GE Erie test track, signals and speeds?

Saw a recent photo of a train on the test track at GE plant at Erie, Pa. What was interesting was that the photographer framed the train with what looks like a low mast dwarf signal in the foreground. What is the story, is this line protected my signals? Does it have any type of control or dispatcher set up (even if it is some guy in an office at GE that say yes go ahead and run)?

In other related thoughts on this track: What is its length? and what speeds are attainable on a test run?

If you are near Erie would you hear much on a radio to indicate a train is going to run? Do they have any routein for testing? Day, night, weekday only?

Photo is at:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 605&nseq=9

T2

train2 wrote:Saw a recent photo of a train on the test track at GE plant at Erie, Pa. What was interesting was that the photographer framed the train with what looks like a low mast dwarf signal in the foreground. What is the story, is this line protected my signals? Does it have any type of control or dispatcher set up (even if it is some guy in an office at GE that say yes go ahead and run)?

In other related thoughts on this track: What is its length? and what speeds are attainable on a test run?

T2

I haven't been up there since 1992 when I graduated college, but it's about three miles in length and I've paced them at over 70mph.

It starts right by the plant near Water Street:
http://binged.it/t1xXWp

Then sort of parallels Route 955 / Iroquois Avenue, ending by Troupe Road:
http://binged.it/sbABnR

It used to be dual gauge for most of the way, and had catenary over it too, in order to facilitate the testing of both electric and narrow gauge locomotives.

I had some good train watching up there when I was in school!