Western Railroad Discussion > BNSF and UP/PHL - interesting signals near L A / L B Harbors

That recent thread about interesting finds near South Central (South LA) led me to re-explore some areas near Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors.

The first 2 pics are on the BNSF Harbor sub, where a freight is rolling by Rolling Jct.  This 'permanent semaphore' is similar to the one in South Central and is in Carson, just east of Watson.

more...
 

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The other signal is near Long Beach harbor at a location called Gaspur.  I'm not sure if this is UP or PHL trackage; there is a UP yard nearby.
This small green signal, with a solar power cell, can be seen to the right; I don't know if it governs the switch for the spur.

 

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In your last photo, the "signal" you see is actually a switch point indicator. These switches on the PHL are powered and are activated by either radio signal or by pushing the button on the post. This happens to be the number 25 switch which leads into the bottom end of UP's Mead yard. Was just there Thursday night on the Long Beach hauler (MWCLB).-BMT

The "Permament Semaphore" is a Distant Signal. The indication is "Distant Signal Approach". Approach next signal prepared to stop short of next signal or switch point indicator. The maximun speed in interlocking limits for which Distant Signal Approach is displayed at a distant signal is 20 MPH.

UPNW2-1083 Wrote:
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> In your last photo, the "signal" you see is
> actually a switch point indicator.
Thx for the explanation.  Next time I am in the area I will see if PHL uses those elsewhere

casco17 Wrote:
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> UPNW2-1083 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > In your last photo, the "signal" you see is
> > actually a switch point indicator.
> Thx for the explanation.  Next time I am in the
> area I will see if PHL uses those elsewhere

They are used all over the PHL. Most are low, either on top of the switch motor or on the side of the motor. The highest switch number that I've seen is 90.-BMT

Good show.   The BNSF 7700's have seen it all.

casco17 Wrote:
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> UPNW2-1083 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > In your last photo, the "signal" you see is
> > actually a switch point indicator.
> Thx for the explanation.  Next time I am in the
> area I will see if PHL uses those elsewhere

Thanks for posting a couple perspectives I haven't seen. If you head over to the Avalon crossing in Wilmington just west of Berth 200, there's at least 8-10 of them. A pretty interesting sight.

Posted from iPhone

PHall Wrote:

> The "Permament Semaphore" is a Distant Signal. The
> indication is "Distant Signal Approach". Approach
> next signal prepared to stop short of next signal
> or switch point indicator. The maximun speed in
> interlocking limits for which Distant Signal
> Approach is displayed at a distant signal is 20
> MPH.

Santa Fe's system standard plans referred to that thing as an "inoperative approach signal,"  and it was used as a distant signal when an otherwise unsignaled (dark) line was approaching a controlled signal at a junction, crossing, etc.  It basically says "you're coming up on a signal and it could be red - be prepared to stop for it." 

The D-plate on the two-headed colorlight beyond indicates that it is also a distant signal, which explains why the top head is still yellow even though the train is past it.  I'm curious, though, under what circumstances the lower head would show anything other than red? 

Evan_Werkema Wrote:
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> PHall Wrote:
>
> > The "Permament Semaphore" is a Distant Signal.
> The
> > indication is "Distant Signal Approach".
> Approach
> > next signal prepared to stop short of next
> signal
> > or switch point indicator. The maximun speed in
> > interlocking limits for which Distant Signal
> > Approach is displayed at a distant signal is 20
> > MPH.
>
> Santa Fe's system standard plans referred to that
> thing as an "inoperative approach signal,"  and
> it was used as a distant signal when an otherwise
> unsignaled (dark) line was approaching a
> controlled signal at a junction, crossing, etc. 
> It basically says "you're coming up on a signal
> and it could be red - be prepared to stop for
> it." 
>
> The D-plate on the two-headed colorlight beyond
> indicates that it is also a distant signal, which
> explains why the top head is still yellow even
> though the train is past it.  I'm curious,
> though, under what circumstances the lower head
> would show anything other than red? 
I don't know the track configuration here, but I would have to assume that the signal the distant one in the picture mirrors protects a switch.  If that switch was set to diverge, then it would show red over something, and the distant signal would show the same, indicating the train was to take the divergance.

The twin aspect BNSF signal near Watson yard at the junction mentioned above is kind of unusual as it does not protect a turnout but unlike the permanent "distant approach" next to it, which by the way is the original Santa Fe distant signal for old Thenard tower interlocking as the old track that went straight at this location only went into the old Shell now Tosco refinery. The twin aspect signal will change from yellow to green when lined up at CP Sepulveda, never figured out why they put up a double aspect signal as the next signal is the approach signal to a set of turnouts? When green it drops back to yellow when the next signal is passed. Love these shots of my old working area.
​JB 

casco17 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
.  This
> 'permanent semaphore' is similar to the one in
> South Central and is in Carson, just east of
> Watson.
>
> more...
>  
Looks like a holdover from the old Pacific Electric days.
Lane