Are there Right-of-Way Signals?

[Justin99]

At the end of a double track used to allow trains to pass one another in my area, I see a signal that is similar to, "Signal IBTZ-1L left," &, "Signal IBTZ-1L right," next to 1 track & a dwarf signal next to the other one.

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Picturing a signal that's similar to, "Signal IBTZ-1L right," & on the right side of the double track:

Engineers, reguardless of what track they're on, look at the main signal (Red, Yellow, Green) at the top of the pole to see if they are far enough away from another train to keep moving.

Engineers who are on the track on the left look at a dwarf signal to see if they have the right-of-way at the end of the double track.

Engineers who are on the track on the right look at a signal that is connected to the main signal to see if they have the right-of-way at the end of the double track.

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I assume the answers are no, but...:

Are there any signals like, "Signal IBTZ-1L left," &, "Signal IBTZ-1L right," on which there is main signal as well as one that only... tells you whether or not you have the right-of-way at a switchtrack? (Both signals lighting up)

Are there any dwarf signals (which light up) that only... tell you whether or not you have the right-of-way at a switchtrack?

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Here is a picture of signal that's "similar" to, "Signal IBTZ-1L left," &, "Signal IBTZ-1L right."

 

[sniper297]

"in my area", what area is that and what railroad?

 

[Justin99]

I live in the southern part of Tennessee that's north of Georgia. Norfolk Southern is the railroad seen in that area.


Here are a couple of pictures that are better to use as an example:

The main signals in my area have 1 red light, 1 yellow light, & 1 green light instead of having 1 light that can be any of those 3 colors. Occasionally you go by a signal that looks similar the one in the picture below. The signal connected to the main signal (as well as the dwarf signal) has 1 red light & 1 green light instead of 1 that can be either of those 2 colors.



Like in this picture... from this point-of-view, the signals I'm talking about that are not dwarf signals have an arm sticking out of the left side of the pole that's holding the main signal up. The signal on the top of the arm is the one that tells the engineer whether or not he has the right-of-way.

 

[sniper297]

Okay, that's easy. In content manager filter, set for author = norfolksouthern37 and type "signal" in the keyword window.

 

[Justin99]

Thank you. The signals he made that have the arm I was talking about work pretty good. (Although, while the dwarf signals give you the correct information if you put the arrow on them, they stay red reguardless of where the train is or what direction the switch track is pointing.)

I don't want to sound picky in the least. I realize this is a game that doesn't have as much technology as real railroads do. But, on the signal that has the arm on it, the signal that is on the arm stays red while the main signal changes colors & gives you all the information you need. Does there happen to be a signal of this design on which the main signal only gives you informaion concerning the distance you are from another train & the one on the arm gives you information concerning whether or not you have the right-of-way?

 

[sniper297]

That I don't know, I use the BNSF style color light signals which also don't always display the correct aspects. Railroads use double heads for different purposes, some use them on single track to show more complicated info. For switches, the general standard is the top head is linked to the through route, bottom head is linked to diverging (curved) so it would show green over red if the switch is straight and red over green if the switch is curved. Assuming clear track ahead, of course, whichever way the switch is set if the block is occupied it should show red over red, if the block is clear but the one after that on the same route is occupied you should get red over yellow or yellow over red. Except sometimes it's yellow over green whichever way the switch is set, dunno what that's all about.

Main thing is the signal traces a path to the next signal when it's deciding what to display - if the path to the next signal is blocked by (1) another train, or (2) the switch thrown the wrong way, it will show red. Likewise, it will also show red if there is no next signal to trace a path to, so it's important when configuring and testing signals to make sure there are at least 2 signals beyond the one you're looking at. Also some signals show red by default and won't display anything else unless there's a train approaching, so it's best to test in a session with the player train moving toward the signal.

 

[Justin99]

If you mean that the signal is yellow over green immediately before as well as immediately after the track is switched, I don't know what it would mean either. Thanks again, though, for helping me.


P. S. If any of you make a signal like the one I was talking about in the future & have the signal on the bottom show the same color 100% of the time... make green the color that it shows. If you do this, then, any time the signal on the top is green, the game will want you to proceed which is also what the real railroad would want you to do. And, any time the signal on the top is red, the game will want you to stop which is also what the real railroad would want you to do.

 

[sniper297]

Think you're misunderstanding signal aspects, if the color never changes what would be the point? For single track sections with no diverge option, interval signals are usually a single signal rather than a doublehead. That's not always the case, some railroads use doublehead intervals to display advanced approach or approach medium, others use a single head and use a flashing aspect to show that.

Quick scan of some pages from an old rulebook for NS might have what you're looking for;

 

[JohnnyC1]

That I don't know, I use the BNSF style color light signals which also don't always display the correct aspects. Railroads use double heads for different purposes, some use them on single track to show more complicated info. For switches, the general standard is the top head is linked to the through route, bottom head is linked to diverging (curved) so it would show green over red if the switch is straight and red over green if the switch is curved. Assuming clear track ahead, of course, whichever way the switch is set if the block is occupied it should show red over red, if the block is clear but the one after that on the same route is occupied you should get red over yellow or yellow over red. Except sometimes it's yellow over green whichever way the switch is set, dunno what that's all about.

Main thing is the signal traces a path to the next signal when it's deciding what to display - if the path to the next signal is blocked by (1) another train, or (2) the switch thrown the wrong way, it will show red. Likewise, it will also show red if there is no next signal to trace a path to, so it's important when configuring and testing signals to make sure there are at least 2 signals beyond the one you're looking at. Also some signals show red by default and won't display anything else unless there's a train approaching, so it's best to test in a session with the player train moving toward the signal.

Or you can place a locomotive in Surveyor facing the signal. Make sure the loco is facing the signal, green arrow of the locomotive, as norfolksouthern37 signals are directional.

John

 

[Justin99]

"Think you're misunderstanding signal aspects, if the color never changes what would be the point?"


I didn't mean that the signal never changed. I was meaning that the signal didn't change at the very moment that the track was switched. Prior to seeing Rule 282 I thought of the signal needing to tell the engineer one bit of information when the track was set for him to go straight & another bit of information when it was set for him to diverge. Now, after seeing Rule 282, I can see a reason for the signal to not change at that time.