I am not sure what they are called on the prototype. How are yard ladders marked or indicated to let yard crews know how far cars can be parked so cars going onto adjacent tracks dont hit each other?
We call them clearance markers.
Paint on the ties or ends of the rails, and reflectors that bolt into the ties themselves are hte most common method I've seen used.
If you google "track clearance markers", you'll see some of the common brands. We use a highway-type reflector in our yard. (Some yards even have them with solar-powered lights in them)
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
Sounds like you are asking about a "Foul Point Marker" ?
https://www.aldonco.com/store/p/808-Track-Clearance-Marker-Flush.aspx
My clearance points aren't marked but my layout probably predates this fairly recent feature.
Thank you, Ed
zugmannIf you google "track clearance markers"
https://tinyurl.com/uln4rnu
Thanks for asking, I didn't know about these.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
While braking on the PRR we checked clearance points by stopping the move and reaching both arms out to our sides.. If a hand touched the car on the next track it was to close and that cut would need moved in order to clear the fouling point before we could finish our shove.
Our biggest fear was "Wabashing" the switch at the other end of the track with the cars we needed to move.
On the Chessie(C&O) the fouling point was painted in bright yellow on the fishplate--what we call a rail joiner..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BigDaddy zugmann If you google "track clearance markers" https://tinyurl.com/uln4rnu Thanks for asking, I didn't know about these.
zugmann If you google "track clearance markers"
Yes, thank you.
Ed
BRAKIE While braking on the PRR we checked clearance points by stopping the move and reaching both arms out to our sides.. If a hand touched the car on the next track it was to close and that cut would need moved in order to clear the fouling point before we could finish our shove. Our biggest fear was "Wabashing" the switch at the other end of the track with the cars we needed to move. On the Chessie(C&O) the fouling point was painted in bright yellow on the fishplate--what we call a rail joiner..
That method can still be used as a last resort if there is no defined mark. Now a days they place the clearance point about two cars in from where the actual fouling point would be as a safety factor.
We have paint on the rail (and sometimes the tie) and a clearance cone that bolts to the tie. To be compliant no part of the car, including the coupler, can be past the cone, or where there's paint on the rail, completely clear of the paint.
I was shoving a cut of cars plus engines into a yard track to be tied down. The conductor riding the shove asked if we were in the clear. I saw paint on the side of the rail, but no cone. That's not unusual, the cones sometimes get torn up by low hanging air hoses or other dragging debris. Since I could see the paint from the cab out the front window, I stopped and said we were clear. Once tied down and getting off, a local manager came up and said there was a cone, and a second paint mark on the rail sitting underneath the cab. He didn't take exception because the clearance point had been moved back but the original paint marks hadn't been blacked out. The original point was clear of the fouling point, but the standard length from FP to CP had been lengthened.
Jeff