Signals

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Eastbound automatic signals were numbered for the nearest even tenth of a
mile, westbounds for the nearest odd tenth.  Numbered for their control
lever on the TC panel, powered turnouts were odd-numbered and control
signals were even-numbered.  Eastbound control signals and their westbound
counterparts shared the same number.  They were differentiated by the
suffix "L" or "R" for the left or right lever position (center was stop)
indicating the desired direction of travel on the board as well as on the
tracks outside of the tower, at least on the Pocahontas Division.  Not all
towers faced the same side of the main, so east and westbound control
signals swapped the "L" and "R" along the line.  Towers at Bluestone,
Eckman and Iaeger were on the south side, so east was to the right, thus
their EB control signal numbers ended in "R."  "HQ" (Bluefield) and Tug
were on the north side, so their EB control signals ended in "L" and WB
signals in "R."  A letter suffix would further distinguish signals with the
same number.

Grant Carpenter


> Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2013

> Now, back in that time period, all signals in CTC territory were

> numbered.  The automatic (or intermediate) signals between control

> points were numbered by milepost location generally speaking.  The

> interlocking numbers corresponded with the number on the CTC machine

> the dispatcher used to operate the signals.  For the end of steam,

> that interlocking number plate should have a letter S centered under

> the number portion of the plate.

>[. . .]

>

> Ben Blevins

> Lead Signalman

>