Jay L Schollmeyer Local Chairman 1637 Portland, OR 97215 Email jay@jaysworks.com

Mr. Baham,

     In the past few months we have had TY&E people fail operations tests of unannounced flags. That tells me we have a very serious flaw in our operation, when good employees can miss a little track flag.

    When I began my career 25 years ago in the Maintenance of Way it was required to use torpedoes with flags until a train order was issued. That made sense to me and obviously to the previous managers that wrote the rules.

    With signal awareness forms and far to many engines without conductors lights to reduce cab glare it is far to easy to miss a track flag. I will not delve into the obvious such as track geometry, interdivisional runs and just plain fatigue.

     In 1999 with satellite communications, microwave repeaters or even torpedoes there is not one good reason for unannounced track flags without some kind of warning.

    So far it has only been a burden on the crews with discipline. The BNSF is aware of the problem, I only hope this issue gets resolved before a major derailment or serious injury.

JL Schollmeyer
Local Chairman 1637

cc: JD Fitzgerald