Signal question UP former SP territory

[frogpipe]

Don't know if this is the place, but on a recent trip I saw something IRL and wanted to see if anyone knew more about it.

I was taking the Coast Starlight and while at a station I saw an unexpected signal arrangement.

The main line up and down from the station was single track. At the station, there was a track beside the platform and a passing loop.

I noted that on both tracks, approaching the turnout where they *merged* was a 2 head signal. For our train the route ahead was clear, and the upper head had a red and the lower head a green.

Thanks to trainz, I'm used to seeing such two head searchlights before *diverging* tracks, not *converging* track. Obs I didn't get to see all possible aspects of this signal, but I am wondering if the top is always red, and the lower one changes colors but is meant to indicate a speed restriction thru the switch?

Anyway, any insights appreciated.

 

[JohnnyC1]

In North American railroad signaling, a "red over green" signal indicates a diverging route or medium speed. It signifies that the train should proceed at a reduced speed through turnouts or interlockings, and be prepared to slow further.

John

 

[frogpipe]

Exactly, but until I saw this I thought (by virtue of the name "diverging clear") this applied when the tracks split ahead. What I saw was where they were combining or converging ahead.

Is that normal? I'll admit I've never really looked that closely at it before IRL.

 

[RetroRails12]

Exactly, but until I saw this I thought (by virtue of the name "diverging clear") this applied when the tracks split ahead. What I saw was where they were combining or converging ahead.

Is that normal? I'll admit I've never really looked that closely at it before IRL.

that is totally normal on American Railroads...

 

[Therock]

it's worth pointing out that not all american railroads use the same signal indications...
Having two heads at a converging junction is atypical for Southern Pacific and Union Pacific signal rules: A red over green is a diverging clear and has no bearing on what speed to take the turnout- that is instead determined by the turnout listed in the timetable.

What OP is describing would make sense on that territory if there was a crossover beyond the first switch within the control point, but it was stated this is single track with a passing loop.

 

[frogpipe]

it's worth pointing out that not all american railroads use the same signal indications...

Almost seems they put considerable effort into making sure they did NOT.

I wish I had taken better notes on what I saw and where so I could have checked what the arrangements were on Google Earth - hard to tell on the ground what's around you, esp. with the pressures of traveling intervening in a proper investigation. Oh well. There's always next time.