What safety precaution shall be observed where track is on a steep grade?

Installing derails is a crucial safety precaution on steep track grades. Derails are devices that can prevent runaway trains by forcing a train off the main track, particularly in situations where a train might roll back downhill due to gravity. On steep grades, the risk of equipment rolling uncontrollably increases, and derails provide a mechanical safeguard against this hazard.

These devices are designed to work in specific scenarios where train movement might create dangerous situations, ensuring that even if there’s a loss of control, it can be contained in a safe manner. The presence of derails as a precautionary measure is a standard safety practice in rail operations to mitigate risks associated with steep gradients.

Maintaining speed limits, having extra personnel on site, and conducting daily inspections are all important safety practices but do not address the immediate risk of a train rolling back down a grade, which is specifically mitigated by the use of derails.