Anybody else notice the signal upgrades on the Willow Springs Subdivision east of Springfield? Most of the old Frisco US&S 'searchlight' signals are being removed and replaced with new 3-light units. BNSF is making the changes on their Thayer North Sub. The work can be observed along US 60, which parallels the sub in Webster County. I'm guessing these signals had to have been at least 60 years old?
Same thing here. They have done over 400 miles of CTC signal replacements and additions. We were told it is due to the Federal mandated implementation of the Positive Train Separation (PTS) . That might be what is going on there. Tom Holley
Tom You are correct, searchlight signals are not compatible, at least not economically so, with the Wayside Interface Units (WIU) that are a part of I-EMS This is the system being implemented by the freight railroads to meet the federal Positive Train Control (PTC) mandate. This is not an issue limited to former Frisco lines, or even just to BNSF. Gordon