Control points, controlled signals and intermediate signals

NW Mailing List nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Tue Aug 20 23:40:46 EDT 2013


On 8/20/2013 2:20 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:

> For the engineer, the signal indicates the speed to

> operate...really...period.

Lynn,
You have to be careful how you qualify your
statements...really...period!

For example the definition of a "Clear" signal is: Proceed at prescribed
speed.
So, what is the "prescribed speed"?
It could be 10 mph or 15 mph or 25 mph, etc., etc. It depends on
where you are.
Where do you find what is the prescribed speed?
From the Employee Timetable. Maximum authorized speed for portions
of track are posted in the ETT. A District may have more than one long
sections of track where the maximum authorized speeds are different.
Then, you have curves where the speed is restricted to something
lower than the maximum. These restricted curves are also listed in the ETT.

Now, throw in the definition of "Restricted Speed" which is: A speed
that will permit stopping short of train, engine, obstruction, or switch
not properly lined and looking out for a broken rail, but not exceeding
15 mph.
There is a lot of leeway in there. Maybe conditions allow you to
see far enough ahead that it is safe to run 15 mph. Or it could be so
foggy that you have to put the brakeman/conductor on the ground and walk
ahead of the train, in which case you are at the most crawling along.

So, speed isn't necessarily...speed...really...

Jimmy Lisle




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