Railyard speed limits?

[GAChuck]

Is there a maximum speed limit on the main line(s) through a rail yard (i.e. are trains required to lower their speed below the rated track speed)?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Chuck

[BRAKIE]

GAChuck

Is there a maximum speed limit on the main line(s) through a rail yard (i.e. are trains required to lower their speed below the rated track speed)?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Chuck

 

Chuck,First welcome to the forum.The by pass track(s) speeds will vary from railroad to railroad. When I worked on the PRR the speed was 15 mph freight 25 passenger. When I worked on the Chessie the restricted speed was 25mph.

The by pass tracks is usually on the outside of the yard tracks and there shouldn't be anybody out there without permission from the dispatcher. 

When I worked on the Chessie(C&O) tracks was govern by block protection while on the PRR tower operators govern the movements.

[ACY Tom]

When I worked for Amtrak, the CSX dispatcher would occasionally route our train through the yard tracks in Richmond's Acca Yard, instead of the normal routing over the parallel Passenger Main Line. It's been a couple years, so the memory is a bit hazy. I think the speed limit on the Passenger Main was 45 mph, but it was only 15 mph on the through yard tracks. We could usually make up the time over the road, so it rarely caused us to arrive late; but it was a pain in the neck because those yard tracks were rough, and we were usually trying to serve meals at the time this was happening. Once out of Richmond, trains could resume their normal speeds of 70 mph for freight; 80 mph for passenger trains.

Tom 

[dehusman]

GAChuck

Is there a maximum speed limit on the main line(s) through a rail yard (i.e. are trains required to lower their speed below the rated track speed)?

Short answer is the speed could be anything from max speed (150 mph) to restricted speed 15 mph or less.

Depends on the rules, what type of main track authority is being used and what the condition of the track is.

General answer is that in territory with a block signal system the main track speed will be whatever the track will safely carry.  If its a 70 mph main track and the train is operating on clear signals, the train goes 70 mph.  If its in yard limits without a block signal system then it restricted speed (typically less than 15-20 mph).

[ricktrains4824]

Agree with dehusman above.

One I have been to, limit was 55, for pass through main, 15 for through yard tracks. Main nearby is 65 most freights, 70 intermodals, 79 Amtrak. 

Another nearby me, it is 15 entire yard, main pass through or not. Main line limit nearby is 40-45, depending on which direction they leave. 

And, yet another, main pass through is 35, through yard tracks are 25, 15 working yard, the main line nearby is 65/79. 

So, as dehusman said, it depends.

My Proto-freelanced layout, main limit is 40, yard main pass through is 40, as it is outside yard, lead and arrival/departure track is 30, through track (1) is 25, working yard tracks are 15.