Can anyone tell me the purpose of the frequent, sequential, new short (ca. 5 ft tall) poles with a large and constant blue light on top, along with a speaker facing each track direction, that appear to be concentrated around towns. Thanks in advance.
Which railroad? Almost sounds like a wheel impact detector on the yellow peril.
Thanks for your reply, "mudchicken." I recall seeing them at various locations on the Sunset Limited route (UP) this past week. They were located about twenty feet or so from the north side of the nearest track (though there may have some on the south side that could not observe). Seemed quite new: clean wood pole, speakers, and glass protection for the blue light (about 4-6 inches in diameter).
I was wondering if the speakers were more of a warning siren, rather than a voice box. But, the poles were not located in areas of construction; rather in populated areas (but not just at crossings). And, the blue lights were always lit in daylight.
The UP started equipping control points with flashing blue lights and sirens. I think it's called TAWS which I think means Train Approach Warning System. It's used when MOW or signal forces are working within the plant on or near the tracks at the control points.
The ones I've seen are a blue light and speakers on a pole. The lights I've seen are only on, and flashing, when the system is activated. On older installations there is a locked box with the on/off switch. Newer ones I think are located inside the relay houses. Usually when no one's there the system is off, but once in a while the last person left it active.
Jeff
Interesting. TAWS continues to appear in our On-Track Safety instructions and briefings, but is largely dismissed as less than optimum protection. The lone-worker signal guys must have insisted that some protection (limited) is better than none in the interlockings. What I brought up was wheel detectors with PMD assistance tied to speakers used like the old yard talk-back system that fed into the defect system's data recorder.
In the Sunset Route two-tracking Updates thread on page 65 there is a picture of a TAWS installation.
K. P. Harrier's photo #5 in his Thought Provoking Look at Inconsistent New Signalling, City of Industry, CA post shows the pole with the blue light and siren speakers.
jeffhergert In the Sunset Route two-tracking Updates thread on page 65 there is a picture of a TAWS installation. K. P. Harrier's photo #5 in his Thought Provoking Look at Inconsistent New Signalling, City of Industry, CA post shows the pole with the blue light and siren speakers. Jeff
I have to agree with Jeff (jeffhergert):
K.P. Harrier's fine study of the work being done on the Sunset Route by the UP amounts to a 'Magnum Opus'. Seldom has there been a documentation of such a huge project.
Not only KP's work but the additional comments from other Contributors have brought a whole new interest and scope to those of us not able to actually see it.
I only hope the latest revision to the Forum does not knock any of this out.
Here is the link to page 65 and you can scroll down to picture #5 which pictures the TAWS equipment.
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