A simple test of your railroad IQ

[FJ and G]

This morning on the VRE train on the old NS (ex-Southern) line, I sat behind the engineer and made a still image “movie” of the entire trip. I chose this sequence of photos, approaching and going thru a crossover, to test your RR IQ.

We are on the right-hand track.

(BTW, if you scroll down quickly, you can see the still images begin to look like a film)

The questions:

1. As you go through the crossover, which track will the train take? (Remember, the engineer doesn't use a steering wheel to turn the train. Instead, she relies on a stranger in a remote location to push a button that can move the turnout one way or the other and thus direct the train-a pretty cool concept).

2. What two clues did you use to determine the answer to question #1?

[Big_Boy_4005]

Red over green indicates the diverging route. In the last photo you can see the points of the switch are indeed aligned that way. Gotta get up earlier than that Dave. [swg]

[Dr. John]

1. The train will take the lefthand mainline
2.Two clues -
- Red over green aspect of the signals
- the turnout points are lined up to shift the train to the lefthand mainline

[FJ and G]

yip. you guys are way too smart

[Anonymous]

Is it just me, or is pic 4 of 5 invisible?
#4 just shows as a blank box

[FJ and G]

Wabash,

Thx. Reloaded.

Also should have added that the train didn't at any point stop. That would have voided one of the clues b/c it could have been awaiting a green top signal.

Incidentally, the 2 reds on the other side of the track indicate the engineer must stop and cannot proceed to either track. Took a genius to invent this system!

[FJ and G]

btw, I should have added that there are significant ramifications to toy train layouts in understanding how these signals work if you want to replicate the 1:1 ops.

Did you know there are even yellow signals. I believe they mean to proceed slowly and with caution, as usually (but not always) the next signal will be red.

[Anonymous]

now its there. Say...that would make a good animation.
Maybe I'll put it in motion for you

[FJ and G]

BTW, Wabash,

Here's the view a second or two later after changing tracks. I didn't include it first because it would have given away the game.

Pardon the bug carcasses on the windshield. Note the spur to the right looks like a roller coaster.

[FJ and G]

Incidentally, (and very interestingly), a bit beyond the overpass in the distance, there is a CSX flyover track. The right track takes you on the NS track under CSX track where it then turns left and climbs up to merge with CSX.

The left track we are on does not go under CSX. Instead, it too turns left and climbs up to merge with CSX on the other side.

VRE usually, but not always stays on the left track; the track we are now on. However, if an oncoming train is occupying that track, then the train goes under the flyover.

Gives you the model railroader, some ideas, perhaps for trackplanning.

If you recall the post I made a few days ago regarding the culverts, that is the CSX track over the culverts pictured in the last 2 photos. The pictures were taken from the left track of the NS that will not go under CSX.

[Anonymous]

Well here's your 5 frames in an animated gif file. I reduced the pixel size down 25%. gifs are big files, but I'm on Dial-up and it loads within a reasonable amount of time. Give it a few seconds to load completely:

http://ca.geocities.com/ambassador_martok/crossing/animated-crossing.gif

PS: it seems that you were standing in a different spot each time you took a picture, because when the frames are animated together, it looks like you were drunk at the time.... ha ha ha

[FJ and G]

Wow, that is really cool.

Heck, you could make a pretty good train simulator with that or record your whole train trip.

A tool like that too would be good for use in a "black box" in case of accident investigation!

Amazing what computer programs will do these days!

[Anonymous]

Actually, I didnt use a PC program. I used an online tool that is commonly used by people on WebTV, called Image Magick.
I have a few things on PC that are pretty good, but I do all my animations online.

Custom Images and sound files are a hobby of mine, just like trains.....
Got anything else that would look good in motion? I can do Morph's too.

[cnw1995]

Harrumph. Your train is operating on the wrong track to begin with - here on the former Chicago and North Western, the UP still operates inbounds and outbounds from Chicago on what you might consider the 'wrong' side of the double-track. What does the VRE think of you standing in the door like that? Metra isn't very keen about on-board photography - I think I've memorized their 'watch out for suspicious characters' message.

[wrmcclellan]

Dave,

That last photo with the track to the right that dips down is done on purpose to make sure any unsecured cars on that track cannot accidently roll onto the mainline.

[Anonymous]

As a former employee for CSX and NS I don't know how many different signal indications I could rattle off but, I will hit a few for those that are interested.
For my examples I will use CSX's indications on the former Seaboard part of the railroad.

Green over Red - Clear - Run track speed

Red over Green - Medium Clear - 30 mph thru turnouts or crossovers then resume track speed

Red over Flashing Green - Limited Clear - 45 mph thru turnouts or corssovers, then resume track speed.

Red over Yellow over Green - Approach Slow - Approach next signal at slow speed (10 MPH)


This is just a few of 20 or so signal indications.

[FJ and G]

Mark,

I completely forgot about the flashing lights. And, with 3 signals, one on top of the other, there are certainly a multitude of signaling arrangements and permutations that can be made.

I'm not that familiar with toy train signals and was wondering if they are that elaborate, you know, with the flashing lights and things; and if so, do the toy train operators observe the speed limits?