Signals at South Lyon completely dark?

[J3rsdm5]

Pardon my ignorance if this is really obvious, but as you can most likely see, I'm not here much.
Lately all signals at the West end of South Lyon have been completely off. Does this have something to do with the recent creation of the new D new trains?
Thanks

[hoborich]

Don't know about South Lyons, but many signals today are approach lit. Meaning they only come on when a train is due, and when the train passes the signals go out. Probably to save energy.

[Saturnalia]

Pardon my ignorance if this is really obvious, but as you can most likely see, I'm not here much.
Lately all signals at the West end of South Lyon have been completely off. Does this have something to do with the recent creation of the new D new trains?
Thanks

It shouldn't have anything to do with the change in train frequency or anything. My hunch (never been to South Lyon) is that like most dispatcher-controlled signals on the former Pere Marquette, they're lit-when-lined. In other words, the signals at South Lyon will only illuminate if the dispatcher has coded in a signal, or there is occupancy in the block the signal is facing.

Thus this is completely normal, unless these were formerly constant-lit signals.

[J3rsdm5]

Pardon my ignorance if this is really obvious, but as you can most likely see, I'm not here much.
Lately all signals at the West end of South Lyon have been completely off. Does this have something to do with the recent creation of the new D new trains?
Thanks

It shouldn't have anything to do with the change in train frequency or anything. My hunch (never been to South Lyon) is that like most dispatcher-controlled signals on the former Pere Marquette, they're lit-when-lined. In other words, the signals at South Lyon will only illuminate if the dispatcher has coded in a signal, or there is occupancy in the block the signal is facing.

Thus this is completely normal, unless these were formerly constant-lit signals.

Indeed they were, constant-lit, until around a week ago.

[SousaKerry]

Probably to save energy.

More likely to save bulbs and the labor to replace them. Energy usage is negligible at 24v, takes more to keep the relays engaged.

[NYCMan]

Doubt that CSX would spend any time or money converting the existing signals from constant-lighting to approach-lighting, given the fact that CSX recently filed an application with the FRA to REMOVE all of the signals and power switches between Plymouth and Grand Rapids and instead utilize Track Warrant Control. But, I have seen dumber things happen.

[MRC_Andrew]

Now that you mention it, I believe the signals at John Hix and Newburgh have been dark occasionally, too, over the last couple weeks. I thought maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me when I was last by there, or that the new as-yet-unactivated signals were blocking the heads of the old ones from my angle. There's been a lot of signal work going on over the last year or so, perhaps that has something to do with it?

[J3rsdm5]

CSX recently filed an application with the FRA to REMOVE all of the signals and power switches between Plymouth and Grand Rapids and instead utilize Track Warrant Control.

Wait, WHAT?
One of the biggest reasons I was excited to move to Michigan last July was to ESCAPE track warrants and ABS territory.

[atrainguy60]

CSX recently filed an application with the FRA to REMOVE all of the signals and power switches between Plymouth and Grand Rapids and instead utilize Track Warrant Control.

Wait, WHAT?
One of the biggest reasons I was excited to move to Michigan last July was to ESCAPE track warrants and ABS territory.

I thought it was said FRA said no to removing the signals. Maybe I'm just remembering wrong.

[J3rsdm5]

CSX recently filed an application with the FRA to REMOVE all of the signals and power switches between Plymouth and Grand Rapids and instead utilize Track Warrant Control.

Wait, WHAT?
One of the biggest reasons I was excited to move to Michigan last July was to ESCAPE track warrants and ABS territory.

I thought it was said FRA said no to removing the signals. Maybe I'm just remembering wrong.

I'd definitely like to know. Through the small amount of searching that I did, it looks like this occurred in 2013, but nothing has happened? I'm honestly not sure.

[Saturnalia]

The application to take out the signals was denied not once, but now more recently, twice. This has been part of why CSX has been attempting to remove tonnage from the line: to get it to look better for conversion to dark territory.

Granted, the FRA doesn't take lightly to removing signal systems, especially CTC. Seeing as though they're still running "key" trains over the line regularly, that is, those trains with significant hazmat quantities, I seriously doubt the FRA would ever allow that line to have the signals removed.

I speculate that it is an attempt to get the Plymouth Sub out from needing PTC, or at least signalized PTC. It's supposed to be one of the last territories worked on, so the obvious idea is to save costs.

As far as most can see, they really don't have a chance with their petitions to get the signals turned off, but that hasn't prevented them from trying.

[J3rsdm5]

As far as most can see, they really don't have a chance with their petitions to get the signals turned off, but that hasn't prevented them from trying.

This bodes well, thank you for the clarification.

[RRguy]

The signals at John Hix and Newburgh are only dark during equipment malfunctions, or a burnt bulb. The only recent one was Newburgh, (about 2 weeks ago) and that was only for an hour or so.