Railway Special
Posted in Watches on 05/31/2009 01:08 pm by adminRailway Signals - Burlington/Northern Engineers?
Hi. I'm an aide on a Special Needs School bus and we cross the Railway tracks several times a day. Every time we do this, one of my students looks down the track for the signal. We notice that it is either a double red, a red and white, a double white, or completely off.
Our last two crossings usually happen just before a passenger train heading north and a passenger train heading south comes through.
These are not the signals for vehicles and their drivers but for the trains and their engineers. Do you know where we can find the information out on what the specific color combinations mean?
Or can you tell me?
Thank you
The different lighting combinations (called "aspects") are standardized. Where "modified" for specific locations, the meanings are covered in local notification via Timetable or other means. There are many possible combinations, each conveying information to the train crew, either relative to "route" to be taken, where there are multiple (two or more) tracks, as well as track "occupancy", that is, how far ahead a preceding train may be.
There can be three or more lights in a column, but usually there are found two "units" on the signal "head" atop the signal "mast," to the side of the track, or on a signal "bridge" spanning multiple tracks. The different color combinations you are seeing tell the engineer which track he will proceed on and whether that track is clear or a train is ahead, or if he needs to be prepared to stop short of an upcoming signal. "Double Red" is always "STOP."
Though some signals are continuously lighted, most are "approach activated," and are dark until a train is approaching, already within the signal circuit. That is why, when on those occasions you see them illuminated, a train is usually on the scene. Tell your students and anyone else you care about that if you see a lighted signal, even if you don't see or hear a train, the odds are one is very close at hand, none the less. A lighted signal is a warning to you. Respect it as if it were a shark's fin cutting across the water you are in. You can't see or hear what it's attatched to, but it's bad news.
A good question. And, very observant. You are exactly the right type of person for current your profession. If all who cross railroad tracks were as attentive as your student who posed the question, the yearly number of the dead and maimed would take a major nose dive, guaranteed... and that gets a star. Here's yours. Pass it on to the special person who asked the questions. Stay safe !
![]() |
![]() Hampden Special Railway Rare 2 Tone 18S 21J Complete Railroad Pocket Watch $215.00 Time Remaining: 5h 1m Buy It Now for only: $239.00 |
![]() Hamilton Railway Special 992B 21 Jewels 10 K Gold Filled Pocket Watch $142.52 (11 Bids) Time Remaining: 20h 27m |
![]() 1932 BEAUTIFUL VINTAGE HAMILTON 992 21J RAILWAY SPECIAL 16SIZE POCKET WATCH $550.00 Time Remaining: 22h 32m Buy It Now for only: $550.00 |
![]() 1946 Hamilton 992B 10K 21J Gold Pocket Watch Railway Special Bar Ebays Best $250.00 (7 Bids) Time Remaining: 23h 18m |
![]() Antique Hamilton 21 Jewel Railway Special $187.51 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 40m |
![]() 1914 HAMILTONRAILWAY SPECIAL992BOC $151.00 (9 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 9h 6m |
![]() VINTAGE 16S HAMILTON 21J 992B RAILWAY SPECIAL MOVEMENT $180.00 Time Remaining: 1d 21h Buy It Now for only: $180.00 |
![]() Vintage Hamilton 992B Railway Special 21 Jewels BOC 10K GF Pocket Watch Jewelry $113.94 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 21h 53m |
![]() 16 SIZE HAMILTON 23 JEWEL RAILWAY SPECIAL DOUBLE SUNK WATCH DIAL $248.50 (13 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 21h 55m |
![]() Vintage Hamilton 21 Jewel 992B Railway Special Pocket Watch $173.49 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 1h 19m |
![]() Vintage Hamilton 21 Jewel 992B Railway Special Pocket Watch $197.50 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 1h 20m |
![]() 16SZ 23 JEWEL HAMILTON 950B RAILWAY SPECIAL POCKET WATCH IN ORIG BOX SN S23159 $860.00 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 2h 11m |
![]() ELGIN 18S SPECIAL FOR RAILWAY SERVICE NO RESERVE $5.50 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 3h 34m |
![]() HAMILTON 992 B RAILWAY SPECIAL GOLD FILL CASE EXCELLENT $177.50 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 5h 21m |
![]() Hampden Special Railway 18 size tutone pocket watch movement railroad NO RESRV $38.00 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 5h 32m |
![]() VINTAGE POCKET WATCH MOVEMENT LOT 1 HAMILTON 992B 21J RAILWAY SPECIAL $76.00 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 6h 4m |
![]() HAMILTON 974 ELECTRIC RAILWAY SPECIAL Pocket Watch 16s Beautiful NR $175.00 (7 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 6h 9m |
![]() Art Deco Hamilton Traffic Special Electric Railway Pocket Watch $225.00 Time Remaining: 2d 7h 5m |
![]() Hamilton 992B HAMILTON RAILWAY SPECIAL Dial 50Y $9.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2d 7h 18m |
![]() Hamilton 992B 21 Jewel Railway Special 16S Montomery Dial Model 17 Star GF Case $414.95 Time Remaining: 2d 7h 24m |
![]() Hamilton Railway Special 992b 21 jewel $121.00 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 9h 3m |
![]() HAMPDEN 23 JEWEL POCKET WATCH Special Railway $199.00 Time Remaining: 2d 20h 16m |
![]() Hamilton Railway Special Gold Pocket Watch 21 Jewels $100.00 Time Remaining: 2d 21h 59m |
![]() Hamilton Railway Special Pocket Watch 992b 10K Rolled Gold Plate 21 Jewels $172.52 (14 Bids) Time Remaining: 3d 4h 4m |
![]() 21j HAMILTON POCKET WATCH RAILWAYS SPECIAL WORKING 992B MOVEMENT $326.75 Time Remaining: 3d 5h 33m Buy It Now for only: $326.75 |
![]() HAMILTON RAILWAY RAILROAD SPECIAL GOLD FILLED POCKET WATCH 992B 21 JEWEL $399.00 Time Remaining: 3d 6h 57m Buy It Now for only: $475.00 |
![]() 1942 Hamilton Railway Special W Original Case $500.00 Time Remaining: 3d 21h 58m |
![]() Vintage Hamilton Railway Special Enamel Pocket Watch Dial New Old Stock NOS $56.55 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 3d 22h 8m |
![]() Waltham Railway Special 17 Jewels Pocket Watch 244B $36.99 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 3d 23h 38m |
![]() Hampden Special Railway 18 size 21 jewels c1908 $175.00 Time Remaining: 4d 1h 47m |
![]() HAMILTON Railway Special 992B in STAINLESS STEEL All Original Triple Signed $299.95 Time Remaining: 4d 4h 30m Buy It Now for only: $350.00 |
![]() ANTIQUE HAMILTON 23 JEWELS RAILWAY SPECIAL POCKET WATCH MODEL 950B RUNS GREAT $800.00 Time Remaining: 4d 8h 4m |
![]() SUPER NICE HAMILTON RAILWAY SPECIAL POCKET WATCH $699.95 Time Remaining: 4d 13h 25m Buy It Now for only: $699.95 |
![]() HAMILTON RAILWAY SPECIAL 992B SILVER TONE 21 JEWEL C61210 POCKET WATCH NO RES $89.00 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 5d 1h 5m |
![]() 992B 21 jewels RAILWAY SPECIAL POCKET WATCH 10k filled 5 position $350.00 Time Remaining: 5d 2h 22m Buy It Now for only: $399.00 |
![]() NICE Hamilton Railway Special Pocket Watch 992B 21 Jewels 10K Gold Filled c1942 $103.50 (7 Bids) Time Remaining: 5d 4h 6m |
![]() HAMILTON 950B 23 Jewel Railway Special 16s railroad grade MINT $1,250.00 Time Remaining: 5d 8h 3m Buy It Now for only: $1,600.00 |
![]() HAMILTON RAILWAY SPECIAL VINTAGE POCKET WATCH 21 JEWEL 992B VARY RARE WATCH $229.99 Time Remaining: 6d 23h 48m |
![]() Dueber Hampden Special Railway 21 Jewels 2 Tone Movement Pocket Watch $325.00 Time Remaining: 8d 20h 30m Buy It Now for only: $325.00 |
![]() VINTAGE 16S HAMILTON RAILWAY SPECIAL 21J GRADE 992B $300.00 Time Remaining: 8d 20h 34m Buy It Now for only: $300.00 |
![]() VINTAGE 16S HAMILTON RAILWAY SPECIAL 21J GRADE 992B $325.00 Time Remaining: 8d 20h 44m Buy It Now for only: $325.00 |
![]() VINTAGE 16S HAMILTON RAILWAY SPECIAL 21J 992B BAR CROWN $315.00 Time Remaining: 9d 56m Buy It Now for only: $315.00 |
![]() HAMILTON 992B 16 SIZE 21 JEWEL RAILWAY SPECIAL $360.00 Time Remaining: 9d 3h 35m Buy It Now for only: $360.00 |
![]() Hamilton Melamine Railway Special 992b Dial $48.50 Time Remaining: 9d 15h 50m Buy It Now for only: $48.50 |
![]() Hamilton 992B RAILWAY SPECIAL pocket watch $500.00 Time Remaining: 10d 4h 22m Buy It Now for only: $500.00 |
![]() VINTAGE 16S HAMILTON RAILWAY SPECIAL 21J GRADE 992B $325.00 Time Remaining: 12d 20h 29m Buy It Now for only: $325.00 |
![]() VINTAGE 16S HAMILTON 21J 992B RAILWAY SPECIAL RUNNING $300.00 Time Remaining: 14d 19h 56m Buy It Now for only: $300.00 |
![]() Hamilton 21 Jewel 992B Railway Special Vintage Pocket Watch LEVER SET $399.99 Time Remaining: 16d 4h 20m Buy It Now for only: $399.99 |
![]() Hamilton 16s 23J 950B Boxcar Railway Special Dial Marked 23 Jewels $1,395.00 Time Remaining: 20d 21h 53m Buy It Now for only: $1,395.00 |
![]() Hamilton 992B Railway Special Pocket Watch SERVICED $795.00 Time Remaining: 22d 7h 4m Buy It Now for only: $795.00 |
![]() VINTAGE 16S HAMILTON 21J 992B RAILWAY SPECIAL $365.00 Time Remaining: 23d 19h 42m Buy It Now for only: $365.00 |
![]() VINTAGE 16S HAMPDEN 23J SPECIAL RAILWAY POCKETWATCH $410.00 Time Remaining: 23d 22h 41m Buy It Now for only: $410.00 |
![]() Hamilton 992B Railway Special gold pocket watch $410.00 Time Remaining: 24d 5h 49m Buy It Now for only: $410.00 |
![]() Hamilton 992B Railway Special gold pocket watch $410.00 Time Remaining: 25d 1h 20m Buy It Now for only: $410.00 |
![]() VINTAGE 40S HAMILTON 992B RAILWAY SPECIAL POCKET WATCH $450.00 Time Remaining: 25d 6h 20m Buy It Now for only: $450.00 |
![]() HAMILTON 992B RAILWAY SPECIAL 21J 16SZ POCKETWATCH $350.00 Time Remaining: 27d 5h 50m Buy It Now for only: $350.00 |
![]() Hamilton Railway Special 992 B 21 Jewels $595.00 Time Remaining: 27d 19h 54m Buy It Now for only: $595.00 |
![]() VINTAGE 16S HAMILTON 21J RAILWAY SPECIAL 992B RUNS GOOD $350.00 Time Remaining: 27d 21h 44m Buy It Now for only: $350.00 |
![]() VINTAGE 16S HAMILTON 21J 992B RAILWAY SPECIAL RUNNING $300.00 Time Remaining: 28d 20h 4m Buy It Now for only: $300.00 |
![]() 18 S Open Face Hampden Special Railway 23 Jewel running fancy engraved case $450.00 Time Remaining: 28d 23h 39m Buy It Now for only: $450.00 |
Can"t find what you are looking for? Check out these products from Amazon.




























































