Lunar Signal

[jrw249]

What is the lunar signal? White? Also, is there a grey signal?

[croteaudd]

It is generally a signal displaying a moonlike white aspect commonly used with red over lunar indications authorizing entrance to an occupied or non-wired siding.

[Anonymous]

croteaudd, you listed usually red over lunar, which is somewhat incorrect. The low lunar indicates that you are lined for the diverging rout and on a restricting indication. A lunar can be at the entrance of a non controlled siding, the entrance to an industry, yard, or anywhere else that 6.27 or 6.28 is in effect. Annother restricting indication would be a absolute signal displaying a flashing red aspect. You will see this when you enter a yard.

[Anonymous]

On B&O color position signals, a "Restricting" indication is two lunar white lights at 10:00 and 4:00 on the target. Lunar white is a very pale blue color.

[wabash1]

On differant roads the use may be differant but the meaning is the same it is restricting. where i run it is a restricting with no indication on how you are lined. just a signal to proceed.

[Anonymous]

On the old B&O CPL's, a restricting means to "proceed at restricted speed". I think most signals are "speed" signals. You may know where you are going from the signal received by experience, but the signal actually only tells you to proceed and how fast to proceed.

[Anonymous]

Not true on the BNSF/BN/Santa Flu***rackage. We have diverging signals. Depending on what signal head the proceed indication is on the mast will tell you wether you will be diverging or not.

[croteaudd]

Hi "ironken"

In forty years, a high lunar has never been personally witnessed. Lunar draffs, yes.

Flashing red is common, but must be hard on bulbs.

[wabash1]

Not true. I lied ? I guess as a engineer i need to ask railfans what signals mean. I wonder if that will work when i get fired.

[Anonymous]

I've never seen a low lunar that I didn't diverge on (with the exception of an approach restricting...yellow over lunar). I'm only speaking about where I work. If you are asking me then you are not asking a railfan. If I am wrong this wouldn't be the first time. I learn something new every time I go on duty.

[Saxman]

A couple of responses: 1. To the post that stated he had never witnessed a high lunar signal. There out there. I do not know where you work but I know of four in the Chicago area where I work. 1. The signal from the Canadian National to the Belt Railway at the Hayford Wye. (RED/LUNAR) This one is especially "nice" to see in the daylight just about sunrise. 2. From the Union Pacific to the Indiana Habor Belt at Dolton Tower to head toward Gibson Yard.(RED/RED/LUNAR) 3. At 16th street tower (Clark St.) to proceed down St. Charles Airline to BNSF With current of traffic from IC Chicago Sub. 4. Signal on BNSF at Union Ave. "A" Plant to cross all 4 Mains to enter Western Ave. Yard at the east end from St. Charles Airline receive a RED/RED/ LUNAR.

Response Two: What may be a Restricting (RED/YELLOW)to one railroad may be a Diverging Approach (RED/YELLOW)to another based on if they use a speed or route signal system. This is evident when Grand Trunk Western was attached to Illinois Central during the merger with Canadian National to create the United States Operating Rules (USOR). CN standard is speed signals hence GTW's standard. Illinois Centrals signal standard is route. With the CTC project on the South Bend Sub., the new standard became IC. On a trip from Battle Creek to Chicago, I will change from speed to route signals about 4 times. Now if I go east to Port Huron from Battle Creek, it is ALL speed signals. Where A Yellow/Green is an Approach diverging on parts of the West end, the same Yellow/Green is Approach Medium on the East end. Confused? I am. In short, to tell a railroader, "No that signal does not exist", is a bit risky as it just might exist on his railroad. Remember in railroading the only thing that is standard is the guage. And that can be debatable.

Keep em on the rail and between the fences.

[BR60103]

Just to add confusion, the Toronto subway system uses a lunar (at the bottom) to indicate that a red signal is purely a speed restriction (called a Grade Timer) and will clear to yellow or green a certain number of seconds after the previous signal was passed. A train exceeding the speed will pass the signal at red and be forced into an emergency stop.
--David

[wabash1]

the road i run there is a single mast and either displays red/stop or lunar / restricting. no other colors.