When a train is going forward, Is it heading up track or is it heading down track? I purchased some Z Stuff track side signals and they can be wired together to work in sequence. But I need to know if a train is going forward is it going up track or down track to wire correctly.
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Well...most the times it’s east/west or north/south but if the locals call it uptrack or down track,I guess you could say that.
When we switch in Kenova Yard (NS Pokey) and are headed towards the signals “up” the coach or old main side or “out” the east leg is how we typically phrase it.
It all depends on how prototypical you want to be or if the road you model calls it that way. It really as shown above depends on the crew or the local lingo if that helps.
The only time that I have ever heard of the terms "Up train" and "Down train" is in England.
I would be interested in reading the instructions that came with your signals.
The terms are meaningless.
Pretty sure the OP is referring to these somewhat cryptic instructions supplied with Z Stuff signals:
"DZ-1040/ 1050/ 1060/ 1080 Instructions
The signal only needs the RED wire connected to power (12-18V AC or DC) and the BLACK wire connected to common. Place the signal next to the track about 1-1/8” away from the outside rail. Facing the front of the signal, the train is detected on the LEFT side. The sensor will not reach across more than one track. If more sensitivity is needed to detect black rolling stock, try rotating the sensitivity adjustment clockwise. When the train passes the signal, the indication will change to RED or stop and hold until the train has passed. 4 seconds after the train passes, the signal will change to YELLOW or caution. Then, after 2-3 more seconds, it will change back to GREEN or go.
The signal only needs power to operate, but it does have an input (YELLOW) and an output (WHITE) for additional possibilities.
OPTION A – If the WHITE wire of a signal down-track is connected to the YELLOW wire of an up-track signal, the up-track signal will hold on caution (YELLOW) until the down-track signal goes off stop (RED)."
Edit: Bold mine.
Lew
So up-track and down-track refer to the proximity of the signal to the engine, not direction of travel. The up-track signal is closest to the engine; the "down-track" signal is further away, down the track (but still in front of the engine).
This could become the signal version of Rich's favorite term in command control: LASHUP!
In prototype practice the preceding signal is called the signal in advance.
While Z-stuff did not use prototype terminology, I think we can understand that it is like a river: upstream/downstream, up-track/down-track.
smd4 posted:So up-track and down-track refer to the proximity of the signal to the engine, not direction of travel. The up-track signal is closest to the engine; the "down-track" signal is further away, down the track (but still in front of the engine).
I guess the "over the sholder" signal is behind you? 
Geysergazer is absolutely correct. They are the instructions on the Z Stuff signals. Thank you all for your help and comments on this post. It helps tremendously.
I still don't get the drift of the instructions.
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