CPL history lesson

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As far as uniformity, it is interesting to note that on PRR three amber  
lights in
a horizontal position over one amber light on the bottom target was  their    
STOP
AND PROCEED indication.  On the N&W, this indication was  STOP-and-STAY.    
For a brief period after N&W acquired the Sandusky  District in  1964,  it's
apparent that PRR signal rules were in effect on the Scioto Division north  of
Columbus, while N&W rules were effective south of Columbus. 
 
Right, Jimmy, I'll be the last one to say that signals are failsafe.   One 
phenomenon
witnessed is what some refer to as a "swinging signal".  This  most often 
happens
with light engines. As the light engine rocks and rolls through the block,  
it fails
to shunt, and the following signal will swing from STOP to CLEAR and  back to
STOP.  There was a collision at Shaffers Crossing resulting from a  "false 
clear".
The head of Signals & Communications was notified.  "No way!" was  his 
response,
so the powers on the 7th floor of General Office Bldg-North had him driven  
to the
collision site. There ahead of the wreckage on the main track was a signal  
with a
CLEAR indication.  Reporting to Tidewater one morning, a coal train en  route 
to
Sewells Point had approached the home signal during the night.  The  home 
signal
dropped from CLEAR to STOP-AND-STAY and the engineer put it in  emergency.
In front of the Ford plant, the 73rd car had buckled.  Although the  facts 
never
became known, it was thought that a switcher working an adjacent industrial  
park
clear of the main track had caused the signal to shunt.  
 
The ICC doesn't investigate them all and I don't know what happened at  
Cloverdale.
Apparently, the number of dead bodies plays a part in the procedure.   Circa 
1948,
VGN Extra 506 West plowed through the 27th car of an eastbound SAL freight  at
the interlocked crossing at Algren.  Since there were no deaths, but  three 
injuries,
I guess the ICC didn't think it worthwhile to investigate.  During  World War 
II, a pair
of light engines (Class W's so I've been told), went through an open draw  at 
Bridge 5
in Norfolk. Despite an apparent breach of rules, the ICC never investigated  
that one
either.
                                                                             
Harry Bundy
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