Railroad Signs & Signals

Railroad Sigs & Signals

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To All: On my Facebook page,

To All: On my Facebook page, layout concepts I started a new series called "Railroad Signs & Signals". Over the years I have taken hundreds of photos of these. Stating out is the iconic Yard Limit sign found on most model railroads. A yard limit sign is for governing a section of main line track. The rule reads, Rule 93--"Within Yard Limits the main track may be used, clearing the time of first class trains at the next station where time is shown. Protection against second and third class, extra trains and engines is not required." These moves are to be made at yard speed. Photo taken on the Grand Trunk Western RR near Pontiac, Michigan by Elvin Howlkand. Yours, Elvin Howland/E. St. Louis Rail Group Layout.

dave1905's picture

Yard limits

These moves are to be made at yard speed.

Maybe.  Maybe not.

Yard limits, for all its simplicity is one of the most cussed and discussed rules by model railroaders.

If you are a first class train you may proceed at track speed.   Some rule books require clearing 2nd class trains too (so they can go track speed also). Often, if there is a block signal system in effect, ANY train can proceed at track speed if they have a signal better than approach.  Some rule books allow the train to proceed at track speed if the track is seen to be clear and switches lined.  Some rule books specify yard speed, low speed, restricted speed, "prepared to stop" (older rule books) or "prepared to stop within half the range of vision" (newer rule books).

If you are modeling prior to the 1890-1900 era they may not even have yard limits yet (these newfangled ideas!!).  The really weird thing is that the yard limit rule in the 1903 rule book for my prototype is actually closer in verbiage to the 2015 GCOR rule than the rule you quoted.

Dave Husman

Modeling the Wilmington & Northern Branch in 1900-1905

Iron men and wooden cars.

Visit my website : https://wnbranch.com/

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Given the size of most

Given the size of most layouts unless one is running an oval track race the trains should be running at restricted speed anyway since the "end is near" ....DaveB

Pat M's picture

Short line application

When I worked on a 1:1 scale short line, we were required to notify dispatcher by radio if we (locomotive or track crew) we were working in the YL on the rails. Dispatcher notified the train or trains running under warrants that there was somebody working within YL.

When the train under warrant approached YL, they would directly contact the other locomotive or track crew working inside YL to determine their location. Of course GCOR applied in terms of speed.

Worked well on a railroad that usually ran 1 train a day.


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