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UMTA approved the design and strength calculations submitted by St. Louis Car. St. Louis Car subjected one of the cars to an 800,000-pound compression test, as required by Federal regulations. The specifications required no further tests.
Acceptance tests were performed after the cars were delivered to ICG tracks. During this testing, one Highliner car, moving at 16 m.p.h., collided with a standing Highliner car. There was no telescoping, but the underframes of the cars were so damaged that it was more economical to build two new cars than to repair the damage.
State regulations. Illinois Commerce Commission General Order No. 196, effective August 10, 1970, states that:
"In connection with the movement of their locomotives, cars and trains within the State of Illinois, railroads shall not be required to provide manual hand-flagging protection against following trains in automatic block-signal territory when (1) an appropriate operating rule, governing the use of radio (or other equally effective communicating media) has been adopted and in force requiring crews of trains making an unscheduled stop or an unusual slowdown in automatic block—signal and traffic-control territory to communicate with any following train entering or moving in the same block, directly or through the dispatcher or other qualified and responsible railroad employee, advising as to the presence of their train ahead, and (2) when communication with such following train, either directly or through the dispatcher or other qualified and responsible employee has been established.
"When communication with such following trains is not established as aforesaid a crew member shall station himself at the rear of the stopped or slowing train, maintaining a vigilant lookout, and shall flag against any following train entering or moving within the same block.
"This rule shall not apply within interlocking and yard limits.
"IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the railroads, parties hereto shall prepare and place in effect appropriate operating rules to comply with General Order 196, as revised and within 90 days from the date of this order shall file with the Commission a copy of said operating rules."
