delay action unnecessarily (waiting for a Form B that isn’t in effect).