Railroad Signal Test Prep

Some devices and or viewers may not display the red conductor notes. When I viewed the PDF map on a Fire tablet using the Kindle app it displayed the map fine but without the notes. When I opened the same file on the same device with MS Office everything displayed as intended.

See the attached files for sample signal log sheets I created while working on the Amtrak Grand Rapids to Chicago route. They were useful in completing the delay report. CSX Grand Rapids, MI to Porter, IN, and also NS Porter to Chicago are attached.

Where you see POL on the CSX sheet that indicates a location close to a police station which was useful information if a police presence was needed. The NS sheet also has a Form Y permission dialog which we used to get past conditional stop signs to enter work areas.

There are a few signal guides on this site and on the associated ProProfs test modules. If you want a paper copy but don't have a color printer you can stop by a FedEx Kinko's and print it there. To do that you can either save the file to a flash drive and bring it to FedEx in person, or, email the file to FedEx https://www.fedex.com/en-us/printing/printandgo.html and print it at a FedEx Kinko's using the Print & Go service.

This site is enabled for Safari web browser 'Reader' mode. Look for the reader line-icon on the upper left of the address bar of many topics.

Reader mode removes everything but the post content itself for an easier read. Tap the icon to toggle in and out of reader mode. The post must contain approximately seventy-five words before the reader mode icon will appear so you won't see the mode icon on all posts, just longer ones.

The Reader button for Safari on an IMAC is to the right of the browser address bar.

Chrome for Android has a similar 'Reader' mode feature. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/reader-mode/llimhhconnjiflfimocjggfjdlmlhblm?hl=en

The Reader button on an IMAC is to the right of the browser address bar.

The Signal Test Prep / Quizzes (website) contains categories. The categories contain boards, and child boards, where applicable. They are similar to folders and sub-folders on your computer. The boards and child boards contain topics. 'How this website is organized' is a topic within the 'Welcome! Read me first' board. The 'Welcome' board is in the 'Welcome to the Railroad Signals Practice Site and Forum' category. Boards, and redirect boards are orange and categories are the darker blue. Child boards are also blue.

If you have registered an account on this site you have the ability to read, post replies, and create topics.

Follow the links

Like most websites, this site uses clickable links for navigation. Links may or may not be underlined but the following will help you identify links:

The main navigation bar always appears below the date and time toward the top of the page. The main navigation bar has a 'Home' page link on the left, a 'Help' link next, and a 'Logout' link on the right. The main navigation bar contains clickable links.

The secondary navigation bar appears below the main navigation bar and also toward the bottom of all pages beyond the home page. It also contains clickable links. The secondary bar identifies the path that led you to the current page. If you look at it now the topic 'Just the basics' should be on the far right. Use the secondary navigation bar to return to a previous location. Note you can also use your browsers back button to go back one page.

Anything orange is a link. All the board links on the home page are orange. Click a board to get to topics within the board. Signal practice test links are an exception and are routed directly to the practice test to save you from extra clicks.

Child board links (sub boards) are either orange or blue depending on whether you're on the home page or a board page.

All topic titles are clickable links. Topic titles appear when you click on either a board or child board. If there is more than one topic displayed they can be sorted by either Subject or Started by. When you click a topic title the topic appears.


Create, modify, and delete topics

To create a topic on a board, hit the New Topic button. To modify a topic or reply that you created, hit the Modify link. To delete a topic you have created, hit the Remove link.


Reply to a topic

To reply to a topic and post a message, hit the Reply button. To delete a reply that you have posted, hit the Remove link.


Create a poll

To create a (vote) poll, hit the Add Poll button.


Create a test topic, reply, or poll

Feel free to create test topics, replies, and polls anywhere on this forum. Just delete the tests when you're done. Don't worry about doing any damage. Unless you are a Moderator you will only be able to remove and modify topics, replies, and polls that you created. Anything that anyone else created is safe.


Post and view attachments

You can post attachments on this forum, but a Moderator or an Administrator must approve your attachment before it goes live.

To view an attachment, look for a file name with a paperclip to the left and click it. We've uploaded a sample file to this topic titled sample-attachment.txt. Look for the file at the bottom of this post. Note: There will also be a paperclip to the left of the topic name for any topic that has an attachment in it. That paperclip is NOT clickable. An example of that would be the topic name at the top, 'Just the basics'.


Post a link

You can post links to outside sites but be aware there is a three link limit for any link text with [/url] formatting, in any particular post. If you exceed the limit you will lock yourself out for 24 hours. It's coded into the forum to prevent spam. An example would be the link: RRB.GOV. A better way to post that same link is simply type or paste the actual address so it looks like this: https://rrb.gov.


Collapse a category

Categories on the home page are collapsible, just click on a category to collapse it. Click again to expand. They will appear however you left them the next time you login.


Use the search function

This forum has a powerful search function. The search box is in the upper right corner of every page.

One thing to remember though is that when you type a query in the search box it will search 'down' and not 'up'.

For example, if you type 'FMLA' in the search box from this page it will only return the FMLA references found in this topic because it is searching this page only. If you want to locate all instances of 'FMLA' in the entire website then go to the home page and type 'FMLA' in the search box on the home page. It will then return all instances of 'FMLA' found in the entire website, including this page.

Search terms are not case sensitive, you can type a query in upper, or lower case. Partial word searches are accepted. If you don't know the full word spelling just type in as much as you do know. For example, 'FML' will return all instances of 'FMLA'. Search terms are highlighted in orange on the results page.


Clear 'new' post indicators

To clear all of the orange 'new' post indicators, hit the 'MARK ALL MESSAGES AS READ' button at the bottom of the home page.


Use the 'Help' link.

As mentioned above the 'Help' link is located in the main navigation bar. It contains general information on how to use a Simple Machines Forum web site. We've customized this site quite a bit so not all of the information in the Help section will apply to the SMART web site but you will find a lot of helpful information there.

If you've read everything here and you're still stuck you can either hit the 'REPLY' button below to post a question online or you can send me a Personal Message (PM). To send a PM click the PM link below the x2000 member information in the upper left portion of this topic. The PM link is just below the Posts count

You must obtain a subscription to access the practice quizzes. Study notes and other information on this website are free and do not require a subscription.

Amtrak Michigan Subdivision Signals
Speed first in the name, it is a X-over

NAMES:

Old Dwarfs (meaning still in use but before the newest dwarfs were added to the rule book):

G = Slow Clear
Flashing Y = Slow Approach
Y = Restricting


These are the newer dwarfs:

Y/Flashing R = Medium Approach
Flashing G/Red = Limited Clear
Red, and also Red/Red = Stop Signal


No dwarf for Approach

---

Red with a number plate = Stop and Proceed (not a Restricting)
R/Y, and R/R/Y = Restricting

---

INDICATIONS:

MPH only in indications. 15, 30, and 45 MPH.  (Same as CN)
If speed first in the name look for 'Clear all switches within control point limits', except for MA.

45 MPH Passenger , 40 MPH freight for, AL, LC, and AA.
Restricting indication long ends with: 'or the end of the block system.'
Stop and Proceed indication ends with 'or entered non-signaled territory.'


Updated 2/06/22 R LENT
Reviewed for accuracy 8/29/24 R LENT

*See the attached. Also available as a PDF.

CSX Conrail Color Light Signals

Almost identical to NS Conrail except:
Restricting aspects come from both NS Conrail and CSX Standard. In addition to the R/R/Y and R/Y (high stand), and R/Y and Y (dwarf) from the NS; anything with a Lunar (from CSX Standard) is also a Restricting or in one case Restricted Proceed.

Anything with a number plate (high stand and dwarf) is Restricted Proceed like CSX Standard.
Name for Stop is just Stop, not Stop Signal like the NS.






Updated 9/26/21 R LENT
Reviewed for accuracy 8/29/24 R LENT


*See the attached PDF for better formatting if printing, or, hit the PRINT button.

CN Speed Signals (GTW)
Speed first in the name, it is a X-over (Turnout)


NAMES:

Dwarfs

No dwarf for approach

---

High stands:

R/G = Slow Clear  (More restrictive than the NS)

R/Flashing Y = Slow Approach  (More restrictive than the NS)

R/Y/Y = Medium Advance Approach

R/Flashing Y/Flashing Y = Limited Advance Approach

R/Flashing Y/Red = Limited Approach

Y, Y/R, Y/R/R = Approach – Opposite R/Y, R/R/Y = Restricting

---

INDICATIONS:

All indications start with 'Proceed', except Stop.

MPH only in indications. 15, 25, and 40 MPH.

Approach: Proceed, prepared to stop at next signal.

Restricting: Short. 'Proceed at Restricted Speed'




Updated 9/26/21 R LENT
Reviewed for accuracy 8/29/24 R LENT

*See the attached PDF for better formatting if printing, or, hit the PRINT button.