Signal Aspects and Indications

spend any time around the Pacer Farm and you'll hear the crews of passing CSX and Amtrak trains calling signals on the company radio.  trains will reveal their symbol, direction, location and the name of the signal aspect observed.  most of these transmissions are straightford, sounding like this:  "CSX Q278 East on 2, clear signal Derwood dip.  Q278 out". 

cross the tracks at the nearby Ridge Road grade crossing and you can see the home signals for the crossover at Derwood.  depending on what movements are nearby, and what intentions the AU dispatcher in Jacksonville has for them, the signals will display one of the aspects in the table below. 

the B&O style signals use flashing or steady white or yellow lights to convey nuances that on other railroads are expressed by stacking coloured signals on the same mast. 

here's a quick guide to decoding the aspects (what they see), names (what they say) and indications (what it means): 

Definitions   Limited Speed Medium Speed Slow Speed Restricted Speed
not exceeding 45 mph not exceeding 30 mph not exceeding 15 mph a speed that will permit stopping within one-half the range of vision, looking out for train, car, obstruction, stop signal, derail or switch not properly lined, or broken rail; not exceeding 15 mph.
 
Aspect C-281(e) white light over green        
Name Clear        
Rule 281        
Indication proceed        
 
Aspect   C-281-B(c) left flashing white light over greenorC-281-B(d) left white light over green w/ yellow triangle marker C-282(c) left white light over green C-284(c) right yellow light over green C-285(e) white light over yellow
Name   Approach Limited Approach Medium Approach Slow Approach
Rule   281-B 282 284 285
Indication   Proceed, approaching next signal not to exceed Limited Speed Proceed, approaching next signal not to exceed Medium Speed Proceed, approaching next signal not to exceed Slow Speed Proceed, prepared to stop at the next signal.  Trains exceeding Medium Speed must immediately begin reduction to Medium Speed as soon as engine passes Approach signal.
 
Aspect   C-281-C(c) green over flashing white lightorC-281-C(d) green over white light w/ yellow triangle marker C-283(c) green over white light C-287(b) flashing green  
Name   Limited Clear Medium Clear Slow Clear  
Rule   281-C 283 287  
Indication   Limited Speed through turnouts, crossovers, sidings, and over power-operated switches; then proceed Medium Speed through turnouts, crossovers, sidings, and over power-operated switches; then proceed Slow Speed through turnouts, crossovers, sidings, and over power-operated switches; then proceed  
 
Aspect         C-281-D(b) yellow over flashing white light
Name         Limited Approach
Rule         281-D
Indication         Limited Speed through turnouts, crossovers, sidings, and over power-operated switches; then proceed prepared to stop at next signal
 
Aspect     C-283-A(b) green over left white light  C-283-B(b) green over right yellow light  C-286(b) yellow over white light
Name     Medium Approach Medium Medium Approach Slow Medium Approach
Rule     283-A 283-B 286
Indication     Medium Speed through turnouts, crossovers, sidings, and over power-operated switches; then proceed approaching next signal not exceeding Medium Speed Medium Speed through turnouts, crossovers, sidings, and over power-operated switches; then proceed approaching next signal not exceeding Slow Speed Medium Speed through turnouts, crossovers, sidings, and over power-operated switches; then proceed prepared to stop at next signal
 
Aspect       C-287-A(a) green C-288(b) yellow
Name       Slow Approach Slow Slow Approach
Rule       287-A 288
Indication       Slow Speed through turnouts, crossovers, sidings, and over power-operated switches; then proceed approaching next signal not exceeding Slow Speed Slow Speed through turnouts, crossovers, sidings, and over power-operated switches; then proceed prepared to stop at next signal
 
Aspect C-290(c) lunar C-298(c) red w/ 'G' marker on mast C-291(c) red w/ number plate on mastorC-291(d) white light over redorC-291(e) red over white light C-292(c) red
Name Restricting Grade Stop and Proceed Stop
Rule 290 298 291 292
Indication proceed at Restricted Speed stop, then proceed at Restricted Speed stop

 

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