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[Anonymous]

While some switch stands have green and yellow flags others have green and red. The only thing that I can come up with for this is that the ones with green and yellow are for passing sidings ( the track splits of and then comes back into one) and the green and red flags are for dead end sidings. Am I correct?[:D]

[Saxman]

Typically, red and green switch banners are used on switches connected to the main track. Yellow and green banners are used on switches that are connected to other than main track such as: yards, run around tracks or additional switches on sidings not connected with the main track.

Variations do exist depending upon the railroad.

Saxman

[coborn35]

Its all the railroads preference, but Green always means the switch is lined for the main, and red/yellow mean it is lined for the siding/spur track/yard track.

[Saxman]

As with everything in railroading, there are exceptions to the statement: "Green always means the switch is lined for the main........". Where I work, we have a switch that the banner is greeen for the diverging route. Our timetable special instructions informs us that this is the "normal" position of this switch as it is different from the operating rule that green banner was for straight movement.

Just an example of rule modification and knowing one's physical characteristics.

Saxman

[csxengineer98]

not supost to go by the color of the switch stand banner anyways..supost to go by the way the switch points are lined (at least that is what the carriers tell us...lol...but we crews KNOW better)... lol
csx engineer