Canadian Pacific Signals

S

Steveo241

Member
I've noticed that some locations along the CP in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota have signals that I really don't understand. I know there are a few CP engineers around here, so hopefully I can get an explanation.

I know a normal Safetran has 3 aspects on it:

Green
Yellow
Red

Searchlight signals only have one, but they are interchangeable. Now on the CP, there are signals with four aspects.

Red
Yellow
Green
???

Does anyone know what that bottom one is used for? I don't recall actually seeing the Yellow one on before, not sure about the placement of the lights.

Thanks,

Steve
 
Im not an engineer nor do I have anything to do with CP, but not far from where I live there is a signal very similar to what you are describing, and the bottom light is white
 
I was told once by a retired engineer that it meant stop, then proceed at your own discretion and be prepared to stop at a moments notice. (at least I think thats what he told me)
 
Ah, gotcha. Thanks you two!

Now the real question... can anyone make these for Trainz? They have a perfect place on a route I plan to do soon.
 
I'm glad as hell I run in TWC up in nodak, i feel sorry for the buggers running in the twin cities area who have to deal with the CTC. Although for signals, the CP signals are very simple on the US system, their Canadian signal systems are far more complicating and I think they still use some semaphores up in the more northern frontiers.
 
I'm glad as hell I run in TWC up in nodak, i feel sorry for the buggers running in the twin cities area who have to deal with the CTC.
Click to expand...
Really?

I feel sorry for anyone operating in TWC when someone runs beyond their authority or say when a hunk of track is missing. What territory is safer to run over, TWC or CTC?



their Canadian signal systems are far more complicating and I think they still use some semaphores up in the more northern frontiers.
Click to expand...
No more complicated than NORAC.
 
djt said:
Really?

I feel sorry for anyone operating in TWC when someone runs beyond their authority or say when a hunk of track is missing. What territory is safer to run over, TWC or CTC?



No more complicated than NORAC.
Click to expand...

I love TWC, we just radio block from out initial terminal all the way up to the border and makes life easy. Safer to run is proabably CTC though.. The signals on this division are very, very basic however there isn't much CTC in ND. We've got a manual interlocking that's ran by the BN but that's about it on my sub.
 
evan123 said:
I love TWC, we just radio block from out initial terminal all the way up to the border and makes life easy. Safer to run is proabably CTC though.. The signals on this division are very, very basic however there isn't much CTC in ND. We've got a manual interlocking that's ran by the BN but that's about it on my sub.
Click to expand...


I’m well aware of that territory since I worked out of the Minneapolis office as a dispatcher (the same office that is issuing your track warrants today).

I’ve worked in train service and as a dispatcher in TWC and CTC as well as cab signal territory (under NORAC, GCOR and CSXT operating rules), without a doubt CTC is a lot safer and easier to work with.
 
djt said:
I’m well aware of that territory since I worked out of the Minneapolis office as a dispatcher (the same office that is issuing your track warrants today).

I’ve worked in train service and as a dispatcher in TWC and CTC as well as cab signal territory (under NORAC, GCOR and CSXT operating rules), without a doubt CTC is a lot safer and easier to work with.
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You ever dispatch the TWC out on the portal sub? I was just out at the humboldt yard a few days ago..
 
evan123 said:
You ever dispatch the TWC out on the portal sub? I was just out at the humboldt yard a few days ago..
Click to expand...


Yes, when I worked out of that office I mostly worked the D&H desk’s which was still under NORAC at the time. I later went on the guaranteed extra board, which in order to hold you had to be qualified on GCOR and NORAC (CP later on put the D&H territory under GCOR also).


Before I left the office and came back east they were qualifying me on the Portal along with other GCOR desks.
 
All those runs out in Nodak are Soo Line so we just use GCOR.. The guys out in Chicago are using a variated version of GCOR I think as well..
 
evan123 said:
All those runs out in Nodak are Soo Line so we just use GCOR.. The guys out in Chicago are using a variated version of GCOR I think as well..
Click to expand...


All of CP Rails US operations are now under GCOR as far as I know.



The guy’s in Chicago that are using different versions of GCOR from the rest of CP Rail are most likely operating over other carriers. As an example UP and BNSF use GCOR but it’s modified for their specific operations.



When I worked in train service between WI and Chicago we had to carry around a CORA (Chicago Operating Rules Association) rule book.
 
Steveo241 said:
Ah, gotcha. Thanks you two!

Now the real question... can anyone make these for Trainz? They have a perfect place on a route I plan to do soon.
Click to expand...
Don't have a guide for the four color signals but here's one for 1-3.
http://www.railroadsignals.us/rulebooks/canpac/cp1.htm
Another one from 2 years later, still no fourth light.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_vogel/3448206440/in/photostream/
You could also ask on a rail related forum or I'll drop the question on one if you want.
 
What is posted in those books is correct for the signals they use. The signals look like this.

5a6371697c5ca2684decf0943a70ebf7.jpg


5cabf19e20a41ec1b598520e76e84bc8.jpg
 
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