Shunt? Can I say that here?

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Have 2 new posts with small boxes on them right next to the tracks and not too far from a signal bridge.

Big letters on the side of the box say “SHUNT”.

I have no clue.

Can someone enlighten me?

2

Short answer: A shunt is an electrical device, sometimes as simple as a jumper wire. Shunts are often used in track circuits as part of a train detection system.

Longer answer: Lots more info on shunts as part of track detection circuits here:

http://www.sandcco.com/testingshunts.htm

If you want to know more about track detection systems, which may help understand the uses of shunts, this site is useful:

http://matt.zont.org/signals/crossings/xngworks/xngworks.html

3

Wow - I am going to take this off into a corner and read, read, read.

Thank you very much!

4

See Figures 38 - 44 inclusive and the accompanying text at this webpage:

http://matt.zont.org/signals/crossings/xngworks/xngworks.html

Quiz next Monday ! [:-,]

See also the photo in this post by K. P. Harrier to his “Sunset Route Two-Tracking Updates” thread at the top of Page 139 of 195 (presently) on 11-15-2011 :

http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/themes/trc/forums/thread.aspx?ThreadID=120779&PostID=2174640&PermaPostID=2174640

and http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff19/kpharrier/sunset-02/DSC00534-M.jpg

  • Paul North.
5

Shunting is also a British term used where we would say switching, as in shunting cars in a yard. In that case you might have special signal arrangements for a train that was going to “shunt”, and a box for local controls.

John

6

This was my very first thought.

But since both are located at the lead into and out of the yard, I am now not sure.

But there is a little room in this area for additional trackage for maybe a spur, so…

7

Did lots of reading - picked up info here and there - but found a place that shows a shunt on jointed rail…

Long story short - this is a crossing in a semi-residential area, and the only street available thru these neighborhoods, without having to travel several miles to get around all this.

If the gates are down and no trains, waiting for a signal maintainer is sometimes a long wait. Plus this is a “no horn” crossing with concrete medians, making it frustrating for the residents. Not to mention the nearby fire house.

Will now apply what I have learned and see where it goes from here.

Thank you all.