Switching Action at Mountain King Potatoes

[Tom]

49CFR Part 218.3-This part does not apply to--
A railroad that Operates only on track inside an installation that is not part of the general railroad system, or Confined within itself (insular railroad).

So yeah, you're absolutely correct.

However, (at least out west here and most locations I have been to in the midwest) several individual FRA Inspectors have told me personally that 218 DOES apply to these installations (such as private plant and industrial rail operations) since they are connected to the outside rail network. Basically they are confusing the definition of the term "insular railroad" in my opinion. So that is why I always teach blue signal protection when I go into do training at industrial rail operations. Besides, it's a good safety procedure, even if not required by law anyway. Out here, you would be hard pressed to find ANY industrial spur that didn't use blue flags during loading/unloading on their trackage.