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    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">Jim,<br>
      <br>
      Site of RD Tower, my few recollections of specifics at this
      interlocking go back to the 70s. This is looking east into the
      Christiansburg District of the Radford Division.  The westward
      home signals are on the distant cantilever and the eastward home
      signals are about the same distance behind the photographer on the
      main line past a crossover.<br>
      <br>
      Here, in the middle of the interlocking, two westward tracks each
      diverged from the WB main under the 611's train, thus the two
      eastward diverging home signals. The left signal governed the
      Radford Pull-In Track that ran up the north edge of the yard, and
      the right signal governed a third (freight) main that ran up the
      south side of the yard. Confused, I don't know why only three
      tracks are visible in the photo. <br>
      <br>
      A second trailing crossover permitted eastbounds to pull out of
      the yard while westbounds used the Radford Pull-In.<br>
      <br>
      Yes, the next controlled signals east were at Blake.<br>
      <br>
      Grant Carpenter<br>
      <br>
      On 6/29/2025 9:21 AM, NW Mailing List wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote type="cite"
      cite="mid:mailman.3860.1751232273.722595.nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org">
      <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
      <div dir="ltr">OK, I have looked at more pictures/maps of the East
        end of Bluefield yard and it appears that the signals in
        question are associated with a crossover(s) between the mains
        before you get to the highway bridge.  This plant appears to be
        un-signaled from the Westbound side and there don't appear to be
        any other turnouts until you hit Blake.  Does anybody know why
        the crossover would not need to be signaled coming in off the
        (is it Radford or Christiansburg District)?  Also, can someone
        provide information on the changes to crossover and general
        arrangement here over the years?  How long ago was it changed to
        a single crossover?  What were the tracks that crossed over the
        mains at one point?
        <div>Thanks,</div>
        <div>Jim Cochran </div>
      </div>
      <br>
      <div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container">
        <div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Jun 25, 2025 at
          9:42 AM NW Mailing List <<a
            href="mailto:nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org"
            moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org</a>>
          wrote:<br>
        </div>
        <blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
          <div>
            <div>David,<br>
              <br>
              Looks familiar, where is this? The lower rank of the
              signal contributes to its aspect, indicating a siding. The
              siding's speed restriction could be as low as that of the
              turnout by Rule 105, or even lower by Employee Time Table.
              This is an example of variations and exceptions that I
              hedged/weaseled about in my first reply.<br>
              <br>
              Grant Carpenter<br>
              <br>
              <img src="cid:part1.w2AO0JzN.IU00ePLI@gmail.com" alt=""
                width="599" height="399"><br>
              <br>
              On 6/24/2025 5:39 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:<br>
            </div>
            <blockquote type="cite">
              <div dir="auto">
                <div dir="auto">
                  <div dir="auto">I'd love to know what is causing that
                    there, a trailing point spring switch, not having
                    medium approach medium, .... Idk</div>
                  <div dir="auto"><br>
                  </div>
                  <div dir="auto">You can give clear in the nominal case
                    like this. I only had 3 photos on hand. </div>
                  <div dir="auto"><br>
                  </div>
                  <div dir="auto">David Baker</div>
                </div>
                <br>
                <div class="gmail_quote">
                  <div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Jun 24,
                    2025, 3:17 PM NW Mailing List <<a
                      href="mailto:nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org"
                      rel="noreferrer" target="_blank"
                      moz-do-not-send="true"
                      class="moz-txt-link-freetext">nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org</a>>
                    wrote:<br>
                  </div>
                  <blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
                    <div>
                      <div>Jim,<br>
                        <br>
                        With apologies, I'll attempt a reply to your
                        original post with some specifics.<br>
                        <br>
                        Diverging indications notify an engine crew of a
                        speed restriction due to one or more turnouts
                        ahead. By 1951, anyway, N&W Operating Rule
                        105 (b) simply stated that unless otherwise
                        provided, speed is restricted to 25MPH for
                        passenger trains and 15MPH for other trains or
                        engines when using turnouts or crossovers. As
                        Jimmy stated, exceptions were noted in ETTs and
                        could vary a lot, for example, between the
                        Radford and Pocahontas Divisions.<br>
                        <br>
                        So, diverging aspects are applied to signals in
                        both directions "through" the turnout's
                        slower/secondary route. BTW, the N&W's CPL
                        version is not included in the earlier Rule 283
                        examples below. The three diverging indications
                        are shown here, starting with the
                        distant/advance signal indication Approach
                        Diverging:<br>
                        <br>
                                    <img moz-do-not-send="true">  <br>
                         <img alt="" moz-do-not-send="true"><br>
                        <br>
                        This is an eastbound at Vera Jct. on the
                        Cincinnati line approaching the turnout on the
                        eastbound main from Columbus, shown in the
                        lower-right corner. I can't recall specifics as
                        to what other signals are here (bi-directional?
                        both directions? etc.) in this time frame and
                        with which aspects.<br>
                        <br>
                        So, what's with the term "medium" and the
                        N&W? <br>
                        <br>
                        I don't know. I've asked around, and this came
                        up here on the List several years ago. As of
                        1951, it appeared in two contexts within N&W
                        signal rules:<br>
                        <br>
                        In the signal indication description of Rule 285
                        – Approach, the term "medium speed" appeared:
                        "Proceed preparing to stop at next signal. Train
                        exceeding medium speed must at once reduce to
                        that speed." It appeared in the Operating Rules
                        Definitions as half the max authorized speed,
                        but not to exceed 30MPH.<br>
                        <br>
                        In the name of the three "diverging" indication
                        rules, "medium" replaced "diverging," e.g.,
                        Diverging Clear became Medium Clear. However,
                        the term "prescribed speed" was used in the rule
                        descriptions per Rule 105 (b) above – not medium
                        speed.<br>
                        <br>
                        Neither usage appeared to have much, if any,
                        direct relevance, and the ambiguity seemed to be
                        acknowledged later, because by the 1981 Rule
                        Book, both instances were deleted. "Medium" was
                        changed back to "Diverging" for indication
                        names, and the reference to "medium speed" was
                        removed from the Approach Rule description and
                        the term was removed from the Rules Definitions.
                        <br>
                        <br>
                        Hope this helps, just my take; edits, thoughts
                        and questions welcome.<br>
                        <br>
                        Grant Carpenter<br>
                        <br>
                        On 6/19/2025 7:55 AM, NW Mailing List wrote:<br>
                      </div>
                      <blockquote type="cite">
                        <div dir="ltr">All signal fans,
                          <div>I just found this definition/explanation
                            for what a "diverging" route can be
                            interpreted to be and it covers the case at
                            Vera:<img alt="" moz-do-not-send="true"></div>
                          <div>One of these days I hope to understand to
                            signal a railroad.</div>
                          <div>Jim Cochran</div>
                        </div>
                        <br>
                        <div class="gmail_quote">
                          <div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Jun
                            18, 2025 at 8:47 PM NW Mailing List <<a
                              href="mailto:nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org"
                              rel="noreferrer noreferrer"
                              target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
                              class="moz-txt-link-freetext">nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org</a>>
                            wrote:<br>
                          </div>
                          <blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
                            <div dir="auto">
                              <div>The operating book rules calls out
                                the AAR rules in my '51 and '45 rule
                                book. That is speed signaling, although
                                if you look at the rules as written they
                                do a bad job explaining that. The only
                                thing that usually drove medium speed
                                was a diverging route in a turnout.</div>
                              <div dir="auto"><br>
                              </div>
                              <div dir="auto">Is there another facing
                                point turnout ahead?</div>
                              <div dir="auto"><br>
                              </div>
                              <div dir="auto">David Baker</div>
                              <div dir="auto"><br>
                                <div class="gmail_quote" dir="auto">
                                  <div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On
                                    Wed, Jun 18, 2025, 6:44 PM NW
                                    Mailing List <<a
href="mailto:nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org" rel="noreferrer noreferrer"
                                      target="_blank"
                                      moz-do-not-send="true"
                                      class="moz-txt-link-freetext">nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org</a>>
                                    wrote:<br>
                                  </div>
                                  <blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
                                    <div dir="ltr">Grant,
                                      <div>Thanks for the reply and
                                        great seeing you at the con as
                                        well.  Your answer caused me to
                                        dig more deeply into the history
                                        of N&W aspects/indications
                                        and in particular the horizontal
                                        arm over vertical arm aspect
                                        that has most recently been
                                        referred to as "diverging
                                        clear".  Please refer to the
                                        attached pages from N&W rule
                                        books as reference for what
                                        follows.</div>
                                      <div><br>
                                      </div>
                                      <div>In 1910 it was called "slower
                                        speed route clear" when used in
                                        conjunction with one high speed
                                        route and diverging routes. 
                                        Seems clear this was speed
                                        signaling.</div>
                                      <div><br>
                                      </div>
                                      <div>In 1915 it was "proceed under
                                        control, being prepared to
                                        stop".</div>
                                      <div><br>
                                      </div>
                                      <div>In 1930 it was just
                                        "proceed".  Does anyone have a
                                        copy of the rules between 1915
                                        and 1930?  I'd like to know what
                                        that one has to say.</div>
                                      <div><br>
                                      </div>
                                      <div>In 1945 it was " proceed
                                        through diverging route at
                                        prescribed speed".  This looks
                                        like route signaling.  Again if
                                        someone has intervening
                                        information, I'd appreciate
                                        knowing about it.</div>
                                      <div><br>
                                      </div>
                                      <div>In 1951 it was " proceed
                                        through turnout route at
                                        prescribed speed" which would
                                        seem to indicate route
                                        signaling, but the aspect name
                                        is "medium clear" which point
                                        toward speed signaling.</div>
                                      <div><br>
                                      </div>
                                      <div>In 1961 it was the same but
                                        showed the option of a colorized
                                        aspect.</div>
                                      <div><br>
                                      </div>
                                      <div>As far as I know this was
                                        maintained until the end of the
                                        N&W.  The term through
                                        diverging or turnout route seems
                                        to reinforce my questioning its
                                        use where one line "joins"
                                        another.  When I visited Tom
                                        Dressler many years ago, he
                                        informed me that going "through"
                                        a turnout was to take the
                                        diverging path while going
                                        "over" a turnout meant staying
                                        on the non-diverging route. 
                                        Both of these would indicate a
                                        facing points movement and
                                        wouldn't seem to be readily
                                        applicable to trailing points
                                        movements.</div>
                                      <div><br>
                                      </div>
                                      <div>The NORAC definition of this
                                        aspect is something like proceed
                                        at medium speed until you train
                                        clears turnouts or interlockings
                                        and then proceed at prescribed
                                        speed.  This would seem
                                        appropriate for such a situation
                                        as we find at Vera, but I have
                                        not seen this kink of definition
                                        in any reference for N&W
                                        signaling.</div>
                                      <div><br>
                                      </div>
                                      <div>Hope there may be more to the
                                        story and would welcome input
                                        from anyone who has
                                        experience/knowledge of how
                                        N&W signaling worked and the
                                        philosophy used by the system
                                        designers.</div>
                                      <div>Thanks,</div>
                                      <div>Jim Cochran  <br>
                                      </div>
                                    </div>
                                    <br>
                                    <div class="gmail_quote">
                                      <div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On
                                        Tue, Jun 17, 2025 at 7:47 PM NW
                                        Mailing List <<a
href="mailto:nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org"
rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank"
                                          moz-do-not-send="true"
                                          class="moz-txt-link-freetext">nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org</a>>
                                        wrote:<br>
                                      </div>
                                      <blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
                                        <div>
                                          <div>Jim,<br>
                                            <br>
                                            Generally. . .<br>
                                            <br>
                                            Route signaling is speed
                                            signaling by implication. <br>
                                            <br>
                                            So, diverging aspects can
                                            indicate a lower speed
                                            through the diverging route
                                            of a turnout, compared to
                                            the adjacent track speed,
                                            and regardless of direction.<br>
                                            <br>
                                            So, diverging aspects will
                                            be used when facing points,
                                            and <u>may</u> be used when
                                            trailing points.<br>
                                            <br>
                                            . . . mostly.<br>
                                            <br>
                                            Good to see you and All at
                                            the Convention.<br>
                                            <br>
                                            Grant Carpenter<br>
                                            <br>
                                            On 6/8/2025 10:31 AM, NW
                                            Mailing List wrote:<br>
                                          </div>
                                          <blockquote type="cite">
                                            <div dir="ltr">Attached is a
                                              photo of Vera Jct. showing
                                              the signal facing Peavine
                                              traffic.  Why would the
                                              "main stem" from Columbus
                                              have been considered a
                                              "diverging" route in this
                                              case?  Perhaps it is in
                                              some way analogous to
                                              middle sidings being
                                              signaled for diverging
                                              aspects where they rejoin
                                              the main.  I tend to think
                                              of diverging aspects being
                                              displayed to facing points
                                              movements where they are
                                              signaled to take a route
                                              that "diverges" from the
                                              one they are currently
                                              on.  Of course there are
                                              no "joining" aspects, so
                                              did the term "diverging"
                                              cover the act of taking a
                                              route that your current
                                              route is joining?   Any
                                              thoughts will be
                                              appreciated.
                                              <div>Jim Cochran</div>
                                            </div>
                                          </blockquote>
                                        </div>
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                                    </div>
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          </div>
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