Approach Restricting

[NW Mailing List]

Well, this has been a most interesting conversation!  I've enjoyed the
discussion.  Y'all have a good grasp of signals.

As for Approach Restricting, the N&W did have that in one and only one
set of rules (from the '60's I think) that I have seen, but I don't
have a copy of them.  It was a right to left descending diagonal
(approach) over a left to right descending diagonal.  They evidently
didn't use it much.  I know of no signal that is set up to display
that combination.  It is all in the signal logic and relay circuits.

Just because a signal is rigged as a "full house", or able to display
every aspect, doesn't mean that it actually does display them all.  A
signal just before a switch that "could" show an Advance Approach
doesn't necessarily need to.  In fact, in some cases it shouldn't.  It
may have that lower aspect just so it can display a Diverging
Approach, or Diverging Approach Diverging (the lower arm flashing).

The only signal I had on my territory that could give Diverging
Approach Diverging was at VN near Salem where the N&W eastbounds would
cross over to the VGN.  The reason they got that aspect was because
they were diverging at VN, but then would be diverging again at the
next signal beyond it at Salem Connection.  It is an extraordinary set
of circumstances that requires that aspect, so there aren't that many.
 I remember we had a few on the Pokey like that, one at Sycamore cut
westbound comes to mind.  We retired that signal in the spring of '08.
 It's new colorlight replacement can show that also.

Y'all keep talkin!!  You're figuring it out!

Ben Blevins
Signal Maintainer and Lead Signalman

On 8/6/13, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

> Earlier, rules regarding signal indications related the speed in the name,

> at least in that "diverging" was earlier termed "medium."

>

> I'm not aware of where "Approach Restricting" would have been used on the

> former N&W, but I recall seeing "Approach" displayed in advance of a

> "Restricting" indication just as in advance of a "Stop and Proceed."

>

> The one "Diverging Aproach Diverging" I've seen was Roanoke EB at 2nd Ave

> where the signal and crossover spacing gets tight.

>

> Grant Carpenter

>

>> Date: Tue, 06 Aug 2013 10:24:01 -0400

>> Subject: Re: Approach Restricting, was: "Pole and Paddle" semaphores

>>

>> On 8/6/2013 8:53 AM, NW Mailing List wrote:

>> > I would speculate that N&W and Southern differed in similar ways, to

>> > some degree. Southern seems to have had no problem with an approach

>> > restricting signal, assuming that the train crews would understand the

>> > potential and act accordingly.  Basically, if somebody hit that

>> > caboose just beyond the signal, then they weren't running restricted

>> > speed in the first place.  It sounds like the N&W assumed the crews

>> > would (or at least might) be speeding and not complying with the

>> > signal, so to prevent the resulting accident they eliminated the

>> > potential by eliminating the signal.  Or maybe I'm just reading way

>> > too much into the whole thing.

>> The whole idea of an "Approach Restricting" signal seems redundant to

>> me. If you came up on an approach signal, then you should be prepared to

>> stop at the next signal, which would mean you should be at or below

>> restricted speed when you came in sight of the next signal (depend on

>> sight distance). If that signal is "Restricting", then pass it according

>> to the rules.

>> I don't know of any "A/R" signals on any line out of Roanoke.

>> There is also a signal in the rule book that I have never seen. That is

>> the "Diverging Approach Diverging" aspect, where the bottom lights are

>> flashing. I hear they are out there somewhere, but, I've never seen one.

>>

>> Jimmy Lisle

>>sci

>

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