CSX Signal question

[Super Chief]

While in Plant City Florida this week Florida East Coast unit on CSX went by a signal that had amber upper signal and lower red signal. After passing to next block the lower signal went to lunar white. The second train following had that indication also but after passing that point and into next block the lower signal went green. Ihave never seen before and the museum guide says what I daw was correct. Any ideas?

[SousaKerry]

You are in Luck Local Florida resident and signal expert Distant Signal covers all of these movements and more in a 5 part YouTube series. The guys voice is like butter and he explains things very well. He is the "Mike Rowe" of railfans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uC-6OFodCs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqbjUBWwNHY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPmFKtrARTY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1sLqNumee8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WykrHgd6HrM

[SD80MAC]

It is possible that the next block is a junction of some sort. It sounds like the first train had an approach, then the second train had a restricting, meaning the train ahead of it was still in the block. When the lower signal went green after the second train passed, what color was the one on top?

[Saturnalia]

I believe those signals are of the newer type, and this are the standard Seaboard rules. Hence, any signal containing Lunar is restricting.

[Super Chief]

Many thanks to all. I thought I was color blind for a minute.

[CSX_CO]

I believe those signals are of the newer type, and this are the standard Seaboard rules. Hence, any signal containing Lunar is restricting.

Newer type or not, lineage in Florida wouldn't have been C&O, B&O, or Norac, so it would have been "Seaboard" even if they aren't "new" replacements.

Also, just because signals are "new" doesn't mean they necessarily conform to "seaboard" rules either. Best to consult bulletin putting them in service or timetable.

[Standard Railfan]

CSX_CO is spot on.

For the sake of amusement, might we speculate? (My car broke down this afternoon. I am waiting for a ride.)

Super Chief, were the both trains southbound?

I looked at a satellite image of Plant City FL. In close proximity to a (approx) 90 degree crossing is a Wye. Might the first train have crossed the diamond and proceeded on the same route. Upon clearing the block the signal changed to Approach (or whatever SBD calls it)? The second train enters the block and crosses the diamond and takes the diverging route onto the Wye. Upon clearing the original route, the signal would show Clear (or SBD ...) as the first train was now one block beyond.

Does that make sense?

[Super Chief]

Both trains came from the east from the Lakeland Sub. and went north towards Zephyrhills on the Yeoman Sub. The upper signal was red on both movements the bottom signal was amber for the first train then changed to lunar white after it. The second train both of which had FEC power went thru the lunar white and that changed to red than green after 5 minutes for the third train which was a local with a GP-39 and a RDSLUG with 8 cars and a Chessie hack with two sandbags swinging over the open rear door. What are those for? Conductor had a neat back-up horn as they used all the track in the plant to back over the diamond 2 more times. Then Amtrak came thru to Tampa and back after wyeing the whole train at Tampa Union Station and back to Plant City within an hour. I thought I was color blind when that signal did that as I've never seen it before. The signal was on the north end of the wye.