CSX Augusta sub

I was traveling through South Carolina recently and passed through Yemassee, a small town on the A-line between Charleston and Savannah with an Amtrak stop and some large sidings.

The Augusta sub merges into the A-line at Yesmassee coming from the east. I noticed nonfunctioning signal on the Augusta sub near Yemassee. Is the Augusta sub not signaled? Is there that little traffic on it?

Ashley2771,

As I recall, that particular signal is dark until a train is in the vicinity. CSX still has many sections of signals that do not remain lit after trains have passed by, and will not show a light until a train is approaching from either direction. That's one clue that I rely on to determine if there is going to be any train action along a particular stretch of track.

It is also possible that section of the Augusta Sub has temporarily (or permanently) reverted to dark territory with dispatcher-controlled blocks. Surprisingly, a lot of relatively heavily traveled sections of CSX trackage do not have CTC signalling, but are controlled by DTC blocks.

ACLfan

the entire A-Line from Tampa to Richmond is signaled and active

most of these signals are approach lit

which means all the signals except "home signals" are dark unless there is a train in the block, or a block away

this is very common on ex-SCL trackage both SAL and ACL

That's right, guys. Those are also known as "approach signals". We had such signals here in the Boston Area, but they recently changed them to be lit all times now.