05-20-2011, 06:36 PM
Most railroad crossing signals and gates these days have an "Intelligent" track circuit. When a train enters the track circuit, it can detect whether or not the train is moving in the circuit. See this at all crossings around here on NS, CSX and RJC.
There is a 12 mile double track section on NS through Georgetown and track speed through there is 60 mph on both tracks. When a train enters the circuit 1/2 mile from the crossing, the gates come down as would be expected. But trains frequently stop in the circuit waiting to meet or be passed by other trains, so when the train stops moving, after about 30 seconds, the gates will automatically go back up.
Once the train begins to move, the gates will again come down. Doesn't matter where in the circuit the train stops. Some crews will pull down within 100 feet of the crossing; others will stop about 1/4 mile from the crossing to wait. It's a far cry from the way it was a few years ago.
When I worked for the L&N, there were several crossings where trains would often have to stop in the signal circuit and we simply opened a small box on the relay cabinet and pressed the "Deactivate" button to turn off the crossing signals. When we were ready to move, just pressed the button marked "Activate" and started the signals again. Was never necessary to get permission from the DI to do this. Locations of these signals that could be turned on and off where in the timetable special instructions and you were instructed to turn the signals off at any time a train or equipment was stopped in the circuit.
There is a 12 mile double track section on NS through Georgetown and track speed through there is 60 mph on both tracks. When a train enters the circuit 1/2 mile from the crossing, the gates come down as would be expected. But trains frequently stop in the circuit waiting to meet or be passed by other trains, so when the train stops moving, after about 30 seconds, the gates will automatically go back up.
Once the train begins to move, the gates will again come down. Doesn't matter where in the circuit the train stops. Some crews will pull down within 100 feet of the crossing; others will stop about 1/4 mile from the crossing to wait. It's a far cry from the way it was a few years ago.
When I worked for the L&N, there were several crossings where trains would often have to stop in the signal circuit and we simply opened a small box on the relay cabinet and pressed the "Deactivate" button to turn off the crossing signals. When we were ready to move, just pressed the button marked "Activate" and started the signals again. Was never necessary to get permission from the DI to do this. Locations of these signals that could be turned on and off where in the timetable special instructions and you were instructed to turn the signals off at any time a train or equipment was stopped in the circuit.
Ed
"Friends don't let friends build Timesavers"
"Friends don't let friends build Timesavers"