Red over Flashing Yellow (Red)

While R/*Y* and R/*Y*/R might have the same meaning depending on what railroad you are talking about there is a big difference on how it perceived on railroads.

Two headed aspect is Ex-Southern and Conrail while the three headed is Ex-Southern and Norfolk&Western

BNSF's Diverging Approach Medium

In Canada (CROR) R/*Y* is Slow to Stop & R/*Y*/R is Limited to Stop here in the United States on the western railroads R/*Y* & R/*Y*/R is Diverging Approach Medium or Diverging Advance Approach depending on the railroad while the eastern railroad's they have it differently. R/*Y* & R/*Y*/R on NS's Ex-SOU line it's Diverging Approach Restricted while  R/*Y*/R on Ex-NW lines is Diverging Approach Diverging. On the Ex-CR line's (Both CSX & NS) there is no R/*Y*/R but there is a R/*Y* which is used as Medium Approach. CSX uses R/*Y* & R/*Y*/R as Limited Approach where as NORAC uses R/*Y* for Medium Approach and as of 2018 R/*Y*/R is now Limited Approach. So many names just for Red over Flashing Yellow (/Red)! Now the reasoning for the R/*Y* on Conrail, NORAC and the CROR is simple on their territory Restricting is marked R/Y.

Restricting

Restricting in general always had the most absurd signal aspect out there. All class 1's have there own version of signal to call restricting. In Jersey Mike's North American Signaling Dialects he goes over the Restricting way better than me. I'll be doing the signal call out's and signal display on my page.

Norfolk Southern: Ex-Southern Lines

Norfolk Southern: Ex-Norfolk Western & Conrail Lines

*R* & L BNSF : RESTRICTING Proceed at restricted speed.

*R* & L Union Pacific : RESTRICTING : Proceed at Restricted speed, not exceeding prescribed speed through turnout when applicable.

L CSX : RESTRICTING : Proceed at Restricted speed.

R/Y, R/R/Y & L CSX (Ex-CR Lines) : RESTRICTING : Proceed at Restricted speed until the entire train has cleared all switches (if signal is CP signal) and the leading wheels have:

 a. Passed a more favorable fixed signal, or

b. Entered non-signaled DCS territory.

In CSS territory, trains with operative cab signals must not increase speed until the train has run one train length or 500 feet (whichever distance is greater) past a location where a more favorable cab signal was received.

R/-/Y, R/R/Y Norfolk Southern : RESTRICTING Proceed at Restricted speed. Restricted Speed must be observed until the leading end of the movement reaches the next signal.

EXCEPTION: When the signal governs movement to non-signaled territory or to a track signaled for movement in the opposite direction only, Restricted speed applies until the leading end of the movement is through any crossovers, turnouts, or controlled point/Interlocking limits governed by that signal.

R/Y, R/R/Y Norfolk Southern (Ex-NW Lines) : RESTRICTING Proceed at Restricted speed. 

Restricted speed must be observed until the leading end of the movement reaches the next signal.

EXCEPTION: When the signal governs movement to non-signaled territory or to a track signaled for movement in the opposite direction only, Restricted speed applies until the leading end of the movement is through any crossovers, turnouts, or controlled point/interlocking limits governed by that signal.

R/Y, R/R/Y Norfolk Southern (Ex-CR Lines) : RESTRICTING Proceed at Restricted speed until the entire train has cleared all interlocking, controlled point, and spring switches (if signal is an interlocking or controlled point signal) and the leading end has:

1. Passed a more favorable fixed signal,

or

2. Entered Rule 171 territory.

In CSS territory, trains with operative cab signals must not increase speed until the train has run 1 train length past a location where a more favorable cab signal was received.

R (With R Plaque), R/R (With R Plaque), R/Y, R/R/Y CN &CP (Canada Lines) : Restricting - Proceed at RESTRICTED speed.

Approach Restricting / Approach Restricted

Nothing about signals is ever clear even for the railroads, like I stated in my Advance Approach page and Yellow over Green page each signal has a different meaning. This blog will look at the Approach Restricting / Approach Restricted aspect.

(A mix of LED and Halogen Bulb's to simulate the two version's of the signal.)

On the Norfolk Southern Line (Ex-SOU) Approach Restricted is *Y*, *Y*/R, *Y*/R/R while on the BNSF and Union Pacific it's called Approach Restricting and the signal is either Y/*R* or Y/L but have the same meaning in general terms.

Norfolk Southern Line (Ex-SOU) : Approach Restricted : Proceed, approaching next signal at Restricted speed, not exceeding 15 MPH. Train or engine exceeding Medium speed must at once reduce to that speed.

BNSF : Approach Restricting : Prepare to pass next signal at Restricted speed.

Union Pacific : Approach Restricting : Proceed prepared to pass next signal at Restricted speed, but not exceeding 15 MPH.  When the next signal is seen to display a proceed indication, the requirement to pass next signal at Restricted speed no longer applies. Speed may be resumed once leading wheels of train have passed (next) signal.

While i'm still new at doing blogs i'm just post what I know about signals. Though each railroad is different learning there version of signal call outs is fun.

Yellow over Green signal call out

The Class 1's do not follow a set standard on naming signals while one signal maybe called something on one railroad another can call something else. On this post I'll be showing the Y/G aspect and what it means on the Class 1's and not the subsidiary's.

Ex-Southern Lines Yellow over Green.

Y/G, Y/G/R CN & CP (Canada Lines) : Clear to Medium - Proceed, approaching next signal at MEDIUM speed.

Y/G, Y/G/R CSX : APPROACH MEDIUM : Proceed, approaching next signal not exceeding Medium speed.

Y/G, Y/G/R CSX/CR Lines : APPROACH MEDIUM : Proceed approaching the next signal at Medium speed.

Y/G, Y/G/R Norfolk Southern : APPROACH DIVERGING : Proceed preparing to take diverging route at next signal at authorized speed.

Y/G, Y/G/R Norfolk Southern/NW Lines : APPROACH DIVERGING : Proceed preparing to take diverging route beyond next signal at authorized speed.

Y/G, Y/G/R Norfolk Southern/CR Lines : APPROACH MEDIUM : Proceed approaching the next signal at Medium speed.

Y/G, Y/G/R *BNSF : ADVANCE APPROACH : Proceed prepared to pass next signal not exceeding  50 MPH and be prepared to enter diverging route at prescribed speed.

Y/G, Y/G/R Union Pacific : APPROACH CLEAR FIFTY : Proceed. Freight trains exceeding 50 MPH must immediately reduce to 50 MPH.  Passenger trains may proceed, but must be prepared to pass the next signal not exceeding 50 MPH.  When signal governs the approach to a control point with a 50 MPH turnout speed be prepared to advance on diverging route.

(*Also covered the signal here.)

Signals on the Virtual Railfan Barstow Camera

1: CLEAR - Proceed

2: APPROACH - Proceed prepared to stop at next signal, trains exceeding 30 MPH immediately reduce to that speed.

NOTE: Speed is 40 MPH for passenger and active PTC trains.

3: APPROACH MEDIUM - Proceed prepared to pass next signal not exceeding 40 MPH and be prepared to enter diverging route at prescribed speed.

4: RESTRICTING (TOP HEAD) - Proceed at Restricted speed.

5: DIVERGING CLEAR - Proceed on diverging route not exceeding prescribed speed through turnout.

6: DIVERGING APPROACH - Proceed on diverging route not exceeding prescribed speed through turnout, and approach next signal preparing to stop. If exceeding 30 MPH immediately reduce to that speed.

NOTE: Speed is 40 MPH for passenger and active PTC trains

7: DIVERGING APPROACH MEDIUM - Proceed on diverging route not exceeding prescribed speed through turnout, prepared to pass next signal not exceeding 35 MPH.

8: RESTRICTING (BOTTOM HEAD) - Proceed at Restricted speed.

9: ADVANCE APPROACH - Proceed prepared to pass next signal not exceeding 50 MPH and be prepared to enter diverging route at prescribed speed.

10: STOP - Stop.

Possable signal's east of the Plant City Diamond

1: CLEAR - Proceed.

2: ADVANCE APPROACH - Proceed, prepared to stop at second signal.

3: APPROACH - Proceed prepared to stop at the next signal. Trains exceeding Medium speed must immediately begin reduction to Medium speed as soon as the engine passes the Approach Signal.

4: MEDIUM APPROACH - Medium speed through turnouts, crossovers, sidings, and over power operated switches; then proceed, prepared to stop at next signal.

5: MEDIUM CLEAR - Medium speed through turnouts, crossovers, sidings, and over power operated switches; then proceed at posted speed.

6: APPROACH MEDIUM - Proceed, approaching next signal not exceeding Medium speed.

7: LIMITED APPROACH - Limited speed through turnouts, crossovers, sidings, and over powero perated switches; then proceed, prepared to stop at next signal.

8: LIMITED CLEAR - Limited speed through turnouts, crossovers, sidings, and over power operated switches; then proceed at posted speed.

9: APPROACH LIMITED - Proceed, approaching next signal not exceeding Limited speed.

10: STOP - Stop before passing the signal.

Advance Approach

I may not be a master in signals nor understand much about them but I know one thing though it's how railroads display Advance Approach.  *Y*/R , Y/G & Y/Y while each one state's an Advance Approach the description is different for each Railroad.

 ^ ADVANCE APPROACH in all forms.

*Y* Ex-Conrail Territory & Y/Y Ex- Southern & Norfolk &Western Territory

^ ADVANCE CLEAR to STOP in Canada form.

*Y*, *Y*/R, *Y*/R/R UNION PACIFIC : ADVANCE APPROACH  

Proceed prepared to stop at second signal.  Freight trains exceeding 40 MPH must immediately reduce to 40 MPH.  Passenger trains may proceed, but must be prepared to pass the next signal not exceeding 40 MPH.  When signal governs the approach to a control point with a 40 MPH turnout speed be prepared to advance on normal or diverging route. *

*Y*, *Y*/R, *Y*/R/R NORFOLK SOUTHERN's Ex-CONRAIL Lines ADVANCE APPROACH

Proceed prepared to stop at the second signal. Trains exceeding Limited speed must begin reduction to Limited speed as soon as engine passes the Advance Approach signal.

*Y*, *Y*/R, *Y*/R/R CSX's Ex-CONRAIL Lines : ADVANCED APPROACH

Proceed, prepared to stop at the second signal. Trains exceeding Limited speed must begin reduction to Limited speed as soon as locomotive passes the Advance Approach signal

*Y*, *Y*/R, *Y*/R/R CN & CP (Canada Lines) : Advance Clear to Stop : Proceed, prepared to Stop at second signal.

Y/G BNSF :

ADVANCED APPROACH Proceed prepared to pass next signal not exceeding

50 MPH and be prepared to enter diverging route at prescribed speed.

Y/Y CSX : ADVANCE APPROACH

Proceed, prepared to stop at second signal.

Y/Y NORFOLK SOUTHERN :

ADVANCE APPROACH
Proceed preparing to stop at second signal.

Y/Y Norfolk Southern Ex-NW :

ADVANCE APPROACH 

Proceed preparing to stop at second signal.

(* When the next signal is seen to display an aspect more favorable than APPROACH or DIVERGING APPROACH, the requirement to proceed prepared to stop short of the second signal is no longer required.)

(credit to Misterpsychopath3001 for the signal base.)