signalsoftRC Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Who has not got this issue: A heavy freight train coming from Velp get stuck at signal 274. Signal 274 and 270 are clear but nothing moves! What's the cause? Well... you're not the first one who steps into that trap! It even happens with professional dispatchers! Signal 274 is equipped with an additional "H"-Signal. (The "H" stands for "halt". In the US it's called a "tonnage signal") If the "H" is lit, a heavy freight trein may NOT proceed until the "H" is extinquished. When is the "H" lit? if ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SIGNALS does not allow proceed: 210, 246 and 270. (even yellow flashing is considered "stop") Why is this? the part of the line from switch 271 to about the position of signal 210 is a steep gradient UP. A heavy freight train might stall, when he has to come to a stop at signal 210 or signal 246. Therefore the "H" is lit as soon as there is a risk of a heavy freight train to stall in the gradient. Light freight trains and passenger trains will ignore the "H". A driver of a heavy freight train, stopped at signal 274 with the "H" lit, will NOT call in. He knows you have set the route and is expecting to proceed soon. In real life, it's really funny for a driver to be called by a dispatcher with the message why the driver is not moving. A nice laugh for the drivers around the coffee table in the canteen again! So Dispatcher, know your area of responsibility! Neat option, eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
signalsoftRC Posted September 17, 2009 Author Share Posted September 17, 2009 And now you may ask of course why those other signals in the same direction don't have that: well... the railways discovered that later too... and a couple of years later, the "H" signals were added to the signal from track v as well... They're in operation still today! (and have saved many trains of stalling there) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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