by ShortlinerFan
I was wondering if a route can have signals without a dispatch, or is a dispatch required when a route have signals? Also, how does Dark Territories usually work?
Railroad Forums
Moderator: Robert Paniagua
DutchRailnut wrote:If a track was signalled in ABS (one directional) it could technically be all automatic except one thing, someone (dispatcher) would need to let a train enter this territory (switch) so somewhere someone needs to make a decision right..I believe there is a system that was used on NJT's Pascack Valley Line in the past (Im not qualified there, but from what I remember of it), where it was sort of an automatic system without dispatcher input (well, they could, but it wasn't necessary). It used head blocks, and a train would enter it, and then I believe if it was out of cycle (meaning an extra, non scheduled move) a train would enter the head block, and the system would hold the train fora few minutes, while it figured out if there was something ahead, and if not, it would automatically give it railroad by changing the direction of traffic. The line is single track and used to only have inbound trains in the AM and westbound trains in the PM, so there was little chance of conflicting moves. where there was freight customers, they used yard limits designation
Dispatchers basically have only control over entrace or crossover switches (the CP's) everything in between is automatic.
Same in manual block a dispatcher or block operator controls blocks via a train order/form D / form M or whatever its called on differet railroads.
instead of train tripping signals, the crew reports clear of limits, which could be switch/block limit/ or leaving territory at end of manual block.
ShortlinerFan wrote:Also, how does Dark Territories usually work?Since nobody has addressed that part...