From: stephen@sprunk.org   
      
   On 26-Aug-14 22:58, Phil Kane wrote:   
   > Michael Finfer  wrote:   
   >> What I do not understand is why that motorman accepted that signal,   
   >> which must have been displaying yellow over yellow over yellow, at   
   >> all without double checking, and why he did not think that going up   
   >> the downtown local track was not unusual enough to warrant stopping   
   >> the movement.   
   >>   
   >> It seems to me that there must be an issue with employee training   
   >> as a component of what happened here.   
   >   
   > I'm sure that NYCTA does things their own way, but on "real   
   > railroads" here, even in CTC territory, for reverse running in a   
   > non-signaled direction the DS would issue a specific train order   
   > directing the train to proceed to point A, take the switch from Track   
   > 1 to Track 2, and proceed to point B.  The engineer/operator/motorman   
   > would have to repeat the order back to the DS who would verify that   
   > is was repeated correctly before it became "final" granting the   
   > permission to move.   
      
   The key is "non-signaled".  At least around here, all CTC tracks on   
   "real railroads" (UP, BNSF, KCS, DGNO, TRE and DCTA) are signaled in   
   both directions, and DTC or TWC is never used unless the signals are   
   malfunctioning.  Crews assume the dispatcher has set up the route   
   correctly based on their train number and other traffic, so they just   
   follow the signals.   
      
   DART isn't a "real railroad", but they use BMT/IND signals, and I've   
   never noticed their motormen talking to a dispatcher under normal   
   circumstances either; they just follow the signals like on a "real   
   railroad".   
      
   NYCT isn't fully signaled in both directions because it's not necessary   
   on lines with four tracks, but IIRC most of their network has at least   
   minimal reverse signals, and where it doesn't there are lockout signals   
   to prevent a train from entering a track that is unsignaled without a   
   manual override.   
      
   S   
      
   --   
   Stephen Sprunk         "God does not play dice."  --Albert Einstein   
   CCIE #3723         "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the   
   K5SSS        dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking   
      
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