This post had been planned as an update on SEPTA Signaling encountered during my SEPTA Mid-Winter fan trip, but after a couple of additional rail adventures in the December/January time period I figured I should address them in a single post.
The headline news item is that the SEPTA West Chester Line has been converted to Rule 562 operation with cab signals and no intermediate wayside signals. This is surprising as the line had already been converted to Rule 261 with cab signaling and it appears that SEPTA had to go to the trouble of removing the wayside masts, exposing themselves to all of the attendant issues with cab signal failures. The most significant loss are the distant signals that had been fitted with Reading style two lamp lozenge heads, that have not really been fitted anywhere since.
One the other hand, no changes were made to the interlockings CANE, MEDIA and NORTH/SOUTH ELWYN. They still display full indication and not just Cab Speed and Restricting. Also ARSENAL interlocking is still hanging in there with the LED position lights on the north end and full range color lights on the south end.
On the Routes 101 and 102 Suburban trolley, the long metastasizing CBTC project may or may not be in operation. What has changed is that SEPTA has added a large number of interlocked crossovers and also interlocked the ends of single track operation. This actually seems to have increased the number of wayside signals. In addition to this, the old two aspect ABS signal locations appear to be in place, making me wonder if the CBTC is not yet active or if it will be a safety overlay like in the tunnels with no increase in capacity.
On the Route 100, the passenger stop request signals at stations are still in place, but the short stretch of 3rd rail used to cancel them are now being removed.
On the Amtrak Harrisburg Line / PRR Main Line, the crossovers between #1 and #2 track at OVERBROOK interlocking (levers 13 and 15) have been converted from pneumatic to electric operation. Not sure what the plans or timeline are, but I figured that OVERBROOK would be replaced and removed, not closed, so this actually might represent a live extension.
Moving out along the PRR Main Line, the legacy signal bridges at Cove and CP-BANKS have been removed having been out of service since 2018.
Finally, no work appears to have been started on the off again, on again, NS D&H Main Line re-signaling project between Sunbury and Binghampton. I visited a number of locations including CP-DUPONT and there is absolutely no evidence of prep work. Hopefully that continues to limbo along for many years.
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