More on signal "roolz"

[NW Mailing List]

Ben & others,
     The _double track_ from Vesuvius to Pkin was signaled in one 
direction only on each track. If going north on the northbound track 
(right side facing north), there was a control signal at the south end, 
an intermediate signal at 167.something and a control signal at Pkin. 
So, there were two blocks. This was the normal "/current of traffic/". 
All signals would show clear if you were lined up all the way. Going 
north on the southbound (/against the current of traffic/) track, all 
you could get was a diverging approach, even if you were lined all the 
way through with the signal at Pkin showing clear. There was no signal 
at the intermediates when running against the current of traffic. It was 
the same if going south at Pkin. Note that you were running effectively 
on an approach signal and had to be prepared to stop at the other end. 
If going north this was no problem as there was a lot of room and very 
good sight distance from the last curve to the signal. Going south 
really slowed you down as there not much more than about a quarter mile 
of sight distance from the last curve to the signal and trees also 
obscured the view.
     When they started changing the signals, they took out the 
intermediate signals. So, now they only had one block between Vesuvius 
and Pkin. Running with the current of traffic you would get a clear at 
each end if lined through in either direction and still only a diverging 
approach at the beginning signal if running against the current of 
traffic. Again, slow running as above.
     Later on they got nice and added the diverging clear aspect to each 
signal. This was a big help coming south and you could now fly downhill 
on the northbound track knowing the southend was lined up for you.
Most of our sidings displayed a clear signal exiting the sidings. As the 
sidings were only good for 10 mph anyway, entering the siding and 
running on a diverging approach signal didn't make any difference.

Jimmy Lisle

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/attachments/20130816/b299b5e3/attachment.htm>