A onetime Boston and Maine (originally Middlesex Central RR) branch from Boston ended in our town (Concord, MA) with a small yard and station. Along the old right-of-way about a quarter-mile before the station site is a concrete post with the letter “R”. What does this marking mean?
Just an “R” and no number? (If there’s a number it’s possibly a milepost from somewhere.) Beyond that, I suspect one would have to see a B&M rulebook for the answer. It’s certainly nothing that I, a Midwestern railroader, am familiar with.
I heard once that in meant ring bell! But it actually indicates to a snow plow operator to raise flanger or plow because of upcoming grade crossing or other object in the track guage which should not be disturbed.
My guess it means restricted limits.
Rodney
That’s what I was thinking.
I no longer have a B&M book of rules…but I believe my reference to raising the plow is applicable. The DL&W 1934 BOR has a reference to “ring” as a lineside post with an “R” and a CR book shows a white “R” on a green square at the end of a speed restriction territory meaning “resume” as is a plain green square marked with the same meaning in other books. For the B&M I strongly suggest seeking out a B&M employee timetable and book of rules for this specific application…I remember they had posts, similar to the DL&W, with a “W” on one side and an “R” on the other with the none use face being blanked in white or black rather than highlighted letters.
Thanks, Rodney. I suspect the “R” implies some sort of restriction…since it faces the approach to a yard (the back side is blank). Others suggest it may be for snowplows but there was no grade crossing in the area and I haven"t seem such signs where there are crossings. My remaining question is, what is meant by the term “restricted limits”?
Do/did B&M rules make a distinction between “Restricted Limits” and “Yard Limits”? I suspect that their meanings are similar, and that this would be a Yard Limit sign on most other railroads, if that’s what it means.
Along with what Carls says, I wonder if this isn’t analagous to the “Rule 98” signs we have on our railroad. NORAC Rule 98 calls for restricted speed, but is not the same as yard limits. The other side of these signs indicates “Enter DCS”, or Form D Control System - where you have to have paper.
For us, it’s the area surrounding our station at Thendara.
Yard Limit signs were yard limit signs. The “R” signs were something else, probably to indicate engines should ring its bell upon entering the yard. I cannot recall an “R” sign indicating “restriction” beyond the signs I indicated above (green with or without a black or white “R”), which in fact indicate “resume track speed” when coming out of a restricted or slow area (entry which was indicated by a yellow sign with or without a white or black “S”). Usually if there were restrictions on a railroad they would be pretty specific and the sign itself would indicate the restriction rather than warn of a restiction without a difinition. As I indicated earlier, different roads had different rules or different applications of rules derived from the Standard Code. They only way to get a full, complete, accurate, and correct answer is to read the book(s) of rules issued by the railroad in question. I no longer have a B&M rule book or employee timetable but urge someone who does to help us here.