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As a signalist, I have a lot of nostalgia for many types of US signals: Each of these types of signals have advantages and disadvantages, both for the railroad and train crews, and for us railfans. Searchlights are a master-class on precision optics design. They can be focused so well that...

It's odd that the intermidate signal is positioned right in the middle of the switch. But, it's a manual-throw turnout (trains will have to stop and get out and throw it), and the turnout is not signaled. The usual practice is to put such a signal right in front of the points of the turnout...

You're quite welcome! Do keep in mind that page of Al Krug's is more of a "teach a man to fish..." thing versus a "give him a fish" type thing. Definitely read and study it before you go out. It should help you then understand and memorize the signal rules for a given railroad/location you...

Welcome to the complex and enlightening (pun intended) world of railway signaling. Signaling has evolved over the past 160+ years to keep trains from colliding into one another and also to ensure they don't go too fast where they need to slow down. There are two aspects (pun not intended) to...

Remember that U.S. train signals indications implement transient speed limits. Train signal-imposed speed limits come and go based on the conditions of the route and track. A permanent speed reduction for a feature such as a curve would not be indicated by a signal, but instead by a permanent...

I agree Mr. Harmon does a stellar job of railfanning videos. The best on the internet I've ever seen! His signal videos featured here do show off many examples of the various aspects, but tend to gloss over whys and whens. The site I linked above explains the logic, so combinations of colors...

I apologize for the confusion. An absolute block has nothing to do with signals (absolute or otherwise), nor anything to do with absolute block signaling (common in Commonwealth countries).

Mr. Krug's excellent signaling website has disappeared off the internet since a few years. But much of it is archived: Tales From the Krug (Signals) [Internet Archive]

Actually, just in case, I'll answer these in my own way. Even though they were asked 8 years ago. It's specific to the type of speed display you'll find in one of their locomotives. You proceed until you have to stop. As others have already explained, Restricted Speed is not a fixed speed...

There is. Sorta. An absolute block is a state where the dispatcher guarantees a train sole access to its signal block. These are common for passenger trains to reduce risk of human error and collision. But these have to be agreed upon, and often requested. But it's likely that trains were...

By the way, as a railroad signaling guru, I encourage anyone and everyone who wants to better understand North American railroad signaling to read Al Krug's page on the subject: http://www.alkrug.vcn.com/rrfacts/signals/signals.htm Mr. Krug is an engineer for BNSF, and has put together the...

As the creator/owner of that site and those signal charts, I'm glad to hear they're enjoyed and useful. That is pretty funny! But that one even omits the archaic reflective-mirror ball. When it's high, so are you.