High Green at Niles Jct
Southern Pacific signaling practices dictated that, at a control point with a multi-head signal, only the top-most head would be lit when routes are lined on the normal route through the control point. Despite the SP being gone for nearly 30 years now, this practice can still be found on this former SP searchlight signal at Niles Jct in Houston. A westbound rock train is lined straight-through the junction here, so only the top signal head is lit green. The lower lamp, which is dark, will light up and show that it is red when the train passes.
Unfortunately for this signal, replacement Vaders are up here and at the nearby searchlight installations of Chaney Jct and N Main St. They may not have long for this world, but it's been a good run for these US&S H2 signals.
The searchlights finally came down in June 2025.
Houston, TX
September 2nd, 2024
High Green at Niles Jct
Southern Pacific signaling practices dictated that, at a control point with a multi-head signal, only the top-most head would be lit when routes are lined on the normal route through the control point. Despite the SP being gone for nearly 30 years now, this practice can still be found on this former SP searchlight signal at Niles Jct in Houston. A westbound rock train is lined straight-through the junction here, so only the top signal head is lit green. The lower lamp, which is dark, will light up and show that it is red when the train passes.
Unfortunately for this signal, replacement Vaders are up here and at the nearby searchlight installations of Chaney Jct and N Main St. They may not have long for this world, but it's been a good run for these US&S H2 signals.
The searchlights finally came down in June 2025.
Houston, TX
September 2nd, 2024