Unlike driving on the highway, where you might end up virtually anywhere, routes on the railroad are necessarily limited.
All appropriate speeds are laid out in the employee timetable. Temporary changes are laid out in bulletin orders and the like. Sometimes signs are posted, sometimes just colored "flags" to indicate where the restrictions start and end.
You say you would hate to have to learn all the speed limits along a line, but I'll bet that you know all of the speed limits along a route you travel on a regular basis. Crews need to be qualified on any territory they run, which includes speeds.
OTOH, standardization is hardly a bad thing. Where speed signs are called for, there's no reason why they shouldn't all be the same.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
This may be a good idea just one less item to go wrong. Know some will probably think it dunbing down but this poster for one would hate to memorize all the road speed limits from here to ??
http://www.progressiverailroading.com/labor/news/Rail-unions-petition-FRA-for-uniform-speed-signs--46988
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