Ok, I have a question for anyone who can answer this, and I hope someone can. It has been eating at me for months, and I reminded myself of it while coming home from Cleveland today, and passing it, So here is the question…
On the Double Tracks that crosses Root Road, in North Ridgeville, Ohio (South of Ohio Turnpike, & West of US 10/20) there are 4 tall signals there (taller than normal) set up something like this…
And every time I pass over the trackson US 10/20, The 1 signal, or both (only seen 1 time.) I see a X flashing Red… What is that for, and what is it’s purpose??? it is driving me crazy, and can not seem to google it, (because me and searching for stuff is like trying to find black beauty in a field of white mice) for me anyways…
I may be way off “track” - but I vaguely remember this being discussed on here. The flashing X is to tell the engineer that the crossing signals are working?
Well, this will keep the topic close to the top until someone more informed than I can elaborate or correct.
Looking at the area on Google Earth Root Rd and Chestnut Ridge Rd to the East both appear to have four quadrant gates and lights. That would be indicative of a quiet zone for both crossings so the red x would make sense.
The only quiet zones I’m familiar with in Michigan don’t have the x but trains are restricted to 40 MPH through them. I believe speeds are higher on the Chicago Line and they have Amtrak which may run faster than freight.
The signals Cacole mentioned do show up on G.E. but you can’t see a lot of detail.
Yes, If you do a google earth look at it (and they are there on the GE) you see the crossing, then right next to the tracks towards the left (West) those are facing East (both signals, both sides of the dual tracks) then as you look just a little to the left more (to the west, about 500 to 700 feet) there are 2 more signals (same kind) These are Facing to the Eastbound Side (one on both sides, same signal).
If one looks in the area, there is nothing around there to make it a quiet zone at all. and Trains east and west bound are going 50+ (did a drive along on the Ohio Turnpike) the highest speed I ever clocked using GPS was 67 MPH.
With that said, and there is nothing that would prevent the horns blowing crossing the grade, (I also sat there 1 time, and they were blowing both east and west bound, even in that block section.) which still makes me think that there is something else to this. I may be incorrect in my assumption of what everyone has mentioned here. but it begs me to think, if it were just for a x-ing, then regular signs would suffice ( as CSX does ) if a quiet zone, then why not just a sign, and even still. why is there these 4 signals are placed only 500 to 700 feet apart. I wold think it would be a oxy-mornic thing to place, when they can blow up to that area, and beyond that area. would it not??
I know of several crossings on a shortline near here that have an amber turn signal (at least that’s what it looks like) on the signal box. It flashes along with the crossing protection. These are not quiet zones, so I presume the amber signal is just another way for the crew to tell that everything is working - or at least that they’ve tripped the circuit.
On the UP, so I don’t know about other railroads, the flashing Xs signify that an automated horn system is active, not the crossing protection signals themselves. The automated horns are located at the crossing with the speakers “aimed” to direct the sound towards street traffic. It’s supposed to cut down on noise to other nearby areas, but really doesn’t that much. When the Xs are flashing the system is active and the automated horns will sound, the engineer doesn’t blow his horn. When the Xs aren’t flashing, the horn system isn’t working and the engineer is to blow his horn.
Our true Quiet Zones don’t have any visual indication that crossing signals are working, other than the little sight lights on the sides of the big flasher lights and lights on gates. Depending on how the street is angled and other objects, you can’t always see those indicators at much of a distance. Our Quiet Zones have a “Q-Z” plate attached to the whistle post, indicating a quiet zone.
Anytime the railroad is notified that a crossing signal is malfunctioning, they will put some kind of protection order on it. This can range from stopping and flagging to proceding prepared to stop unless most of the crossing protection is working as intended. It depends on what the failure is on which form is put out. In these instances (and there are other reasons besides malfunctions) the engineer will sound the engine horn in quiet zones and even if the Xs are flashing at automated horn sites.
Only one city in my area had the AHS and if the horn system wasn’t working, besides blowing the horn we were to notify the dispatcher who would notify the city. The railroad only maintained the crossing signals, the city maintained the AHS. A horn failure by itself wouldn’t result in a crossing protection order for other trains.