Passenger Trains > Highball Gonzales

Amtrak train 14, the northbound Coast Starlight, passes through Gonzales, CA, at track speed on April 16, 2022, and will soon make its on-time stop at Salinas.  Gonzales is a small agricultural town located at milepost 131.2 on the UP's ex-SP Coast Line.

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Great shots.  Thanks for posting.

Am I seeing that correctly?

Engine
Engine
??
Sleeper
Sleeper
Diner
Business Class
Lounge
Coach
Coach

jst3751 Wrote:
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> Am I seeing that correctly?
>
> Engine
> Engine
> ??
> Sleeper
> Sleeper
> Diner
> Business Class
> Lounge
> Coach
> Coach

i see one engine and six superliners of various kinds.

Once had every spur filled with reefers to load. Now nothing

If you zoom it it does appear to be 2 locos back to back, and 7 cars. Sleeper, sleeper, diner, business, cafe, coach, coach. I guess position of the business class is to allow them diner access without coach people from infiltration past the cafe.

Nice shot!

RC Lundgren
Elgin, TX

When (if ever) is this train going to get the Baggage and Transition Sleeper back?

T.C.

engineerinvirginia Wrote:
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> jst3751 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
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> > Am I seeing that correctly?

And why is the block signal "dark"?  Shouldn't it be red?

T.C.

It turned red as soon as the locomotive passed it.

TopCat Wrote:
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> engineerinvirginia Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > jst3751 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Am I seeing that correctly?
>
> And why is the block signal "dark"?  Shouldn't it
> be red?
>
> T.C.

Posted from iPhone

Usually with signal lights, if you don't look at them directly, you don't see any light.

Victor B.

Nice pics just gonna be happy when that, the Chief,  Eagle, and Sunset are back as real passenger trains!

TopCat Wrote:
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> engineerinvirginia Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > jst3751 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Am I seeing that correctly?
>
> And why is the block signal "dark"?  Shouldn't it
> be red?
>
> T.C.

If it's an approach lit signal, it won't turn on until there's a train in the block that the signal is facing.  The logic is all there to have it show red because of the approaching train, but until the train hits that block, the red light is off.  Seems counter-intuitive, but that signal's indication is irrelevant to the train in it's current direction of travel, so they save some juice by not having it on.  Once the train is in the block the signal is lit until the block is empty and I think there's a timer that cuts off the light, but there might be some other logic as well.  

Nathan

Yes its an approach lit automatic signal.  The way they seem to work is....
Single head signal.....only lights when there is a train on the facing block. 

The logic is that if a train occupies the block from the non facing direction, the signal lights red until the train leaves the block.  If the train reverses direction within the block, it still stays red,
If the train occupies the black from the facing direction, it will display green, flashing yellow, yellow or red as applicable. After the train passes the signal in the facing directiom the light stays on red until the following block is cleared, then extinguishes.

If there are 2 heads on one mast (signals facing opposite directions), then the logic is the same when either head is illuminated, both head illuminate. ...so an opposite direction train will cause a non-facing head to display red when the train occupies the the block behind it.

IDK if that makes any sense or not...