middle siding signals

[NW Mailing List]

Jim,

I would suggest that the Restricting aspect is for a call-on signal.

One would be looking downgrade when looking east at Villamont, so grade 
signals would not apply, plus grade signals are automatics, these are 
controlled (but note lack of "S" plate). They have a full compliment of 
diverging aspects at point-of-switch to govern middle track pull-in, so 
the middle track is bonded and signaled. A dark middle track would rate 
hand-thrown turnouts and no signals.

Actually, note that the track layout is not exactly symmetrical, but 
favors an easier alignment/higher speed pull-in off of the eastbound and 
standard crossover for pull-out to the westbound. One exception to above 
is if a spring switch is on the pull-out, it must be installed using the 
easier alignment and the signal would lack diverging aspects.

Before the Virginian merger, I believe a train's worth of eastbound 
loads were set off here (and further east?) to fill tonnage for 
subsequent eastbounds. That is a whole lot of back and forth thru 
controlled signals displaying Stop and Stay into occupied blocks of the 
middle track and EB Main, so to cut down on phone traffic and expedite 
matters, the dispatcher can override the Stop and Stay indication with 
Restricting, called a "call-on" signal. The Pocahontas Division was 
littered with these where pushers would routinely get on.

Grant Carpenter

On 4/19/2017 10:44 AM, NW Mailing List wrote:
> Mr. Powers,
> Thank you for your response.  I understand your comments on 
> geography.  My remaining question is why would it be advantageous to 
> allow an Eastbound movement to proceed at restricted speed on the 
> East-bound main and not be advantageous to do so for an Eastbound 
> movement on the West-bound main?  The layout of the middle siding 
> appears to by symmetrical with respect to both mains and I am trying 
> to understand why the signalling should be different.
> Thanks for your help,
> Jim Cochran
>
> On Wed, Apr 19, 2017 at 8:26 AM, NW Mailing List 
> <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org <mailto:nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>> wrote:
>
>     Jim,
>
>         A restricting signal indicates the right to proceed at a
>     restricting speed. That aspect does not deal with geography, it
>     deals with trains ahead and track circuit continuity. It sits one
>     position above "stop and proceed", which only deals with trains
>     ahead - you must stop and then proceed at a restricting speed.
>     Below that is "stop and stay". If there is a yellow plate with the
>     letter "G" on it below the signal head displaying "Stop and stay"
>     on the mast, a train on an ascending grade can pass the signal
>     without the stop, ready to stop short of a train ahead. All the
>     above very fine delineations of keeping your speed safely in check.
>
>         From the photo, I cannot tell what track the furthest EB
>     signal controls. If it has a dummy mast to one side of it, it may
>     control the center siding, and most likely be like an interlocking
>     home signal and not have any aspect allowing a stop and proceed.
>
>         Wm J Powers
>
>
>     On 4/19/2017 6:54 AM, NW Mailing List wrote:
>>     I believe the attached photo may show the West end of the middle
>>     siding at Villamont (confirmation would be appreciated).  My
>>     question concerns the East-bound signals that are visible.  The
>>     signal for the East-bound main is capable of displaying the
>>     RESTRICTING aspect while the one for the West-bound main is not. 
>>     In my understanding, one reason for the RESTRICTING aspect was to
>>     allow a train to proceed without coming to a complete stop on  a
>>     grade where it might have been very hard to start again.  Since
>>     this stretch is signalled for bi-directional running, why would
>>     the signal for the West bound main not also be capable of showing
>>     RESTRICTING?  It seems like the grade would have been the same
>>     for East-bound movements regardless of which main they were
>>     using.  Any thoughts?
>>     Thanks, Jim Cochran
>>
>>     Moderator:
>>     http://www.nwhs.org/mailinglist/2017/20170419.midpasside.jpg
>>     <http://www.nwhs.org/mailinglist/2017/20170419.midpasside.jpg>
>
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