Re: (erielack) droping signals in front of trains

[Smtimko_@_aol.com]

Phil
 
We've all heard of officials 'dropping signals' in front of trains and I'm  
not saying it never happened.  But, the proper way to do it was to set the  
signal with a shunt or have a signal maintainer set the signal to Stop and  
Proceed and then observe the train: 1) Approaching the signal properly, 2)  
stopping at the signal, then proceeding at restricted speed, and 3) remaining at  
restricted speed until the entire train passed the next signal.
 
In my 22 year in management on four roads, (EL, CR, NS and now WNYP) you  
will find that there are very, very, very few crew failures on the above signal  
checks if they are performed properly by the supervisors.  It's supposed to  
be a rules efficiency check, not a trap.  
 
Another favorite test on the Mahoning Division of EL was a signal between  
Bruin and Transfer, signal 545-1, westbound.  It was a two-headed signal  and 
the approach signal to Transfer, a remote interlocking.  The TM and RFE  from 
Meadville would put a coffee can with the bottom painted black in place in  one 
of the signal heads, right out front, and see if the crew brought the train  
to a safe stop and then proceed at restricted speed, approaching Transfer  
prepared to stop.  Anyone that got caught here was a fool as it was one of  the 
few places that the supervisors did signal checks.
 
Again, let me state that dropping signals in front of train probably  
happened, but it was not the proper way to make a signal check.
 
SMT


	The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List
	Sponsored by the ELH&TS
	http://www.elhts.org

------------------------------