THE CHECKERED FLAG QUESTION
- THE RAILROAD NEEDS A CHECKERED FLAG?
It looks like a winner’s flag; it must be a winners flag! This is my assumption. Even with this assumption in hand, I am not able to think of a reason for the UPRR to need a checkered flag. Sorry about that! Maybe you can do better. Since I’m flat on my ass, it should not be hard to do.
Use the comment feature below to leave your idea(s).
This post sets a new (low) standard for trivia; I’ll take credit for that.
Posted on October 30, 2011, in ART AND CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THE DRAFTSMAN, TRIVIA FROM THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD DRAWING COLLECTION and tagged ART AND CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THE DRAFTSMAN, TRIVIA FROM THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD DRAWING COLLECTION. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
UNION PACIFIC DRAWING TRIVIA 
Here’s my guess: it was used to call attention to something exceeding a normal dimension such as an excess-width load on a freight car or a structure closer than standard to the rails. The black-and-white checkerboard is a high-visibility attention-getting graphic but, since it is not a color, would not be confused with colored flags already in use that have their own specific meanings.
Hi Charley,
My head is starting to hurt. I think I’m going to be sorry I brought the subject up !
Regards, Mel