Red boxes between the rails.

[trainjunkie47]

Can someone please tell me what the function or purpose of the red boxes between the rails might be? I am looking on a web cam site of UP Brooklyn Yard. I notice that in the northbound picture, there is a box between the rails on the yard lead only, but not near any switch. When looking at the southbound picture, you can see the same boxes in several places. http://www.western.com/

[BB]

From trainorders:

An indicator of where a car needs to be behind to be safely in the clear of adjacent tracks and/or the lead.

[trainjunkie47]

Thanks BB for the response. That does make sense. There is quite often switching at night in that yard, but rarely in the day. That is really too bad because even though there is good light in the area, it is still better viewing in the daytime.

[sd70accsxt700]

Well BB im not sure who came up with that, but applying basic commin sience, I dont think so. Look at the photo on the right, there is one right in front of the switchpoint, deffinatly not a place to leave a car in the clear. Also there is another one right in the switch points. Also the one on the right, there is no "other tracks" any where that would have to be protected.

I cant say for sure, but it kind of looks like the system CSX is expertementing with. It is positive point protection for the remote controls. This works like this, (currently in Detroit, and Walbridge) There is a remote drone, that is equipped with the PP softwhere, with transponders inbetween the rails. It is used in areas where remotes are used around signals. The dispatcher has to turn it on and off. As long as the system is on, you have a transponder equipped remote, and you meed the requirements of tonnage, and number of locos, and speed, it will automaticly stop the remote from running a red signal. This means that they do not need a conductor on the point protecting the shove, aginst the red signal, it will stop automaticly with out any action. If for some reason (if all the guidelines, are meet) the remote runs by a red signal, they will not be responsable.

[trainjunkie47]

sd70-

That sounds more like it. I do know that the UP uses remotes in the yard switching.

[BB]

How about being called RCL pucks or as what Matt described. More replies were saying they were clearence markers so that's what I went with.

[sd70accsxt700]

I cant 100% discount that theory, but it sure would confuse the crap out of me.