Thoughts and prayers are with the crews and their families/friends.
If no one minds me asking some questions;
What kind of signalling system is in that territory?
How big are the blocks in the area?
What is track speed there?
Is it a mainline?
What kind of traffic and how much traffic?
I tried to run two trains at 60 mph that were 130 cars long loaded on Trainz. Didn’t work though. I used CTC system automatic and found that the trains would hit a yellow and slowed down for the red. Blocks were a mile long. They safely stopped where they were supposed to. Even not automatic or for that matter CTC period, wouldn’t or shouldn’t the dispatcher check over his sheet and make sure there are no traffic conflicts if it was he or she’s fault-not saying yet if it is or not.
Andrew -
-
There are no signals on the Meridian Speedway yet. CTC is planned, but for now it is mainly single track dark territory.
-
Depends upon the DS. Track Warrant control under DTC. GCOR governs.
-
Track speed is 50 at that location, unless there are slow orders in effect.
4.Yes it is a mainline.
- All types of traffic including intermodal/trailvans, manifest, unit grain and some coal and a number of locals. The line is quite heavily travelled for a non-signalled single track. KCS is spending a lot of money on new sidings and preparing for CTC which should be installed in the next few years along the entire line.
Don’t even begin to jump to conclusions about fault as yet.
LC
Can someone please explain dark territory to me? Thanks!
Dark territory means there are no block signals in service. Operation is by track warrant or equivalent.
Good heavens. I can’t believe they didn’t already upgrade. Mind you it took CP some time before they converted.
Not too sure why the line wasn’t double tracked then with directional track.
A significant percentage of ALL the rail lines in the US are operated under Dark conditions. It is an economics thing. The lines involved have NEVER had signaling (If the lines were ever signaled the ICC and later the FRA would not approve for the removal of signals unless there was a SIGNIFICANT change in the character of operations on the line). To signal a line segment that has never had signals costs on the order of $1,000,000 a mile and railroads do not invest in their capital plant on a whim. Such investmenst must offer a real and significant return on the investment.
For Class 1s or close to class 1 operation?
Anybody got link to local video yet?
Parts of the route of the Sunset Limited between LA and Orlando are over Dark Territory. All Class I’s have much Dark Territory.
I pray for healing for all who were involved. [angel]