by RCH022
does a red light on a signal tower mean there is usually a train coming down that track???
Railroad Forums
Moderator: Robert Paniagua
CSX Conductor wrote:Yes Chris, there are many areas that have this type of signals, which only remain lit while a train is in the block.Not to mention this track sees like only 5 trains a day, unlike the high-speed UP Chester Sub, which sees probably about 15-20 trains per day at best. You can bet those signals stay lit!
RCH022 wrote:does a red light on a signal tower mean there is usually a train coming down that track???Aside from the rule that red means stop, the answer to your question depends on the practice of the railroad you are interested in. For example, a green indication (two green lights in a vertical pattern) in Amtrak's territory in NJ does mean a train is coming soon. New Brunswick, NJ is a good spot to see that. But on ConRail Shared Assets "chemical coast" parallel to the New Jersey Turnpike near Newark-Liberty airport, a color other than red (usually yellow here) does not necessarily mean a train is coming soon.
trainfreak wrote: What i dont get is why some approach lit signals when a train passes it one going one direction the red signals for the opposite direction its traveling light up red right when the train passes it. Why not before?Because the signals do not light up until a train is within that specific block.