Signal safari part 3

[NW Mailing List]

A clarification, the two "inbound" signals at Elkhorn Tunnel would be #3753
on the east end and #3770 on the west end.  Regarding #2750, my thought was
that in earlier times, some eastbounds may have had difficulty starting on
the grade after having stopped at Singer.  2750 would have served as an
"automatic hold-out" signal.

Bill Harman would have known.

Grant Carpenter


> Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2013 17:36:04 -0500

> Subject: Re: Signal safari part 3

>

> Hello Ed,

>

> The only automatics I recall that displayed stop and stay were at either

> end of Elkhorn Tunnel (3752/3 and 3770/1) and east of Elliston on Tie Yard

> Hill (2750, EB advance for Singer).  I can understand not proceeding into

a

> 7100' tunnel on a restricting, but the other stumped me as well as a

> dispatcher and a signal maintainer I had asked.

>

> Grant Carpenter

>

> > Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2013 12:31:16 -0400

> > From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> > Subject: Re: Signal safari part 3

> > To: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> > Message-ID: <0AA4E97177784287BAD6DF365CC6BB5C at 601ek604PC>

> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> >

> > The center light in the lower head was known as the ?marker? light and

> was illuminated when the top head of a controlled signal had horizontal

> lights lit.  The presence of the marker light meant that the signal was a

> ?stop and stay? signal.  If there was no marker light, the horizontal

> lights on the top head would indicate ?stop and proceed at restricted

> speed?.  To further indicate the ?stop and stay?  there was a black metal

> plate bearing the white letter ?S? under the signal number.  This was the

> ?fail safe? in case the marker light was burned out.  In my travels in

> engine cabs on the old N&W, I never knew of a non-controlled signal that

> displayed a ?stop and stay? indication.

> >

> > This was the opposite from the Pennsylvania Railroad?s signal rules

where

> the horizontal lights with no marker was the ?stop and stay?.  On the PRR,

> if it had a marker, it indicated ?stop and proceed . . .?  If you were

> stopped at  an interlocking signal on the PRR (like on the Sandusky Line),

> if the operator wanted to ?call you on? through the interlocking, he could

> cause the marker light to light up, giving you a ?stop and proceed?. 

> >

> > Confused yet?

> >

> > EdKing