Caretta Branch - Abandoned Signal

[NW Mailing List]

The Caretta Branch was a slow-speed spur to a single tipple about 2 miles
to end of track and would not normally rate an approach signal except for
road crossings about 1/3 of a mile from the junction. Caretta was the
largest producer on the Dry Fork and could deliver 150 loads a day. Third
Dry Fork worked it daylight plus a night job when needed and could easily
block the crossings if stopped at the junction waiting for a signal. Ready
to start back to Auville and holding clear of the crossings, they would
call the dispatcher (a phone was here and at the junction) and wait for a
clear on this signal, knowing they would not have to stop at the junction.
The entire spur was slow-speed with no register / second movements (barely
room for one movement) and no need for track circuits or other
aspects--simply a go/no go hold-out signal, in effect repeating the home
signal, to protect the crossings.

Grant Carpenter


> Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2014 

>

> That is possible.  How short a block are we talking about?

>

> And, is there an Approach Distant signal on up the branch, or is this

> the only signal?

>

> Ben Blevins

>

>

> On 3/4/14, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

> > Ben,

> > Could it have been the fact that the distance from that signal and the

> > home signal was extremely short and therefore a restricting indication

> > would be safer?

> >

> > Nathan Simmons

> > trainman51 at gmail.com

> > http://www.t-51.org

> > KI4MSK

> >

> > On 3/4/2014 16:13, NW Mailing List wrote:

> >>

> >> If I knew more about how the track circuits and distant signals to

> >> this location were arranged, then I could tell you exactly why this

> >> signal was set up this way.  There was a reason.

> >>

> >> The approach aspect was omitted because they did not need it.  It

> >> could be as simple as that another train would never follow one out,

> >> meaning a train passing the signal would never need to "Proceed

> >> prepared to stop at next signal", as the Approach aspect dictates.

> >>

> >> Ben Blevins

> >>

> >> On Mar 4, 2014 2:49 PM, "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org

> >> <mailto:nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>> wrote:

> >>

> >>     This is the automatic advance (or approach) signal for the home

> >>     signal a

> >>     short block ahead at the junction with the Dry Fork Branch. The

> >> nearby

> >>     grade crossing (mostly) necessitates the short block and the

> >>     signal's use

> >>     as a hold-out. A Stop and Proceed here indicates a Stop and Stay

> >>     at the

> >>     junction, but allows movement ahead to the home signal without a

> >>     violation

> >>     if the rear can clear the road crossing (hold-out signals usually

> >>     display

> >>     Stop and Stay). In this branch line situation, with a permissive

> >>     indication

> >>     at the junction ahead, a Clear suffices as an Approach Diverging,

> >>     making

> >>     the signal act much like a repeater.

> >>

> >>     Grant Carpenter

> >>

> >>     > Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2014

> >>     >

> >>     > I have a question regarding this old signal on the Caretta

> >>     Branch.  Does

> >>     anyone know if this was the home signal for the branch's junction

> >>     with the

> >>     Dry Fork Branch main or a distant signal?  Someone had asked me

> >>     why it only

> >>     had aspects for "stop" and "clear".  I thought it would've had more

> >>     available aspects than what it shows.

> >>     >

> >>     > http://www.pbase.com/railfire/image/153050851/original

> >>     > http://www.pbase.com/railfire/image/154680221/original

> >>     >

> >>     > Jeff Hawkins

> >>     >

> >>     > www.railsinvirginia.com <http://www.railsinvirginia.com>

> >>     > www.railfirephotography.com <http://www.railfirephotography.com>

> >>