siding signals

[lmackattack]

Hello all I just bought some 3 light search light style signals for my single track mainline. those are easy to place and wire up blocks to operate. I want to put signals at both of my sidings where my trains will meet to pass each other.

I under stand how most mainline signals work but am a little confused to how a more common block signal would let the engineer know that he can proceed into the siding? I would like to use a tower with 2 search lights placed just before the switch as thats what i see used in the chicago aera most. can some one explain how it would work.. ie green over red means clear to take the siding??

Thanks
Trent

 

[CP9302]

I'm no expert, but I think it would work like this:

Green over Red over Red is clear main track
Yellow over Red over Red Clear to stop main track
Red over Red over Red is stop
Red over Yellow over Red is Limited to Stop on siding

 

[lmackattack]

thanks CP

What I think I have seen in the past was a train aproching a siding with a Red over flashing yellow, the train entered the siding and at the end of the siding there was a dwarf signal that displayed red to keep it in the siding.(or green to let the train go) this was on a Wisc Central or IC line in Chicago

 

[HaggisKennedy]

What's your prototype? Each has their own signalling rules. But, if you're the freelance type, you could follow the NORAC rules:

http://www.vnerr.com/training/NORAC_Signal_Rules.htm

Kennedy

 

[NYC_George]

Signals

Hi everyone, I was an fireman and then engineer for 12 years on the Penn Central. I left in 1981 but still remember most of the signals meaning. Signals are to control the speed of your train and not really if your going to take siding or not. If they wanted you to take siding the signal may show Red over Red over Green (Slow Clear) Do not exceed 10 mph the block is clear. If they wanted you to stop at the next signal in the siding it may show Red over Red over Yellow. Do not exceed 10 mph being prepared to stop at the next signal.
If your on the main line and they wanted you to cross over from 1 to 2 the signal may show Red over Green over Red (Medium Clear) Do not exceed 30 mph the block is clear or Red over Flashing Green over Red (Limited Clear) Do not exceed 45 mph the block is clear. 45 mph is a high speed crossover. Most of the crossovers are crossed over at 30 mph. Most of the time this type signal will mean your crossing over but it may not be the case. There are so many signals it's hard for me to remember them all, but as far as I can recall their all speed based an indicate if their any other color than Green where the Red (Stop) will be down the track.

NYC_George

 

[lmackattack]

thanks for the info george. So it is plausable if a train is on the mainline and the swith is open to the siding. on a 2 searchlight mast we could see a red over green?

after the train made its way to the siding what type of signal would you see to let you know its clear to enter the main line again? 2 color dwarf, searchlite?

if the switch to the siding is closed would it be green over red?

Thanks
Trent

 

[NYC_George]

Most of the yards I worked in used single lite yellow dwarfs. If the signal was yellow you could go if it was out no lite it was in the stop position. That would be North White Plains, NY and Grand Central Station. On the New Haven side Hunt's Point Market where all the fruit etc. came in from the west coast. I though they used a single dwarf that diplayed yellow and red on the same lite. A hundred car freight would start crosssing over the Harlem division tracks ever day at midnight and end up at the market where we dragged it on to the New Heaven main line and started flying cars into the yard. Back and fourth all night long. If a New Heaven passenger train was on the approach they backed us into the yard until it cleared. When we got the yellow we would drag what was left of the train back on the main and started switching again.

NYC_George