Re: First Automatic signal?

[signal_spotter@my-deja.com]

>
> Our definitions seem to be quite different here. Having worked as a
driver
> for VR and later as a driver (engineer) for Rio Grande in Colorado
and now
> as a signal maintenance technician for Union Pacific I have perhaps a
unique
> perspective.
>
> I know of nowhere in the US that uses any type of speed signaling.
(Just
> talking about the western US here) The aspects on Union Pacific, BNSF
and
> all of the lines they took over indicate which route you are to take,
(top
> light straight, bottom light diverge) sometimes restrictive aspects
have a
> speed attached that is only used if no other speed is laid down for
that
> locale. For example a red over a green's name is Diverging clear The
> indication is "proceed on diverging route not exceeding prescribed
speed
> through turnout" The speed through the turnout is found in the
timetable.
> Clearly this is not speed signaling but route signaling as it tells
you what
> route you are taking The signal  does not tell you what speed to
travel so
> how can you call this speed signaling?
>
> The pommy system is the best of both worlds as it tells you the route
you
> are taking and gives additional aspects prior to a stop or diverge
needed
> for higher speeds/reduced headways/trains with lower braking efforts
or a
> combinationthereof
>
> Your sentence "Route signaling aspects tell the driver when to begin
> > braking and the signaling is based upon the braking distance to the
> > next signal" makes no sense to me at all. Your defintion does not
even include
> the word route, let alone telling us how it tells you where you are
going
>
> Glad I could clear this up for you.
>
> Mark
>
>
check out http://www.trainweb.org/railwaytechnical/sigtxt1.html which
explains route signalling and
http://www.railpage.org.au/vicsig/signalling/3pst/ which explains speed
signalling.

Ian


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