Signals: What I don't know . . .

[NW Mailing List]

Jimmy,
Was the lunar light at the siding switch mounted on the same pole/mast as
the regular cpl or was there some different arrangement for it?
Jim Cochran

On Tue, Aug 6, 2013 at 3:25 PM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>wrote:


>      On the Roanoke District we had three sidings, Sampson, Lynnwood &

> Elkton, that had spring switches, on the south end, that had to be manually

> thrown in order to enter the siding. This is in CTC territory. If the

> dispatcher wanted to a northbound train to enter the siding, he set up his

> code. Out in the field, we would get and approach signal, then a stop

> signal at the siding switch and there was also a lunar light. If it was

> flashing "Take Siding", you had permission to line the switch into the

> siding.When the switch was lined for the siding the signal would turn to

> "Diverging Approach". If the lunar light was not flashing, you had to call

> the dispatcher on the phone and he would instruct you as to which way to

> go.

>     Going south in the sidings at Elkton and Stuart's Draft, there was a

> switch to take you straight into storage or spur tracks. The signals at the

> south end of these sidings would indicate Stop. The switches had electric

> locks on them and you had to talk to the dispatcher to get him to unlock

> the switch. When the switch was lined for the spur, the signal would turn

> to Restricting and you could pass the signal. Stuart's Draft is still like

> that today. Sampson & Lynnwood now have power switches and of course Elkton

> has been taken up.

>

> Jimmy Lisle

>

> On 8/6/2013 11:24 AM, NW Mailing List wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

>  Any other "block" signal aspects, special circumstances/situations?

> I'll start on interlocking signals in a later message

> *Jim:

> There were three aspects not shown in the Operating Rules in effect

> during the 60's  and 70's:

> Rule 286 A   Name: Block Approach  (Red over Flashing Yellow) Proceed onmain track to

>                     stop at next signal at end of siding.  If exceeding

> medium speed immediately

>                     take action to reduce to that speed.

>

> Rule 295 - Name: Take Siding Signal. (Red over Flashing Red)  Indication:

> Movements governed

>                     by this signal will proceed into the siding at

> restricted speed when the switch is

>                     properly lined.

>

> Rule 296 Name: Line Switch.  (Flashing lunar) Indication: Stop; line

> switch preparing to leave.

>

>

>

> *These indications were still being used in the 70's on the Moberly

> Division's so-called Manual Block-

> Remote Control territory.  In railroad lingo, it became known as

> hermaphrodite traffic control.  It had

> been the Wabash way of eliminating train orders.  The dispatcher

> controlled the signals, but the train

> crews had to line the switches.  Indications appeared in Moberly Division

> timetables and I believe

> the former P&WV between Rook and Connellsville used the same method. It

> had its drawbacks,

> but certainly was an improvement on predicting where trains should meet,

> issuing a train order, then

>  waitng only to find one train had been delayed.  Sidings on the Hannibal

> District was 12-15 miles apart

> WITH NO INTERMEDIATE SIGNALS.  So a follow-up move found it time-saving

> to wait until the lead

> train had cleared the approach signal to the next siding rather than drag

> 12-15 miles at restricted speed.

>

> Harry Bundy

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

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