Main Line Restrictions?

[Anonymous]

Hi All, In a power outtage such as we had last night, Rochester NY, what is
standard operating procedure with no crossing gates operating or signals? I live about 1/2 mile from the CSX main and heard a couple of trains but they were not going at normal speed. Also would be willing to bet that the "UPS
Special" did not make it to NJ on time if it is there yet...
Stay Safe, Mark

[Anonymous]

Hi All, In a power outtage such as we had last night, Rochester NY, what is
standard operating procedure with no crossing gates operating or signals? I live about 1/2 mile from the CSX main and heard a couple of trains but they were not going at normal speed. Also would be willing to bet that the "UPS
Special" did not make it to NJ on time if it is there yet...
Stay Safe, Mark

[Anonymous]

I dont know about all aspects of this, but I do know most Railroads have back up electricity in the form of batteries located in cement boxes near crossings.

[Anonymous]

I dont know about all aspects of this, but I do know most Railroads have back up electricity in the form of batteries located in cement boxes near crossings.

[Rustyrex]

not sure how things are working in the power outage situation, but here is some standard rules for crossing protection and signal protection which vary in some degree railroad to railroad.
In crossing signal protection crews are given written forms stating which crossings are out, or the dispatcher may verbally inform a crew of a road crossing signal protection that is malfunctioning or the crew may encounter one prior to approaching the crossing. If no crossing lights work, the train stops, lets the conductor off and flags the train across the entire crossing. If one side is working, then 15 MPH across with bells and whistle preparing to stop short of motorists. Now this does vary slightly from railroad to railroad.
If the actual block signals are out or dark, all trains must treat this as an absolute stop at each signal and proceed at restricted speed to the next signal and continue this procedure until there is a more favorable aspect (yellow, green). Hope this helps.

--Rusty

[Rustyrex]

not sure how things are working in the power outage situation, but here is some standard rules for crossing protection and signal protection which vary in some degree railroad to railroad.
In crossing signal protection crews are given written forms stating which crossings are out, or the dispatcher may verbally inform a crew of a road crossing signal protection that is malfunctioning or the crew may encounter one prior to approaching the crossing. If no crossing lights work, the train stops, lets the conductor off and flags the train across the entire crossing. If one side is working, then 15 MPH across with bells and whistle preparing to stop short of motorists. Now this does vary slightly from railroad to railroad.
If the actual block signals are out or dark, all trains must treat this as an absolute stop at each signal and proceed at restricted speed to the next signal and continue this procedure until there is a more favorable aspect (yellow, green). Hope this helps.

--Rusty

[wabash1]

A dark signal dont mean its a absolute. a dark signal means stop and get permission to procede and then do that at restricted speed . the distance the dispatcher lets you go. in abs territory you stop get permission to proced and do that at restricted speed till you run out of track warrent or a better signal to go track speed. during the power outages here are signals worked fine on batteries. the signal is dark til you get about 10 cars from it then it lights up its aspect. road crossing the same way. we didnt slow down .

[wabash1]

A dark signal dont mean its a absolute. a dark signal means stop and get permission to procede and then do that at restricted speed . the distance the dispatcher lets you go. in abs territory you stop get permission to proced and do that at restricted speed till you run out of track warrent or a better signal to go track speed. during the power outages here are signals worked fine on batteries. the signal is dark til you get about 10 cars from it then it lights up its aspect. road crossing the same way. we didnt slow down .