justalurker66 wrote:
Perhaps unusual crossover moves should be added to the rulebook. But that would also need to define usual and dispatchers have their own preferences as to where to cross trains. What is usual on one trip may not be usual to the next dispatcher ... and depending on the size of the territory announcing every move (not knowing what each crew thought was usual) could be a burden that would cause other mistakes or delays.
I agree with you on this. Personal experience....heavy traffic one night forced a viable move for many trains, but an almost unheard-of move for mine. There is an automatic and a interlocking signal between 2 station stops in triple-track 261 territory. Normally I operate on track 3. If I'm closely following a certain train (which happens 1-2 times a week) I'll get an Approach Limited at the auto and an Approach Medium (or an Approach if I'm close enough) at the interlocking (in that stretch you'll get 2 signals before a stop). By the time I make the station stop he's long gone so away I go.
Now here is where it could have gotten ugly. There was a 15mph speed restriction on track 2 IN THE INTERLOCKING that day. I knew I was on that trains tail that night, and rolled up on the automatic showing an Approach Limited like usual and dropped her down to 45. All of a sudden I hear his conductor on the radio talking to the station manager....he's still in the station. Immediately gut check kicks in and I stand on the brakes....come around the curve to the interlocking and guess what? LIMITED CLEAR. I'm being routed to track 2 into the middle of a 15mph restriction! Got it down and all was good. Nothing from the dispatcher mind you. Should he have told me, yes. But in the end it lands squarely on me.....
