RAILROAD SIGNALS of the U.S.

AMTRAK NORTHEAST CORRIDOR
SIGNAL ASPECTS

 

The majority of signals between New York City and Washington DC are what used to be Position Light signals inherited from the Pennsylvania Railroad.  Amtrak changed over the signals to what most call Position Color Light signals, in contrast to the Color Position Light signals that appeared on the B&O RR.  They blanked out the middle, or pivot lamp on the upper head, for it was no longer needed, and on the bottom head, they changed the pivot lamp to white, which is only used for Stop and Proceed.

There are a few places where the PCL signals are not used. 

One is the approach to Union Station in Washington DC where B&O CPL signals are used in two places.  The first is a high signal behind a hotel along New York Ave.  The second place are the signal bridges over the station leads, they use dwarf CPL's up there.

In Havre de Grace MD, Amtrak  uses "tri-light" signals where the main line goes from 4 to 2 tracks.  The signals on the northbound side sit on a signal bridge.  The SB signals are mast mounted.  The signals are also outfitted with LED's.

In Wilmington DE, on the north side of the station, they have a couple of Pedestal signals mounted above the track on a signal bridge.  Amtrak has installed  LED's in some of the lamp positions.

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New 21JAN2010....
Last Updated: 01/21/2010