A Simple Primer on Railroad Signals

Pretty cool Rich.

When do we sit for the rules examine Rich?  I don’t want you or Tom (aka No. 90) giving me any demerits.  😉

Curt

Rich, I'm sure you will remember the excellent segment for OGR, the Video you did long ago (can it really be ~25 years ago!) on railroad signals after that terrible accident on the CXS commuter line outside DC. I think it would be a great segment to digitalize for the website......

Peter

My apologies, Rich, you already have!

For those of you who live along the N&W Proper, note the definitions and some aspects will be very different.

You’re right, Jim. This was oriented more towards NKP and PRR signals as opposed to the heartland N&W main where you ran.

Is there a move on to have all aspects, indications and rules uniform nationwide?  To me, that would make running a train safer.

Dominic Mazoch posted:

Is there a move on to have all aspects, indications and rules uniform nationwide?  To me, that would make running a train safer.

Because train crews stay on their own district/s, that is unnecessary and does not effect safety.

Use on NORAC as dwarf red is still considered a stop signal, rather then a stop and proceed 

I kind of noticed that  as well. Seems the single dwarf red is shown as a stop and proceed at restricted speed  and also as a stop signal. 

Now I know my Atlanta Terminal dwarf signal (yellow over red) is a slow approach indication. Is that also called an "A" signal, as in approach?

Tinplate Art posted:

Now I know my Atlanta Terminal dwarf signal (yellow over red) is a slow approach indication. Is that also called an "A" signal, as in approach?

When I see a yellow with a ‘A’ plate it means Approach Restricting, meaning that there will be a stop signal ahead, like a situation of leaving DCS territory