You don’t see speed limit signs along the right of way like you on roads…are crews supposed to know the speed limit for each part of their territory and how closely are speed limits monitored…i.e. are crews given some lattitude?
I am not a railroader, but will give you a brief answer, until a better answer is provided.
Engineers and conductors are issued several documents, including an employee timetable. These contain considerable information about the operational conditions of a railroad including the stations, control points, sidings, lengths of sidings, signal systems, and speed restrictions. There are also speed restrictions for entering and exiting sidings.
If there is an exception to the employee timetable, it is outlined in the bulletins which are given to the crew at the time they report to duty. I am not sure how these are issued, if by computer report, or actually “handed” to the employees. But the bulletins will give any current conditions (at the time of the report) for that segment such as speed restrictions, work permits by MOW, etc.
If there are speed restrictions which arise after the bulletins are issued, the dispatcher will issue these by radio.
Those are the basics, as I know them, subject to change and correction by the forum members out there.
ed
Actually, RR’s do post speed limit signs along the ROW. I’m not sure how frequently they are placed, but I’ve seen quite a few. MP173 is right about the documents that crews recieve, and also when there is a speed restriction, usually rr’s will post signs there as well.
Speed limits can also be posted on signs along the right of way. And, yellow flags (specified & unspecified) can be displayed, too, which indicate temporary speed restrictions.
What l’ve seen, railroads post the speed limits right where the limit takes affect.
CN doesn’t post speed limit signs. Atleast not where I live.
Permanent track speeds for a Sub Division are listed in the Employee Timetable. Permanent speed restrictions, in addition to being listed in the timetable, will generally have a sign in place to identify the points restriction.
Temporary speed restrictions are issued on train messages or train orders issued by the dispatcher and there may or may not be signs displayed to identify the restriction, normally the train message will identify the presence or absence of signs.
AMEN…Those speed signs you see are restrictions as in “slow down to this speed”. Maximum Speed rarely, if ever, is posted. Maximum Speed, District Speed, is only found in the Employee TT. (Works almost the opposite of your highway signs - another reason why non-railroaders need to stay away from the tracks)
Those speeds are determined by track geometry, track condition, signal system and a host of railroad related considerations.
I’m sure you’re right for the most part, but OTOH the VIA corridors have lots of signs like “Slow to 90”. I’m guessing that is kilometers for a slow-down from speed down to about 55 mph. If not, then those VIA passenger trains are a lot more “Pendolino” than I ever would have guessed!
That would be 90 MPH. Canadian railways never converted to metric.
Barry, Regina
IMPRESSIVE! THAT’S ALMOST A “METROLINER” STANDARD USING DIESEL-ELECTRIC!!
For exmple.
There are no speed signs posted on our tourist road. We’re expected to know the applicable speeds and restrictions. Granted, we only have about 40 miles of track to know, but you do have to know the territory. Dropping 10 mph takes a little planning.
FYI:
I took my GPS enabled laptop on my last Amtrak trip. With the exception of a couple of cities, the majority of the time we were going exactly 80 MPH
I suspect a minor soft/hdwe glitch! Psgr speed limit for most US block signaled track is 79 w/ lower speeds for curves, bridges etc which would be posted at point of restriction and 2 miles before.
for what little it’s worth… the same system applies to highways in Europe. In the UK, for instance, the maximum speed is never posted (it’s 60 mph, by the way – really exciting on a single track road in the Scottish Highlands); only exceptions are posted, and they may be either higher (motorways) or lower.
I would love to see a speed limit sign, i was instructed to learn 363 miles of track. i know them up hill down hill speed up slow down when to blow and do it track speed in heavy fog
With the new LED technology, do you think we will see concrete but changeable speed limits posted along high-traffic track with poor weather? I’m thinking especially of Horseshoe Curve. Instead of Green over Yellow or whatever to indicate a cautious approach, do you think we’ll be seeing a flashing orange “40 mph,” that sort of thing?
I don’t remember, but – engines have speedometers, don’t they? [D)]
They already have that–it’s called a block signal system. Operating/train-handling rules take care of what few weather considerations play into train speeds.
(I’d like to see your system employed on some highways, to give higher speed limits in light traffic conditions! Oh, and lower ones for rough weather, of course.)
Yes, locomotives do have speedometers. One hopes they’re functional and accurate.
…Decending Horseshoe Curve is already down to a speed that weather shouldn’t change it much. And of course going up, we all know the speed is not going to be anything to be concerned about, with one exception…Stalling…!
I remember rounding H C years ago {in a passenger train}, the speed limit was 35 mph. That seemed mightly slow, but we all know it’s necessary for that alignment down around there.