I love how Danny says he is going to provide the most basic explanation of crossing signals and then produces the most comprehensive explanation of the different types of crossing systems I've ever seen. Best. RUclipsr. Ever.
My man, you have THE voice for broadcast or documentary. I would learn literally anything if you narrated it. Edit: and some quick google-fu tells me you already have a career in radio announcement and production. I knew something sounded right here! Hats off to you, sir.
*I remember being a young kid back in the late 90s playing on the tracks. We were curious on how the crossing arms knew a train was coming and would watch around at what point the train activated the crossing arms. We saw where the activation started once the train left we laid a bed frame across the tracks and sure enough it activated the crossing arms. Being young and dumb we kept activating them until the police came to see whats going on. They yelled at us and called our parents*
does this still work? even if you just took a regular steel pole and touched either sides? and do all RR crossings work like this? or is it just some older ones because I'm not too sure if they updated it and changed how it worked
@@rowan312 I think back then it was the joiner bars we laid the bed frame across. It’s been so long that it what I think it was. Because all we did was lay it across the tracks and a few seconds later it activated the crossing arms. I’m sure it’s different now with technology advances in that city Newark CA. I’m sure it’ll still work on other racks with that system. I’d say I’d go try it to see if it works still but I’m in my 30s now and know better.
We did the same thing with an old metal door frame. Set it off every time and they would just come and toss the frame to the side. Then of course being dumb kids we would just do it again on our way to school. They finally smartened up after 4-5 times and took it with them.
Could you come to Sweden and patch up crossings? We have some where the gates go up at the wrong time, so people start crossing the rails, only getting halfway across before the gates begin to lower again. It's a disaster waiting to happen
Hell of a voice, clear deliberate pronunciation + enunciation, good tempo/pacing.... This guy's got to be a radio dj, voice over artist, or something... Can't you just imagine him saying "This is a test of emergency alert system, this is only a test"? Lol. Love this, subscribing now.
11:48 as the engine's number is 911 and it's painted in the firefighter colors I assume it's a tribute not only to Firefighters but specifically New York City September event of 2001. MYPET GOAT yes we know the truth.
@@chrishuston4445 he teaches us so well how the crossing system identifies the approaching train to lower the gates, I want to learn how the ambifascient lunar waneshaft effectively prevents side fumbling!
It's been a while since I was a software engineer at Safetran 25 years ago, but your explanation of the various crossing control sensor types and how they work is pretty spot on for the technology in use at that time. Basically, a transmitter injects an AC signal on one side of the crossing, and is monitored by a receiver connection on the other side of the crossing. The track between the 2 connections is the island. If a train is on the crossing -- the "island" -- the signal is completely shorted by the train's axles and the receiver sees no signal at all, so that's how the electronics know a train is on the crossing. Otherwise, the train presents a rolling shunt across the tracks, and the two rails and the train constitute a electrical loop which is an inductor, electronically. The closer the train is to the crossing, the smaller the loop and the smaller the inductance. The electronics monitors the amplitude and phase of the received signal - which is changing when a train is moving in the approach circuit due to the changing inductance - and can tell from that whether the train is coming or going, how fast and how close it is, and in the case of a GCP can use that info to predict when the train will hit the crossing, and drop the gates at a predetermined number of seconds beforehand. Things do get a bit more complicated when there are multiple grade crossings with overlapping approach circuits. I'm sure crossing control systems are much more sophisticated now though.
I've often wondered about the signals and how they work. A fast train activates a quarter mile away but a slow one just yards away. Thanks for the best explanation I could have recieved!
It makes me curious if it's possible to use different tones to prevent the gates from ever coming down if a train is going to stop before the crossing. That way, traffic can keep going until the train actually does need to continue on.
@@neko7684 if the crossing is equipped with remote control activation and set up with no approach, then it would not activate unless the crew activates it or whenever equipment occupies the island. On the circuits that have an approach and remote activation, the crews are able to override the approach and deactivate the crossing remotely as well.
I've designed/installed DTMF controlled power switches for several Class I's in the last decade in non-signaled territory (no dispatcher control), CSXT included as a signal system engineer.
I live on Long Island and this video specifically answers a question about one of our level grade crossings. Sometimes the gate goes down, and there's no train. Sometimes it goes down and there is a train. There's a LIRR station nearby, but not visible from the road. I always wondered why the sensors stopped traffic for a stopped train. Even if they would quickly return to an upright position, it causes some frustration. Now I get it! Thanks Dan!
A gentleman - Mark Clay McGowen- has a channel of his experiences as a signalman for UP on here with some very detailed yet protected descriptions of the equipment and the duties it may do within the crossings he used to maintain. Great stuff to add to your collective efforts here sir and just another beauty from the Distant Signal world for us to watch and rewatch...and we always thank you...
Yay! A Danny video! - just one thing to add, whenever the gates are down, or the lights are flashing. Even if the crossing may be broken, NEVER drive around the gates. No matter what, even if the gates have been down for 2 hours, never go around because you never know what is coming!
I live next to the CSX Henderson Sub, and have seen people run past the gates several times. My parents were standing out side near my porch, and almost saw a pickup hit by the J731 local, one night...
It is also _ALWAYS_ illegal to drive around lowered or raising/lowering crossing gates. Do not do it. This is above and beyond the mass ratio of a train to your car is like your car and an empty soda can. In many places it is LEGAL to stop and proceed with flashing lights but no gate. Obviously, Stop, Look and Listen, and be sure it's safe to do so before proceeding. But, also check with your local laws, because it varies from place to place in the US.
@@jovetj You're right about it being illegal, but a lot of idiots do it, anyway. I said, elsewhere, it's, either, temporary insanity or a death wish. Either way, more often than not, it ends in death. DON'T DO IT!!!!!
I came across this video in the recommended. I've been curious about this for about 20 years. i'm 31 now lol This is very detailed yet simple. Very well put together.
I don't know why this was in my recommendations, nor am I a fan of trains, but this fascinated me and I ended up watching the whole video. This youtube algorithm is pretty scary stuff.
As always, every time, the best, most professional rail fan video on the internet. Thank you very much for doing the hard work that enables we armchair fans to learn and enjoy. Stay safe!
I worked for a company (CDL) that builds, installed and maintained rr signals. I was hired to rewire locomotives, but in between those jobs, I would install all the equipment and wiring in the bungalows. Once I went on a job to upgrade signals in Michigan. The companies "head" signals guy was there and couldn't explain to me how the signals were passed between the various blocks. You did a better job at it than he did. I don't know if he was just trying to hold on to his 'secrets', or if he just didn't really know. Thanks for the info...
@@distantsignal yeah, when they asked me to work full time with the signals section, I passed. Don't have time for that stuff. I know it ain't rocket science at all, the rails don't offer too much in the way of high frequency transmission...
The math involved is not just algebra, it's calculus. To take position information and calculate speed involves a derivative. Pretty simple yet effective. Thank you for sharing this.
I dont even need to see the video before I give it the thumbs up. I already know it's good because it's from Danny. Keep up the good content Danny. Hope you're well. Loving it from near Chicago.
Hi Danny. I would like to just quickly say thank you for posting "How Railroad Crossing Signals Work" I find this to be an informative RUclips video. It helps me ti understand what goes on in those grey metal huts or boxes that are near the tracks when I go for my walks. Thanks again.
Another Great video. I can remember when there was a tower in Royal Oak, MI that was manned 24/7/365 with someone who activated the crossings in town. Keep them coming Danny!!
Thanks for this. It explains a lot. There is a nearby commuter train station that sits on the south side of a busy road. When the northbound train pulls into the station, the crossing signal fires up, the gates drop, and the road is blocked. For about 20 seconds. Then the system realizes that the train has stopped in the station, and the gates open again. For about 30 seconds. Then the train starts to move and the gates close again. During rush hours, this causes a large backup on the road: from the road being blocked by the crossing gates, and by the heavy traffic leaving the nearby parking lot exit as all of the rail passengers jump in their cars and head home. The backlog is just about cleared up by the time the next train arrives ......
One can always count on some very valuable information in a Danny Harmon video. Thanks Danny you filled some of my voids regarding signaling. Keep up the great work!
It's amazing how much time and effort is put into logistics. They are really important and average people like myself don't thank people like railway engineers often enough.
Great video! Thanks. As an electrical and systems engineer it’s always fun and enlightening to learn a bit about other industries. This is just the right level of detail.
Thank you so much for providing this information. Living in close proximity of railway lines, I have often wondered what makes the crossing signals work. I have found your explanations very helpful. Thank you.
Thanks Railfan-Danny...great job. I spent almost 8 years on a RR as an electrician working on the diesel locomotives. This was in the 50's-60's. My last day there was when they buried Pres. Kennedy....Nov. 1963.
I still love to watch the lights, bells and gates drop. Then that big horn blasting.. im 50 yrs old but still feel like im 12 again when i see the train nearing the RR crossing... i guess we all do... love the video
My father was a huge train fan and I grew up with HO and G-scale layouts everywhere we lived. YET, I nver knew precisely how crossing signals work! Thank you for filling in this gap in my knowledge.
I'm 75 years old, and I've ALWAYS wondered how the grade crossings "know" that a train is coming (or gone)! Finally, you've clearly explained it! Thanks, Danny!
Very nice production quality. The narration was clear and the information wasn't hard to understand to a majority of people new to the rail world. I learned something new today watching this video. I always wanted to know how these railroad crossings work. Good job Danny!
Thank you, that was a great video. With my impatient nature I was worried I would not stick to the full 16 minutes, but you made it interesting, enjoyable, and very informative.
I'm really glad RUclips recommended your videos to me, they're very informative and very well done, from the information being well researched and presented in an easy to follow way, to how refined the videos are, this is high quality here, I could easily see this being part of a documentary series on TV or something about railways. Keep up the amazing work!
After a long busy day at my Volunteer job, and seeing a new video Danny Uploaded, it can make your evening/night fun and exciting to look forward to watching. Thank you for the information Danny, I learned a lot, glad to see you safe and sound.
I have been around railroads almost all of my life (well the last 55 years or so, anyway). I figured out years ago about the steel wheels & axles forming a crude but effective switch. I did not realize about the approach / island sections but this makes perfect sense and now that I think about it, the signals and gates start well before the train 🚂 gets to the crossing but as soon as the train clears the crossing the gates / signals cancel - and this is true regardless of which direction the train is traveling. The motion detector and other systems are completely new to me. Thank you! This is one of the most worthwhile videos I have ever watched!
I would like to give a little reminder as a tamper operator. Just because the gates aren’t down or the lights aren’t flashing , doesn’t mean that there’s not something coming. Lots of maintenance of way equipment don’t shunt the track , or the signals are turned off. It’s always a good idea to Look and Listen , no matter where you cross the tracks.
What an excellent video, Danny! I learned more interesting things about how these giants move about the land as they do. You're a great teacher, and I so enjoy your presentations.
Signal Maintainer here! Fun Fact many people may know, at 15:40 the signals deactivates after leaving the island block. In a normal Approach, Island, Approach (which is most of my territory) each of the 3 blocks have a stick relay. Basically, when the block is charged, the stick is up, when it's discharged, the stick drops. Most of these sticks have a timer as well. Once the train leaves the island and the signals deactivate at 15:40, the stick for the approach block that he's currently in, is still dropped. Once the relay realizes that the train is out of the Approach that it originated from and leaves the island (Both of those sticks return to their upward position) the stick for the block he's currently in will start a timer. It's called exactly what it is: A stick timer (Or block timer) Basically, after the train leaves the island, the stick timer for the approach block he's still in, will begin counting down. If that train doesn't get out of the last block after a certain amount of time (Typically 8-12 Minutes. I have my crossings set to 10 minutes) the signals will reactivate! So if you're ever near an Approach, Island, Approach signal, and you see the train leave the island but stop on the block after, wait about 8-12 minutes, and the crossing should reactivate!
@@shrek7954 Mine are on a mainline that only sees 15MPH max so we have a lot of wiggle room. The only reason we keep it low is because there's an industry dock halfway in the north approach block, and since it's single tracked, we sometimes have to park flat cars there for the industry to unload. Our crossings are hodge-lodge though. We still have old RSI lights, an old Copper Dioxide GRS Rectifier, and lead acid batteries in a beautifully repainted silver battery box (We call it the toy box).
That’s interesting! Why would the signals reactivate if the train is stopped past the crossing, through? Is it expecting the train to reverse and go back through the crossing after it’s done its business at whatever is past the crossing?
@@OliversElevators It’s more or less a failsafe feature for directional stick circuits. You have 3 blocks like in the video which are the 2 approach blocks and the island (road). When you’re talking about them in terms of direction, I was taught to call it, the origin block (the first approach the train enters), the island block (the road crossing), and the outbound block (the approach block the train enters after leaving the origin and island blocks). Whenever a train leaves the origin and island blocks, the signals deactivate. But if it’s still in the outbound block, the stick timer will expire (mine are set to 10 min) and the signals will reactivate. The 2 main reasons this would happen would be because the crossings uses both approach blocks to tell when a train is approaching. If one of those blocks is still occupied, it can’t tell if a train is approaching the crossings from that direction. So for all the crossing knows, a train could enter the island block at any moment which is typically only 50’ from the road which is not nearly enough time to activate the crossing to warn motorists
@@OliversElevators And to your point, the only other most likely reason I was ever taught, was to prevent any equipment that was rolling backwards or reversing. A I’m sure there’s plenty of FRA reasons but that’s above my pay grade. My job is to install, inspect and maintain. I will tell you tho that a track predictor gets rid of a stick timer because like Danny says in the video, the circuit can detect direction and speed in the rails. So the train could stay in the approaches all damn day if it wanted to without a reactivation. So long as it doesn’t start moving toward the crossing at a certain speed that the Predictor circuit algorithm doesn’t notice as being a reason to activate
If there is a crash on a crossing using a set of jumper cables to jump between the rails to get the bars to come down. Further IF the engine has the ability to detect a train ahead (by the same way the crossings work) it will start to slow the engine. This is a great video!
Sitting here at 1:15 in the morning and this video came up in my recommended. Very glad it did, right amount of information and presentation in my opinion.
One thing to point out about Amtrak stopping at grade-crossings is the Winter Park, FL station. Amtrak has to stop _completely_ over one of the grade crossings because the station is designed for SunRail usage mostly. They literally have to disembark passengers in coach, pull the train forward, and then Amtrak unloads the baggage and sleeper passengers. It's very interesting and quite unusual. It'd be cool if you could capture footage of it at some point. It's the only station I've ever seen with that setup.
I had already watched this video before, but I just had to come back again after hearing Grady from Practical Engineering suggest your videos to those who wished to see various crossings in action when he covered the same topic. You two both made excellent videos demonstrating how crossing signals work!
Nicely done video! Thank you. Years ago, as an Operation Lifesaver presenter, I rode head-end from Goleta, CA (west of Santa Barbara), to San Diego videoing drivers' behaviors at grade crossings. Departing from Santa BarbarAmtrak station, thengineer briefly sounds the locomotive horn. The horn is picked up by a microphone on a pole near where the locomotive stops. This activates the mee-mool lights *(o)T(o)* athe street right nexto the station. When the locomotive shunts the island circuit, the *(o)T(o)* continue operating until the train is off the island circuit.
I've often wondered how they worked myself. Great explanation. I've also noticed that the ditch lights almost flash in rhythm to the bell. By the way, it was actually William Robinson that invented the track circuit. He founded Union Electric Signal, which in turn, ended up in the hands of George Westinghouse.
Howdy from the U.K. just really getting into watching trains as am more of an aviation enthusiast but a friend from my school days works for the railway/railroad here in the U.K. so am trying to understand it more and so watching your vlogs even though they refer to U.S railroad’s help me to understand how stuff works so keep it up boss
SIR PLEASE KEEP THESE VIDEOS COMING THESE VIDEOS ARE WHAT I HAVE OF MY DAD HE WORKED ON THE RAILROAD AND HE LOVED IT WHEN I SAW THE RAILROAD CROSSING CROSS BUCK I WANTED TO REACH AND TOUCH IT
Fun fact: being that the island circuit system only requires something metal to bridge the tracks to activate the signals, objects other than trains can trigger the signals. For example, I plow roads in the winter and have two grade crossings on my route. On a few occasions my truck’s wing blade has bridged the rails and momentarily activated the signals.
Excellent video! Spot-on narration, ambient sound, and NO hideous music! This is just another example of what James Burke said about technology in "Connections". We depend on technology only people who work on it understand, and most people either don't understand it, or in some cases, don't even know it exists.
I love how Danny says he is going to provide the most basic explanation of crossing signals and then produces the most comprehensive explanation of the different types of crossing systems I've ever seen. Best. RUclipsr. Ever.
Very nice explanation for the signaling system. Relatively goof proof.
very good explanation of how they activate
They need to clone this guy because he's got the perfect voice for train videos.
On god
I agree, his content is outstanding!
My man, you have THE voice for broadcast or documentary. I would learn literally anything if you narrated it.
Edit: and some quick google-fu tells me you already have a career in radio announcement and production. I knew something sounded right here! Hats off to you, sir.
Wow, thanks very much, Captain!
Hehe, Google-fu! Like that. Great announcers voice, I picked up on that.
Lol "google-fu" gave me a chuckle
Hes the Paul Harvey of railfans
Look him up that's what he does.
You know its a good day when Distant Signal uploads.
Yes
Indeed
Ya
It’s 83 degrees here in philly so it’s definitely a good day
Same
*I remember being a young kid back in the late 90s playing on the tracks. We were curious on how the crossing arms knew a train was coming and would watch around at what point the train activated the crossing arms. We saw where the activation started once the train left we laid a bed frame across the tracks and sure enough it activated the crossing arms. Being young and dumb we kept activating them until the police came to see whats going on. They yelled at us and called our parents*
That’s awesome lol
does this still work? even if you just took a regular steel pole and touched either sides? and do all RR crossings work like this? or is it just some older ones because I'm not too sure if they updated it and changed how it worked
@@rowan312 I think back then it was the joiner bars we laid the bed frame across. It’s been so long that it what I think it was. Because all we did was lay it across the tracks and a few seconds later it activated the crossing arms. I’m sure it’s different now with technology advances in that city Newark CA. I’m sure it’ll still work on other racks with that system. I’d say I’d go try it to see if it works still but I’m in my 30s now and know better.
@@MrAnderson84 ok. thank you!
We did the same thing with an old metal door frame. Set it off every time and they would just come and toss the frame to the side. Then of course being dumb kids we would just do it again on our way to school. They finally smartened up after 4-5 times and took it with them.
This is what the internet and RUclips are great for - educating people in something that is interesting. Thank You.
In a world gone wrong, Danny Harmon makes it alright.
I learned something today.
Thank you sir!
Like your logo Track and Trail. Gotta be the old Chesapeake & Ohio!!
As a retired Signalman/Signal Maintainer hired by the Southern Railway System and retired off of the Norfolk Southern Railway: I approve this video!
Many, MANY thanks!
As a signal maintainer for Canadian Pacific Railway. I also approve this video. Well Done.
Woo hoo! Maintainer approved!
As a CSX Engineer, I approve this video as well.
Could you come to Sweden and patch up crossings?
We have some where the gates go up at the wrong time, so people start crossing the rails, only getting halfway across before the gates begin to lower again. It's a disaster waiting to happen
Hell of a voice, clear deliberate pronunciation + enunciation, good tempo/pacing.... This guy's got to be a radio dj, voice over artist, or something... Can't you just imagine him saying "This is a test of emergency alert system, this is only a test"? Lol. Love this, subscribing now.
Wow! Thanks for such a nice compliment.
11:48 as the engine's number is 911 and it's painted in the firefighter colors I assume it's a tribute not only to Firefighters but specifically New York City September event of 2001. MYPET GOAT yes we know the truth.
@@distantsignal >> I would like to hear Danny do the History of the Turbo Encabulator
ruclips.net/video/Ac7G7xOG2Ag/видео.html
I very much agree, he could be a good narrator of PBS documentary.
@@chrishuston4445 he teaches us so well how the crossing system identifies the approaching train to lower the gates, I want to learn how the ambifascient lunar waneshaft effectively prevents side fumbling!
It's been a while since I was a software engineer at Safetran 25 years ago, but your explanation of the various crossing control sensor types and how they work is pretty spot on for the technology in use at that time.
Basically, a transmitter injects an AC signal on one side of the crossing, and is monitored by a receiver connection on the other side of the crossing. The track between the 2 connections is the island. If a train is on the crossing -- the "island" -- the signal is completely shorted by the train's axles and the receiver sees no signal at all, so that's how the electronics know a train is on the crossing.
Otherwise, the train presents a rolling shunt across the tracks, and the two rails and the train constitute a electrical loop which is an inductor, electronically. The closer the train is to the crossing, the smaller the loop and the smaller the inductance. The electronics monitors the amplitude and phase of the received signal - which is changing when a train is moving in the approach circuit due to the changing inductance - and can tell from that whether the train is coming or going, how fast and how close it is, and in the case of a GCP can use that info to predict when the train will hit the crossing, and drop the gates at a predetermined number of seconds beforehand.
Things do get a bit more complicated when there are multiple grade crossings with overlapping approach circuits.
I'm sure crossing control systems are much more sophisticated now though.
That's a great explanation, Mike Thanks! I wish I'd had you along when I was making this video. Ha!
I've often wondered about the signals and how they work. A fast train activates a quarter mile away but a slow one just yards away. Thanks for the best explanation I could have recieved!
This man is phenomenal, a great teacher and also has a great voice so he should be in Hollywood doing voice overs.
He does! lol
@@mikesmith4644 Hollywood, Florida? lol
Never knew about radio tones activating crossing signals. Thanks Danny!
In places where approach activation is not feasible, it's becoming more common now. But it's a technology that's been in use for at least 25 years!
It makes me curious if it's possible to use different tones to prevent the gates from ever coming down if a train is going to stop before the crossing. That way, traffic can keep going until the train actually does need to continue on.
@@neko7684 if the crossing is equipped with remote control activation and set up with no approach, then it would not activate unless the crew activates it or whenever equipment occupies the island. On the circuits that have an approach and remote activation, the crews are able to override the approach and deactivate the crossing remotely as well.
@@SD40Fan_Jason Or where road traffic doesn't allow a station delay to be used in the predictor.
I've designed/installed DTMF controlled power switches for several Class I's in the last decade in non-signaled territory (no dispatcher control), CSXT included as a signal system engineer.
Literally not even into trains at all but somehow watched this from start to finish. Great entertainment
For many years, I had no idea how these signals knew how to activate for an impending train! You did a fantastic job explaining everything!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I live on Long Island and this video specifically answers a question about one of our level grade crossings. Sometimes the gate goes down, and there's no train. Sometimes it goes down and there is a train. There's a LIRR station nearby, but not visible from the road.
I always wondered why the sensors stopped traffic for a stopped train. Even if they would quickly return to an upright position, it causes some frustration. Now I get it! Thanks Dan!
A gentleman - Mark Clay McGowen- has a channel of his experiences as a signalman for UP on here with some very detailed yet protected descriptions of the equipment and the duties it may do within the crossings he used to maintain. Great stuff to add to your collective efforts here sir and just another beauty from the Distant Signal world for us to watch and rewatch...and we always thank you...
And he has a good channel too.
@@jimrawls5509 agreed felt so sorry for him with the COVID ravaging his voice for so long
Yay! A Danny video! - just one thing to add, whenever the gates are down, or the lights are flashing. Even if the crossing may be broken, NEVER drive around the gates. No matter what, even if the gates have been down for 2 hours, never go around because you never know what is coming!
Mhm!
I live next to the CSX Henderson Sub, and have seen people run past the gates several times. My parents were standing out side near my porch, and almost saw a pickup hit by the J731 local, one night...
@@bluegrassman3040 It's either temporary insanity or a death wish. Either way, these people don't think about how this affects the train crews.
It is also _ALWAYS_ illegal to drive around lowered or raising/lowering crossing gates. Do not do it. This is above and beyond the mass ratio of a train to your car is like your car and an empty soda can.
In many places it is LEGAL to stop and proceed with flashing lights but no gate. Obviously, Stop, Look and Listen, and be sure it's safe to do so before proceeding. But, also check with your local laws, because it varies from place to place in the US.
@@jovetj You're right about it being illegal, but a lot of idiots do it, anyway. I said, elsewhere, it's, either, temporary insanity or a death wish. Either way, more often than not, it ends in death. DON'T DO IT!!!!!
Danny, this is a great explanation of how changing impedance is used to regulate crossing signals and gates! Thanks!
I came across this video in the recommended. I've been curious about this for about 20 years. i'm 31 now lol This is very detailed yet simple. Very well put together.
There is a whole community of railfan RUclipsrs, but Danny Harman stands out for excellent camera work and clear explanations.
@@qwertyTRiG I've been slowly digging into it. This looks like an awesome community already.
Pardon my gushing, but this chap has the best narration voice ever. And, the fact that I discovered this channel, has been a nugget of gold.
I don't know why this was in my recommendations, nor am I a fan of trains, but this fascinated me and I ended up watching the whole video.
This youtube algorithm is pretty scary stuff.
I feel it's less that the algorithm is scary, and more that human patterns are fairly predictable. :)
As always, every time, the best, most professional rail fan video on the internet. Thank you very much for doing the hard work that enables we armchair fans to learn and enjoy. Stay safe!
It was always something I sort of knew, but was always curious how they really worked.. thanks Danny
I worked for a company (CDL) that builds, installed and maintained rr signals. I was hired to rewire locomotives, but in between those jobs, I would install all the equipment and wiring in the bungalows. Once I went on a job to upgrade signals in Michigan.
The companies "head" signals guy was there and couldn't explain to me how the signals were passed between the various blocks. You did a better job at it than he did.
I don't know if he was just trying to hold on to his 'secrets', or if he just didn't really know.
Thanks for the info...
Wow! That's a weird one. I hope he knew but was keeping his own secrets.
@@distantsignal yeah, when they asked me to work full time with the signals section, I passed. Don't have time for that stuff. I know it ain't rocket science at all, the rails don't offer too much in the way of high frequency transmission...
The math involved is not just algebra, it's calculus. To take position information and calculate speed involves a derivative. Pretty simple yet effective. Thank you for sharing this.
Once again when Danny Uploads a video we must stop what were doing and watch it!
I dont even need to see the video before I give it the thumbs up. I already know it's good because it's from Danny. Keep up the good content Danny. Hope you're well. Loving it from near Chicago.
Excellent presentation, Danny. As an electrical engineer I compliment you for finding the balance between good detail and too techical.
I'm not sure why youtube recommend this, but it's so calming and definitely something I need right now.
Hi Danny. I would like to just quickly say thank you for posting "How Railroad Crossing Signals Work" I find this to be an informative RUclips video. It helps me ti understand what goes on in those grey metal huts or boxes that are near the tracks when I go for my walks. Thanks again.
I always enjoy the education that Danny gives us! Always enjoy learning about the train consists, the routes and timing and the track gear :)
Awesome video, as both a railfan and electronics hobbyist, this stuff fascinates me.
Another Great video. I can remember when there was a tower in Royal Oak, MI that was manned 24/7/365 with someone who activated the crossings in town. Keep them coming Danny!!
Thanks for this. It explains a lot. There is a nearby commuter train station that sits on the south side of a busy road. When the northbound train pulls into the station, the crossing signal fires up, the gates drop, and the road is blocked. For about 20 seconds. Then the system realizes that the train has stopped in the station, and the gates open again. For about 30 seconds. Then the train starts to move and the gates close again. During rush hours, this causes a large backup on the road: from the road being blocked by the crossing gates, and by the heavy traffic leaving the nearby parking lot exit as all of the rail passengers jump in their cars and head home. The backlog is just about cleared up by the time the next train arrives ......
Honestly one of the most pleasant presenter voices I've heard. This has great production quality and skill
That was the best explanation ive ever heard on crossings! Thanks for the info Danny.
Everything stops when Danny speaks.
Great content!
One can always count on some very valuable information in a Danny Harmon video. Thanks Danny you filled some of my voids regarding signaling. Keep up the great work!
It's amazing how much time and effort is put into logistics. They are really important and average people like myself don't thank people like railway engineers often enough.
Great video! Thanks. As an electrical and systems engineer it’s always fun and enlightening to learn a bit about other industries. This is just the right level of detail.
Whenever I hear that "Hello again Railfans" I feel like I can kick through a wall
Frickin SAME
Same
Da heck? 😂
Same!
What did that poor wall do to you😂
Seeing a video from Danny is always a good way to start a weekend!
Whenever I get a notification from a Danny video, it's like getting a wrapped Christmas present and can't wait to open it!
Thank you so much for providing this information. Living in close proximity of railway lines, I have often wondered what makes the crossing signals work. I have found your explanations very helpful. Thank you.
Thanks Railfan-Danny...great job. I spent almost 8 years on a RR as an electrician working on the diesel locomotives. This was in the 50's-60's. My last day there was when they buried Pres. Kennedy....Nov. 1963.
Danny enjoyed that little history on how the lights are activated thank you for doing it.
Danny, You have no idea how excited I got when u posted this!!!
Thanks, Danny! I have been enjoying your work for years.
I still love to watch the lights, bells and gates drop. Then that big horn blasting.. im 50 yrs old but still feel like im 12 again when i see the train nearing the RR crossing... i guess we all do... love the video
I'm glad I found your videos Danny. Entertaining and informative. I see crossings every day and I always thought they were weight activated.
Good to have you back Danny. 👍🏻
Love your videos Danny, if there is any railfanning youtuber I want to watch, it is you! I have notifications on! Love your content Danny!
A most EXCELLENT and INFORMATIVE video Danny! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, RUclips algorithm! Found a new channel with great content. Like they always say "You learn something new every day" and today I learned.
Awesome, James Bond! Welcome aboard.
My father was a huge train fan and I grew up with HO and G-scale layouts everywhere we lived. YET, I nver knew precisely how crossing signals work! Thank you for filling in this gap in my knowledge.
I'm 75 years old, and I've ALWAYS wondered how the grade crossings "know" that a train is coming (or gone)! Finally, you've clearly explained it! Thanks, Danny!
Very nice production quality. The narration was clear and the information wasn't hard to understand to a majority of people new to the rail world. I learned something new today watching this video. I always wanted to know how these railroad crossings work. Good job Danny!
I knew about the basic set up but the other set ups described today. Well done expanding my rr knowledge!
Hell of a voice, clear deliberate pronunciation + enunciation, good tempo/pacing....
Thank you, that was a great video. With my impatient nature I was worried I would not stick to the full 16 minutes, but you made it interesting, enjoyable, and very informative.
I'm really glad RUclips recommended your videos to me, they're very informative and very well done, from the information being well researched and presented in an easy to follow way, to how refined the videos are, this is high quality here, I could easily see this being part of a documentary series on TV or something about railways. Keep up the amazing work!
After a long busy day at my Volunteer job, and seeing a new video Danny Uploaded, it can make your evening/night fun and exciting to look forward to watching. Thank you for the information Danny, I learned a lot, glad to see you safe and sound.
That certainly was enjoyable Danny. You did a great job explaining these signal crossings 👍👍👍❤️
I have been around railroads almost all of my life (well the last 55 years or so, anyway). I figured out years ago about the steel wheels & axles forming a crude but effective switch. I did not realize about the approach / island sections but this makes perfect sense and now that I think about it, the signals and gates start well before the train 🚂 gets to the crossing but as soon as the train clears the crossing the gates / signals cancel - and this is true regardless of which direction the train is traveling.
The motion detector and other systems are completely new to me.
Thank you! This is one of the most worthwhile videos I have ever watched!
Danny has an excellent announcer voice that makes it watching his videos more enjoyable
I learn something every day. I've always wanted to know the control circuitry. Now, I know. Thanks!
I’m actually trying to build a realistic functional Lego grade crossing signal as a project- this was a good video to watch for that!
Well done, Danny. Big fan of all your videos. Have some fun out there on the high iron, and be safe!
Granddad taught me about "island circuits," but I knew there was more to it nowadays. Thanks for updating me!
The technical content of this channel, as well as the amazing delivery, is some of the best on RUclips. Really well done! 😊
Thanks for letting us know the basics of how train signals work👍🏻. Now things are a bit more clear👍🏻.
Thanks for all you do. Your videos are wonderful
How ironic, I was just out watching a Florida central RR train pass, and I see this. Really cool Danny!
I would like to give a little reminder as a tamper operator. Just because the gates aren’t down or the lights aren’t flashing , doesn’t mean that there’s not something coming. Lots of maintenance of way equipment don’t shunt the track , or the signals are turned off. It’s always a good idea to Look and Listen , no matter where you cross the tracks.
You have, by leaps and bounds, the BEST videos and explanations! Thank you!
Thank you so much about the history of the Artistic messages! I am always glad to see a new video!
What an excellent video, Danny! I learned more interesting things about how these giants move about the land as they do. You're a great teacher, and I so enjoy your presentations.
He's the best!!
Signal Maintainer here! Fun Fact many people may know, at 15:40 the signals deactivates after leaving the island block. In a normal Approach, Island, Approach (which is most of my territory) each of the 3 blocks have a stick relay. Basically, when the block is charged, the stick is up, when it's discharged, the stick drops. Most of these sticks have a timer as well. Once the train leaves the island and the signals deactivate at 15:40, the stick for the approach block that he's currently in, is still dropped. Once the relay realizes that the train is out of the Approach that it originated from and leaves the island (Both of those sticks return to their upward position) the stick for the block he's currently in will start a timer. It's called exactly what it is: A stick timer (Or block timer) Basically, after the train leaves the island, the stick timer for the approach block he's still in, will begin counting down. If that train doesn't get out of the last block after a certain amount of time (Typically 8-12 Minutes. I have my crossings set to 10 minutes) the signals will reactivate! So if you're ever near an Approach, Island, Approach signal, and you see the train leave the island but stop on the block after, wait about 8-12 minutes, and the crossing should reactivate!
some of mine are set for 25 minutes.
@@shrek7954 Mine are on a mainline that only sees 15MPH max so we have a lot of wiggle room. The only reason we keep it low is because there's an industry dock halfway in the north approach block, and since it's single tracked, we sometimes have to park flat cars there for the industry to unload. Our crossings are hodge-lodge though. We still have old RSI lights, an old Copper Dioxide GRS Rectifier, and lead acid batteries in a beautifully repainted silver battery box (We call it the toy box).
That’s interesting! Why would the signals reactivate if the train is stopped past the crossing, through? Is it expecting the train to reverse and go back through the crossing after it’s done its business at whatever is past the crossing?
@@OliversElevators It’s more or less a failsafe feature for directional stick circuits. You have 3 blocks like in the video which are the 2 approach blocks and the island (road). When you’re talking about them in terms of direction, I was taught to call it, the origin block (the first approach the train enters), the island block (the road crossing), and the outbound block (the approach block the train enters after leaving the origin and island blocks). Whenever a train leaves the origin and island blocks, the signals deactivate. But if it’s still in the outbound block, the stick timer will expire (mine are set to 10 min) and the signals will reactivate. The 2 main reasons this would happen would be because the crossings uses both approach blocks to tell when a train is approaching. If one of those blocks is still occupied, it can’t tell if a train is approaching the crossings from that direction. So for all the crossing knows, a train could enter the island block at any moment which is typically only 50’ from the road which is not nearly enough time to activate the crossing to warn motorists
@@OliversElevators And to your point, the only other most likely reason I was ever taught, was to prevent any equipment that was rolling backwards or reversing. A I’m sure there’s plenty of FRA reasons but that’s above my pay grade. My job is to install, inspect and maintain. I will tell you tho that a track predictor gets rid of a stick timer because like Danny says in the video, the circuit can detect direction and speed in the rails. So the train could stay in the approaches all damn day if it wanted to without a reactivation. So long as it doesn’t start moving toward the crossing at a certain speed that the Predictor circuit algorithm doesn’t notice as being a reason to activate
If there is a crash on a crossing using a set of jumper cables to jump between the rails to get the bars to come down. Further IF the engine has the ability to detect a train ahead (by the same way the crossings work) it will start to slow the engine.
This is a great video!
Sitting here at 1:15 in the morning and this video came up in my recommended. Very glad it did, right amount of information and presentation in my opinion.
One thing to point out about Amtrak stopping at grade-crossings is the Winter Park, FL station. Amtrak has to stop _completely_ over one of the grade crossings because the station is designed for SunRail usage mostly. They literally have to disembark passengers in coach, pull the train forward, and then Amtrak unloads the baggage and sleeper passengers. It's very interesting and quite unusual. It'd be cool if you could capture footage of it at some point. It's the only station I've ever seen with that setup.
I think this might've been an issue before SunRail was established.
Every time Danny posts a video, i get so much happier
Thank You Danny for another excellent video, keep them coming!
I had already watched this video before, but I just had to come back again after hearing Grady from Practical Engineering suggest your videos to those who wished to see various crossings in action when he covered the same topic. You two both made excellent videos demonstrating how crossing signals work!
Wow, thanks to you and Grady. To get a shout-out from someone in his class is a seriously big deal from someone like me.
Nicely done video! Thank you. Years ago, as an Operation Lifesaver presenter, I rode head-end from Goleta, CA (west of Santa Barbara), to San Diego videoing drivers' behaviors at grade crossings.
Departing from Santa BarbarAmtrak station, thengineer briefly sounds the locomotive horn. The horn is picked up by a microphone on a pole near where the locomotive stops. This activates the mee-mool lights *(o)T(o)* athe street right nexto the station. When the locomotive shunts the island circuit, the *(o)T(o)* continue operating until the train is off the island circuit.
Great video Danny, glad you caught the Pride In Service units!
I've learned something new yet again! I'm going to look for those art messages on trains I see from now on too 🚂🚂
I've often wondered how they worked myself. Great explanation. I've also noticed that the ditch lights almost flash in rhythm to the bell.
By the way, it was actually William Robinson that invented the track circuit. He founded Union Electric Signal, which in turn, ended up in the hands of George Westinghouse.
Howdy from the U.K. just really getting into watching trains as am more of an aviation enthusiast but a friend from my school days works for the railway/railroad here in the U.K. so am trying to understand it more and so watching your vlogs even though they refer to U.S railroad’s help me to understand how stuff works so keep it up boss
Another simple but incredible detailed explanation of how these systems work!
Congratulations if a job well done Mr. Danny!
Thank you for this video, Danny! This was a very informative video! I learned a great deal from it.
Excellent job, Danny, as usual :) Thank you.
Great video Danny. I learned something about the crossing signals that I didn't know.
SIR PLEASE KEEP THESE VIDEOS COMING THESE VIDEOS ARE WHAT I HAVE OF MY DAD HE WORKED ON THE RAILROAD AND HE LOVED IT WHEN I SAW THE RAILROAD CROSSING CROSS BUCK I WANTED TO REACH AND TOUCH IT
Not really a train person. But the understanding of something I'm around, is always accepted knowledge! Great video!
I was just in the middle of re-watching the juice train 1997 video when.. boom! New upload!
Fun fact: being that the island circuit system only requires something metal to bridge the tracks to activate the signals, objects other than trains can trigger the signals. For example, I plow roads in the winter and have two grade crossings on my route. On a few occasions my truck’s wing blade has bridged the rails and momentarily activated the signals.
Best notification of the day.
I came for topic, I stayed for the production, and I subscribed for that silky smooth narration
Wow! I don't get compliments like THAT every day. Thanks!
Excellent video! Spot-on narration, ambient sound, and NO hideous music! This is just another example of what James Burke said about technology in "Connections". We depend on technology only people who work on it understand, and most people either don't understand it, or in some cases, don't even know it exists.