How To Read CSX Signals Part 2

In Part 2 we cover three head signals and flashing aspects.

[mattbaxter]

im from indianapolis and CSX is the main railroad here. I really appreciate the tutorials because I tend to railfan at signal locations alot. so now I will have a better understanding of what I am seeing. Thank you very much.

[FuzzBass]

I work as a trainman/conductor for Canadian Pacific in Alberta, gotta say I love your videos. It's really interesting seeing the differences and similarities between Canadian and US rail operations, at least for me...but to be fair I've been a railfan since birth so I suppose it's to be expected haha. Seriously though, great, informative content.

[koryclarke]

I’ve learned a lot about speed signaling thru these videos. Up here in Wisconsin, I’m used to route signaling.

[nicholaslokos]

I have a signal on a mainline track near my house and always wondered what they meant, so I could tell more about where, and how fast, the trains were, thank you!

[RochelleM]

Again, Danny is the Einstein of railroading in my perception..lol!

[chrisbgaming]

I been none stop watching your videos on the on tv every day

[elizabethcockrail]

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

[silverjinglebobspur]

Absolutely fascinating. I think this stuff gets passed genetically. Both grandfather and grandmother worked the trains, steamers were the thing then. She quit, having earned enough money to search for her three youngest children who were taken by FT Carson Agency. He continued on with SP. He must have been liked and well known. 1971, steamers only make shows, but there were tracks near our house in Bellflower, CA. My entertainment was sitting and watching the trains. One day, the engineer waved and motioned me to come close. Allen C Endicott was his name. He showed me what he could of that engine. When he found out that Forrest Dewey Wright was my great grandfather, he asked if I would like to ride to Pasadena. Run home and bring me a note saying it's okay. I was told to watch the lights. It was so confusing. Which one? I was the engineer for maybe 200 feet. He stood on the engineers pedal and told me what to do. That old horn lever is a powerful thing. We made it across Bellflower Blvd. I must have fallen asleep. I don't remember a thing after that. Doesn't matter. I didn't want to run it. I just wanted to ride. Caboose was still in use back then, coupled directly behind the engine. I think SP was allowing other workers to eventually retire out. I remember the brakeman, lineman, switchman, signalman, and conductor. And now, at the age of 59, I'm just learning what all of those lights meant.

[KatTheFoxtaur]

Dude, are you sure you're not actually a news anchor under cover? XD That had to be one of the most pleasing railroad educational videos I've ever watched! I love your commentary, and the videos were extremely helpful and very nicely shot and edited! Thank you, will be watching the rest of these now! :3

[Bhil]

Such an informative video. I also just watched a series on what and how CN signals work here in Canada.

[MITracks]

We usually get a red over yellow over flashing green; Medium Approach Medium when we enter CSX territory in Michigan or a Red over Yellow over Yellow; Medium Approach. Nice videos keep em coming

[upchessbyabzolute]

SIGNAL INDICATION + LOCATION TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Medium Clear at Valrico Junction
1:03 Approach at Vitis Junction
1:22 Approach at Richland Crossover
1:57 Approach Limited at Richland Crossover
2:23 Stop at Ellerslie
2:46 Clear at Ellerslie (can't see the signal)
3:21 Medium Approach at Ellerslie
3:33 Limited Clear at Ellerslie
4:17 Approach Limited at Richland Crossover (same shot as 1:57)

[crapper]

in goose creek sc we had the double target lights now we have the type shown here basicly the limited clear was change to track 2 and top clear was high ball it rarely ever saw amber but 6 times in the 15 years of train spotting

[tcmw]

i'm kind of an on again / off again railfan. Have loved trains, in general; for a long time. Anyway I like your videos, good narration, useful information. You probably have done this before, but I'd like to know more about DPU, multi-locomotive lashups and in general multi-engine setups, I apologize if you've already done this, and I did find one of your videos where CSX had one loco at the head and one at the tail.

[jacobdubielak]

Great video and Norfolk southern leader

[briang]

I watch CSX trains all the time on the Lineville Sub in Lagrange, Ga. I see a lot of those limited clear signals there on that double track main there, and it's always after a slow approach or medium approach signal before hand.

[donhunking]

Thanks again Danny . Once again well presented and informative . Your style of giving a little at a time gives us a better opportunity to absorb and retain the info . Are other roads using the same basic patterns as CSX ???

[SDFan_Jason]

Okay look, I can simplify this for you guys in just a few paragraphs. When it comes to mast signals, start from the top and work your way down. If the top is displaying green, go no further, you have a clear track and you may proceed to the next signal, regardless of the rest of the signals.
Is the top yellow? That means at the next signal you are running out of this track, unless the next lights below display something other than red. So in that case, is the middle light green? okay then that means you have another track to go to and you just have to slow to medium speed when you get there. Is it yellow instead? That means you are going to have another yellow light at the next signal, be prepared. Is the middle light red but the bottom light is green? It means the same thing as the other green light; you are running out of track and you are shifting to another track at the next light, but this one is SLOW.
Is the top light red? You have run out of track. Except if the second light is Green? So you are still out of track but you are shifting to a new track, take it at medium speed and then you can proceed to the next signal. But is the second light yellow? So then you are still out of track but you are shifting to a new track, only to run out of track again at the next signal, unless the bottom light is also green, which indicates when you get to the next signal, you are shifting again, take it slow when you get there. Or is the bottom light yellow? Then this means you are out of track and shifting over to the next track where you are running out of track again after the next signal. But is the middle light also red? Yep, you are still out of track, but if the bottom light is Green then you have to take it SLOW as you shift to the next track and then proceed on to the next signal. but if the bottom light is yellow, you need to take it slow as you shift and then prepare to stop at the next signal.
If it's not all red, then it's not red at all. If you are looking at all red, you must stop.
Now here are the exceptions:
Flashing lights are more permissive than solid lights. Therefore a flashing middle green indicated Limited Speed rather than Medium speed.
Markers such as a "P", "G" or milemarker on a signal make it an intermediate rather than an absolute signal, therefore all-red only means "Proceed at Restricted Speed"
Any time a Lunar aspect is displayed regardless of position, it means you are leaving CTC territory and entering other-than-main track with "Restricting" which means you do not need any additional authority beyond that signal.
Speed signalling used to be referred to as Maximum speed, LImited Speed (45MPH), Medium Speed (30
MPH) and Slow Speed (15 MPH), but for the past 20 years or so, Timetable speeds overrule signal speeds. As such, CSX changed their "Slow Speed" to 20 MPH so that trains do not attempt to run at a speed that will cause harmonic rock. (13-17 MPH)

[deaustin]

I suppose this is all Work for railroaders, but it's fascinating for the rest of us.

[crc]

i was told one time the way to tell which track is which is ( How the West was ONE )
since there is no east - west movement eastbound is CSX NB so when facing East the Left track would be track 1