On my latest trip I began to wonder what all of the signs along the tracks mean. Some of them I already know such as W and X. There were several that I didn't know. Do any of you know of a resource that describes what all of the signs mean?
By the way, I just returned on Wednesday from my trip to CHI on the Texas Eagle. #21 stopped just outside of Longview (I think) because we had a near miss with a low-boy trailer. We had stopped several times for freights so I wasn't paying that much attention until I heard them talking about it on my scanner.
Otherwise, the trip was uneventful - #22 was on time until just outside of CHI where freights held us up. We arrived CHI about 45 minutes late. #21 was running about an hour late but we made it all up and arrived on time in FTW. We had a great crew on #22, #21 was okay but not near as good.
Mark
Posts: 102 | From: Fort Worth,TX,USA | Registered: Dec 2001
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There is a fourth option: Go to http://altamontpress.com (note no www) and purchase any of their Railfan Timetables. The are all for areas of the west, but each has pages covering roadway signs, signal aspects, etc. They have a lot of interesting information and are well worth the price.
Posts: 35 | From: Alhambra, CA USA | Registered: Apr 2001
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"W"s and "X"s have the same meaning- blow your horn for an upcoming crossing. I guess it depends on the railroad. "W" for whistle, and "X" for crossing, or Xing. Sometimes you'll see an X or W with a number posted under it, indicating the number of crossings. A P-# and F-# on a yellow sign indicates freight and passenger speed limits. White signs with a few numbers on it usually indicates a milepost. Signs like ATS and CTC indicate what type of features and signaling a specific section of track has. There are quite a few more. Finding a printed source would be the best way! Hope you enjoyed your trip! Eric Posts: 553 | From: Flagstaff, AZ USA | Registered: Apr 2001
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Here's a link to BNSF's System Special Instructions (SSI). Go to page 50 for their RR signs. http://www.bnsf-ttc.com/bnsftime/ssi100302.pdf. You'll probably have to get a hold of a UP SSI to see what theirs are like.
Posts: 249 | From: Downey CA USA | Registered: Jul 2000
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Sorry the link doesn't work. Go to www.bnsf.com then look under "Team BNSF" for rules then the SSI.
Posts: 249 | From: Downey CA USA | Registered: Jul 2000
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Generally the "special instructions" portion of an employee timetable defines all relevant signs (and some nonverbal warnings, such as the diagonal or triangular flags that tell snowplow operators when to lift their flangers (such as at grade crossings).
Posts: 614 | From: Merchantville, NJ. USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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