From: joekor@earthlink.net   
      
   On 1/16/2016 7:02 PM, Stephen Sprunk wrote:   
   > On 15-Jan-16 23:48, Larry Sheldon wrote:   
   >> I have come to the conclusion that I really don't what a "home   
   >> signal" is and the on-line dictionaries don't seem a to match (or   
   >> "support") any of the things I thought--whatever that might mean.   
   >   
   > Simply put, a home signal is a signal that protects an interlocking, and   
   > it is typically controlled by a human setting routes.  A distant signal   
   > protects a home signal.  In contrast, a block signal reflects only track   
   > occupancy ahead; they are completely automatic.   
   >   
   > What makes it confusing is that, today, most home and distant signals   
   > _also_ act as block signals for the selected route.  In some systems,   
   > home signals and distant/block signals have mutually exclusive aspects,   
   > while in others, home/distant signals use block signal aspects for the   
   > main route but unique aspects for the diverging route(s).   
   >   
   > One critical distinction is that an all-red aspect on a home signal   
   > always indicates "stop and stay" whereas the same all-red aspect on a   
   > distant/block signal usually indicates "stop and proceed at restricted   
   > speed"; this obviously requires a clear means to differentiate the two,   
   > e.g. the presence of a number plate or the number of signal heads.   
   >   
   > S   
   >   
      
   On most mainline railroads home signals have no number boards on them,   
   their indication is stop (NORAC rule 292).  Block and distant signals   
   have number boards and are stop and proceed at restricted speed (NORAC   
   rule 291).  Some position light signals have horizontal lights over a   
   single yellow bulb or a single white bulb of horizontal red lights.   
      
   Of course the fail safe is a block signal whose number board falls of   
   becomes a stop.   
      
   --   
     -------------------------------------------------   
   |               Joseph D. Korman                  |   
   |          mailto:reply@thejoekorner.com          |   
   |            Visit The JoeKorNer at               |   
   |          http://www.thejoekorner.com            |   
   |-------------------------------------------------|   
   |    The light at the end of the tunnel ...       |   
   |        may be a train going the other way!      |   
   | Brooklyn Tech Grads build things that work!('66)|   
   |     There are 10 types of people: those who     |   
   |      understand binary and those who don't      |   
   |-------------------------------------------------|   
   |     All outgoing E-mail is scanned by NAV       |   
     -------------------------------------------------   
      
   --- SoupGate/W32 v1.03   
    * Origin: LiveWire BBS -=*=- UseNet FTN Gateway (1:2320/1)