The Indian Railways might soon dispense with the decades-old practice of the crew using detonator signals to alert Loco Pilots of an approaching train to an obstruction or danger lying ahead.
During train accidents or inclement weather conditions affecting visibility, the Loco Pilot/Guard of a train or the Station Master place detonators on the track at different location that will cause an explosion with a loud bang when a train passes on them. This is to alert the Loco Pilot of the approaching train to an obstruction like a derailed train, boulders, damaged track etc. so that he/she can bring the train to a halt.
