Block signal lights. Red or green on top?

S.O.P. is "high green".  I've always stuck with that mantra.

could be either way depending on what type of signal you are talking about. Could be red over green

we need more information to properly answer that question 

The Chicago & North Western Historical Society website has many photos of everything that was on the railroad.

http://cnwhs.org/

I would agree with LAIDOFF SICK. It could be either way on different signals.

If you're talking about a single signal head; green on top. Supposedly this has its roots with the old "ball type" signals where the ball in the high position meant clear track ahead (i.e. green).

Some of the earlier MTH vertical 3-light signal heads had the red on top which is a pretty easy fix by removing the retaining screw on the signal head, removing the face then flipping the LED tree for green on top.

I am using 153 signals. Not prototypical use, just to let me see if a block or track is powered.

Not sure about your area, but down here in south Florida CSX & FEC use green on top and red for the lower signal. Green on top means you have the right of way, red on top means stop however if there is a green on bottom you have clearance to the next signal or are allowed to do switching duty in that section of track between the 2 signals.

Lee Fritz

phillyreading posted:

Not sure about your area, but down here in south Florida CSX & FEC use green on top and red for the lower signal. Green on top means you have the right of way, red on top means stop however if there is a green on bottom you have clearance to the next signal or are allowed to do switching duty in that section of track between the 2 signals.

Lee Fritz

Every time I have encountered a "Red over Green" signal, that indicated that you were about to take the "diverging route", i.e. leave the main line and enter a siding or second track.

Railroad author Brian Solomon wrote a couple of books about North American signal practices.  He says that the most common signal used in North America where two signal lights are positioned vertically on top of the other is green on top and red on the bottom.  This is the opposite of the standard automobile traffic light signal where red is always on top.  The reason for this green over red arrangement is to protect the more restrictive aspect (red) from snow and other weather problems.

However, each railroad had its own signal system.  The C&NW was a very unusual North American railroad in that it was financed by British investors and followed some British railroad practices.  The most notable practice being that trains operated on the left hand track in double track territory.   You would have to research the C&NW for their signal system.

The standard double head Lionel signal comes with green on top and red on the bottom.

NH Joe

As a kid I had two Lionel postwar 153 signals and I always had red on top and green on bottom, so that is my story to this day and I am sticking with it for my current use of 153 signals. My railroad=my rules.

Thanks for the replies. It looks like I need to move then green to the top.

New Haven Joe posted:

However, each railroad had its own signal system.  The C&NW was a very unusual North American railroad in that it was financed by British investors and followed some British railroad practices.  The most notable practice being that trains operated on the left hand track in double track territory.  

NH Joe

Actually that is a VERY old rumor/legend about the C&NW and their "left hand running". It had absolutely NOTHING to do with "British influence"! When the C&NW was first built, for passenger/commuter service to and from downtown Chicago, it was a single track railroad, and all the stations were constructed on the north side of the track due to the severe northern Illinois winter weather, i.e. the waiting passengers would have shelter while waiting for their in-bound to Chicago (eastbound) commuter train.

As business increased, a second track had to be added, but rather than move all the stations, the second track was constructed on the south side of the original main track. Again, due to the severe weather, the eastbound/in-bound passenger trains continued to use the original, or left, main track so that the passengers would still have shelter from the north winds while waiting for their train to downtown Chicago. The thinking was, out-bound train  passengers would not require such formidable shelters, as once they exited the train at their stop, they quickly went home. 

The METRA Commuter service is still operated this same way on the former CNW lines.

"The reason for this green over red arrangement is to protect the more restrictive aspect (red) from snow and other weather problems."

I don't believe that for a second. THINK about it!