Eastern Railroad Discussion > NS Signal aspects for siding (in alabama)?

Hi folks,

I had a question about Norfolk Southern's signaling of a siding in Alabama.   In the photo below, the siding as a fixed red signal-head over a 3-lamp signal-head  while the main as a 3-lamp signal-head over a fixed red signal-head.

So would the siding only be able to show "Diverigng" aspects, such Diverging Clear or Diverging Approach?  If so, do all sidings on NS in this region use those Divigering aspects even though the siding isn't diverging, but more... merging(?), heh.

Thanks!

 



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/17 14:10 by appletech.

---

appletech Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hi folks,
>
> I had a question about Norfolk Southern's
> signaling of a siding in Alabama.   In the photo
> below, the siding as a fixed red over 3 aspect
> while the main as a 3 aspect over a fixed red.
>
> So would the siding only be able to show
> "Diverigng" aspects, such Diverging Clear or
> Diverging Approach?  If so, do all sidings on NS
> in this region use those Divigering aspects even
> though the siding isn't diverging, but more...
> merging(?), heh.
>
> Thanks!
>
>  

Pretty much.  It's still technically a diverging route, just without a second main line for normal movement.  There are very few areas that use standard Clear and Approach aspects for exiting a siding or double track section anymore.

Maybe on the NS and CSX, but pretty much all lines out west give you a clear or some sort of approach leaving a siding.

msullivan1993 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> appletech Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hi folks,
> >
> > I had a question about Norfolk Southern's
> > signaling of a siding in Alabama.   In the
> photo
> > below, the siding as a fixed red over 3 aspect
> > while the main as a 3 aspect over a fixed red.
> >
> > So would the siding only be able to show
> > "Diverigng" aspects, such Diverging Clear or
> > Diverging Approach?  If so, do all sidings on
> NS
> > in this region use those Divigering aspects
> even
> > though the siding isn't diverging, but more...
> > merging(?), heh.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> >  
>
> Pretty much.  It's still technically a diverging
> route, just without a second main line for normal
> movement.  There are very few areas that use
> standard Clear and Approach aspects for exiting a
> siding or double track section anymore.

SP4360 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe on the NS and CSX, but pretty much all lines
> out west give you a clear or some sort of approach
> leaving a siding.
>
> msullivan1993 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > appletech Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Hi folks,
> > >
> > > I had a question about Norfolk Southern's
> > > signaling of a siding in Alabama.   In the
> > photo
> > > below, the siding as a fixed red over 3
> aspect
> > > while the main as a 3 aspect over a fixed
> red.
> > >
> > > So would the siding only be able to show
> > > "Diverigng" aspects, such Diverging Clear or
> > > Diverging Approach?  If so, do all sidings
> on
> > NS
> > > in this region use those Divigering aspects
> > even
> > > though the siding isn't diverging, but
> more...
> > > merging(?), heh.
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > >
> > >  
> >
> > Pretty much.  It's still technically a
> diverging
> > route, just without a second main line for
> normal
> > movement.  There are very few areas that use
> > standard Clear and Approach aspects for exiting
> a
> > siding or double track section anymore.

NS is the only railroad that I know of that uses the "Divigering" signals into and out of "Passes" (NKP) or sidings.

Yeah, that's what threw me off. The diverging aspect out of siding.

So for the mainline, if that's a fixed red on the bottom head does that mean this signal would never display an Advanced Approach Y/Y?

To answer the last question, no. There would be a bottom yellow provided if an advance approach indication was needed.
Also, NS has changed some siding signals in N. Ohio that formerly had NKP diverging aspects to now give clear and approach indications. This seems to be a trend here, with diverging aspects used only for heading into a reversed switch, not coming out.

Terminology note: A signal head with three lamps in it has just that, three lamps -- not three aspects. A signal "aspect" is the totality of the entire signal's indication -- including lit lamps, semaphore arms, number boards, and other elements -- with a particular signal displaying only one aspect at any given moment. A single-headed signal with three color lamps in it can display more than three aspects if, for example, one or more of those lamps also is capable of flashing as an alternative to being steadily lit.
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/17 11:37 by toledopatch.

If the bottom signal head will sometimes give a yellow, does that mean it would have two lights, one positioned on top of the other, or does the one red light in the picture change to a yellow on the main track?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/17 06:11 by Irondale.

halfmoonharold Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> To answer the last question, no. There would be a
> bottom yellow provided if an advance approach
> indication was needed.
> Also, NS has changed some siding signals in N.
> Ohio that formerly had NKP diverging aspects to
> now give clear and approach indications. This
> seems to be a trend here, with diverging aspects
> used only for heading into a reversed switch, not
> coming out.

I have seen in the past a diverging clear, R/G/R into and out of a pass or a lap siding on the old NKP.