How To Read Signals On The CSX Part 4

In this episode we cover the multi-head signals and the many indication they can give. You'll learn some formulas to make reading those easy.

[veinbanger]

The saying at 3:10 definitely helps out alot.
"If it ain't all red, it ain't red at all"

[pingpaul]

Excellent explanations! I am an ex-ConRail engineer, so some of the aspects are new to me.

[Thunderstixx]

I've watched a lot of your ideos.
You are clear, concise, intelligent and have a great voice for broadcasting.
I grew up in Eldon Iowa, back when the Rock Island Railroad actually existed and ran right through the middle of town.
I've learned a lot from your videos and appreciate the level of knowledge you display. I've wondered about so much of the things you answer for most of my life.
I currently reside about a mile from an Austin to Mexico railroad hosted by the BNSF or formerly Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe, a great name for a railroad if ever there was one !!!
Thanks again for the great stuff !!!

[frankney]

This is a nice series, Danny. I'm a first responder in my town (Fire/EMS) and we have a CSX yard in my response area (Selkirk). The signals here pretty much match what you're teaching, at least I haven't found any major differences.

[donhunking]

Thanks Danny . Your expert narration throughout this series of signal videos is greatly appreciated . We think seeing and interpreting the signals as the crew does in real time movement is pretty darn cool . You help us do that . Thanks again old boy

[jaimarwagner]

I start conductor training in Atlanta on the 9th and I was told your videos were great for study and learning 🙏🏾

[cameronschindler]

Advance Approach: it’s an approach for the approach

[SDFan_Jason]

RIP Dave Felts! 6:19 - I miss ya, buddy! Hope you're running those rails in Heaven.

[toocamcivic]

Repairman for Amtrak that is also MDZ qualified, so this helped me get through the signal part of my NORAC test.

Knowing the Amtrak color positions help me with these freight signals.

Only thing I had an issue with, was the if it ain’t all
Red it ain’t red at all………we see stop and proceeds. Red over white. (Amtrak color position)

[upchessbyabzolute]

SIGNAL INDICATION + LOCATION TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Medium Clear at Lakeland Connection
0:50 Approach Medium at Lakeland Connection
1:12 Medium Approach at South Lakeland
1:52 Clear / Medium Approach at Dinsmore Connection / Jacksonville
2:03 Medium Approach Medium at Folkston GA
2:35 Slow Approach at Honeymoon Wye / Beaver Street / Jacksonville
3:53 Restricting at Honeymoon Wye
4:22 Approach at Honeymoon Wye
5:02 Advance Approach at Sanford (Don't know the exact name of the signal) Ex-CSX but still uses same indication
6:35 Clear at Rockport Wye
7:02 Clear at Sandler Junction
7:08 Clear at Dinsmore Connection
7:12 Clear at Distant to Winston/Plant City

[BlueKeyMon]

I’m going through conductor school right now and these videos are a massive help. Thanks

[TedNewkirk]

Really enjoying this series. Well done!

[michiganlinesrailfan]

Thanks for the teaching and amazing Quality! 🤩👍

[elizabethcockrail]

I'm so glad these videos are finally back!!! Yay!!! :-)

[stripervince]

think this is confusing? try being a conductor on shared joint track between two or three different rail roads. I worked for cp rail in southern penn. and we would go on the Sunbury main to harrisburg on NS track. you cannot even fathom some of the confusing old seaboard signals we would see. three diagnal flashing yellows over a solid green with a lunar white on a extended arm, I mean shit like that. was insane. stuff like medium medium approach advanced medium slow!!!! break out the chart boys. It was nuts. I'm exaggerating slightly but it was really confusing. I hated that run.

[reddevilxt]

It’s pretty simple. If the top head has a color it’s either green “clear”, or yellow “approach”. If the top head is red, the signal displayed will start with the speed. The next head down, or “B” head if flashing is limited clear or approach depending on color. If it’s solid lit, no flash, it’s medium clear or medium approach. If the A and B heads are red, color on C head, it’s a slow clear or slow approach. If the color is flashing upgrade the speed by one. So in the case of the red/yellow/flashing green = medium approach medium.

[NorfolkSouthernESAC]

Another good video Danny! If I'm ever down in CSX country in Florida I'm sure I'll find this info most helpful. Also nice catch on the MP15AC!

[jasminejohnston]

The Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railways in Canada use the same signal system as CSX, but in the UK a different signal system is used where only a single coloured light is displayed (except for the Advance Approach, which displays two yellow lights). But the signals basically mean the same thing: Red means Danger (Stop), yellow means Approach, green means Clear

[koryclarke]

On two of my railroads around here in Wisconsin, a double yellow is an approach-diverging.

[hughsmith]

Interesting series, Danny. I don’t know why I am just finding it. Interesting info on the yellow over yellow on the CSX. Here in Kansas on the BNSF or UP, if the approach is yellow over yellow, it’s telling the engineer that at the control point (crossover on a double track or siding entrance on a single track) that he is to go no faster than 40mph and then the control point signal will be either green under red meaning he can proceed at normal speed once the has cleared the switch or yellow under red which means he will have to stop at the opposite end of the siding. If he is on a double track, it means he needs to proceed at 35 mph through the switch then be prepared to stop before the next block signal. BNSF and UP are notorious around here for getting trains backed up for many miles to come through the Kansas City Metro area. BNSF has Argentine yard to handle trains off of four different subdivisions. UP has a yard here in Kansas City that also handles trains from four different subdivisions. CSX, NS and CN/KCS also come through town as well as the Amtrak SW Chief between Chicago and LA, twice a day and the KC to St Louis River Runner that also runs twice a day. There is always railroad action around the KC Metro area if you are willing to go find it. They are increasing the size of many sidings in both Kansas and Missouri for the reason you mentioned plus, with some trains now being up to 16, 000 ft long (around 320 cars and at least 12 locomotives distributed through the train, they can be a little more than three miles long at times. Yes, it really does happen. We call them super trains, almost always they are unit trains. What I don’t understand is how the rear engines get there orders by remote control from the engine on the point three miles away. That seems like a stretch to me. Oh, they are double tracking the south half of the Emporia sub from three miles southwest of Ellinor Jct down to Wellington, KS where it terminates and becomes a different subdivision. The Emporia Sub has gotten far more busy and the definitely needs to be double tracked for the entire length.