OK fellas, Here's another one for those in the know about DRGW Railroad rules and regulations. Can you please explain the rules concerning D.R.G.W. Signals, especially that concerning those that display the letter P, which I believe donates a "Permissive" signal. I don't need it paragraph, verse and line, but a basic explanation of what is what will suffice. From what I have been able to gather, some of USRA and DRGW rules regarding signals, their indications, and the rules are somewhat different to what I get over here. Thanks in advance. ------------------ Ron Carlisle Rio Grande Main Line Thru the Rockies
Ron, Do you mean the "P" on a square plate or the "P" on the triangle plate? The square plated "P" designated a positive/permissive signal. Which meant you had to positively stop and then get permission from the dispatcher to pass signal diplaying stop indicatioin, which the crews had to copy down on permissive cards. The railroad had to have the "P" on these signals to differentiate positive/absolute signals from intermediate signals since the drgw had numbers on all signals. Once the rules were changed so that only intermediate signals could have numbers on them the square plate "P" became obsolete. The triangle plated "P" designates a protective signal. This is an SP thing. It means that signal goes red in advance of a protective device such as; slide fence,high water detector. The dispatcher still has to talk you by the signal and he'll tell you if it's a slide fence or whatever so it's kind of redundant. Hope this helps a little. Mike Windsor CO
Mike Many thanksfor that bit of information. Can you clarify one point though. You said that on a P plated signal, the Dispatcher had to talk you passed it. Does this mean that engineers could pass certain other types of unmarked signals without having to talk to the dispatcher? I appreciate the help Ron
Any positive/absolute signal(one without a number plate)is an signal that is controlled by the dispatcher. If the block is red you better stop and contact the disp, he'll then talk you by it. The signals that have number plates and no "P" in drgw days are intermediate signals, meaning you have to stop if it's red then whistle off. In both circumstances you proceed at restricted speed until passing a signal with a less restricting indication,ie; yellow,flashing yellow, or green. Also on the drgw(don't know about others)the intermediate signals had a lunar(white) signal below the top signal. This was a grade signal which allowed trains following other trains on a grade to proceed at restricted speed WITHOUT stopping. But you had to stop at the positives till you gat a better signal. On the Joint line Denver to Pueblo, southbound from Sedalia to Palmer Lake the intermediates had a round plate with a "G" on it designating them as grade signals. I hope I helped clairify and add some more details without confusing you even more. Mike
Mike, Very many thanks indeed for all the information. There are some differences between signal rules on the D.R.G.W. and my railway company, Thameslink. Apart from which, there is somewhat different workings. i.e 4 and eight car electric multiple units for me, and 10,000 plus train for you, and your railroad has just a few more "hills" than mine It certainly is a lot more difficult working your trains that mine. But again, thanks for all the help, You havn't confused me --- Yet!! ------------------ Ron Carlisle Rio Grande Main Line Thru the Rockies
Ron, You're welcome. Being outdoors doing what you want seeing the scenary and wildlife makes putting up with some of UP's stupidity worthwhile. Take Care Mike Windsor CO Defy Gravity. . . Ship Rio Grande [This message has been edited by DRGWEngr (edited 14 October 2000).]
Are any of these 'Grade' signals on the Moffat Route? Interesting about the P--either way, if it's red, you gotta stop. I had heard it said: "If the signal is not all red, then it's not red at all."
