Railroad Turnouts How Fast Can I Go?

[@TomahTrains-261-75]

So very sorry for your loss. May his memories bring comfort and peace. So glad to see you back, healthy , and safe.

[@distantsignal]

Thanks very much.

[@jsayoda]

Glad to see you are well after those 2 devastating hurricanes came through.

[@kenrhodes948]

At 73 now, grew up with Uncle who was LIRR Engineer. He used to take me along on diesel out of Jamaica yard to Montauk. Back then engineers could do that. Danny, your videos are excellent and bring back lots of great memories. Thanks.

[@billwilson6670]

I'm 75 and rode the LIRR as a kid. Hit every branch on the system. Fond memories.

[@DTD110865]

@@billwilson6670 I still haven't been on the Long Beach Branch. Hopefully on my next trip to the Tri-State Area, I'll be able to do that.

[@distantsignal]

Sounds like you had a great childhood, Ken. Wish I could have done that. Thanks for your kind compliments.

[@autumnmoonfire3944]

Sorry for the loss of your friend and glad to know you came through the hurricanes well enough.

[@Joeybagofdonuts76]

Condolences on the loss of your friend.

[@kedwards4377]

I suspect those gondolas with large rocks on M603 at 18:37 will likely go on from Winston to the Seminole Gulf in Arcadia. I’ve heard Seminole Gulf has been bringing those rock loads in to Fort Myers for the post-Hurricane Ian renovations to the Sanibel Causeway, where they will help protect against erosion. Thank you for your dedication to keeping Florida’s railroad history alive.

[@MsCriticalthinker201]

The "number' of a switch is the angle of the rails crossing at the frog. It is the distance in feet from the point of frog to where the diverging rails are one foot apart. So, at a number 15 switch, the rails diverge at one foot in fifteen. I remember the rule of thumb is speed through a switch is roughly twice the number of the switch.

[@Greatdome99]

Yes, like percent grades and degrees of curvature (the amount of curve in a 100-foot arc of track), numbered turnouts are so defined for the benefit of surveyors, who can only use distance, elevation and horizontal angle deflection to locate track.

[@heavyhauler426]

You can use any unit of measurement to get the angle of the switch. Meters, inches, centimeters, feet. Each one will give you the same number. Mathematically, it's because the units cancel. So, any unit of measurement of length works so long as you use the same one for both.

[@nicktynan1355]

Got to ride the new rail system in Honolulu, Oahu Hawaii a couple of weeks ago. Those crossovers are TIGHT(though with the slower speed of that operation, doesn't seem to matter much).

[@robriegel2071]

Danny, you are an intrepid student of railroading and a master of your craft in producing supreme quality videos! Your good nature, excellent oratory skills, and genuine affection and appreciation for all things railroading is apparent and welcoming! Your videos are the perfect blend of education and entertainment! Keep up the fabulous work! You are a legend!

[@distantsignal]

Thanks for that kind compliment, Rob. Much appreciated!

[@stevemawer848]

@@distantsignal I love your "homage" to Alfred Hitchock by including yourself in some of the drone shots, too! Keep it up!

[@BryanTorok]

I find it absolutely amazing that grown adult men are this fascinated with railroads and railroading, even more so than many of the people who actually work for the railroads. And, I think it is rather neat, too. Thank you for an interesting video.

[@nicktynan1355]

Was both a rail(roader) and a fan not all that long ago. Not a good time to work nowadays, somewhat better as a fan.

[@BryanTorok]

@@nicktynan1355 I have a friend in his 40s who left a job in IT to go to work for a large railroad in training to become a conductor. He had about 8 or 9 months in and nearly completed with the training when he quit and went back to IT management. Besides the long hours, no fixed schedule, being called up in the middle of his day off, the job was also a very physically demanding job with substantial periods of time outside in all kinds of weather. When he took the job I was surprise as I knew all that from watching videos on YT. I was actually surprised that he made it as long as he did.

[@scottdowney4865]

So glad you fared real well from the hurricanes. Thanks for another GREAT video!

[@mauriciomagana5218]

I see a Distant Signal notification… I immediately jump straight to the video and like it 👍 Hope things are better know, Danny. Greetings from México 🇲🇽

[@JesseOaks-ef9xn]

Thankfully, you weren't gone with the wind. I am glad you were not hurt or lost everything. Your pun worked well, it turned out to your benefit.

[@jacobdubielak]

Wow we all glad you guys are okay

[@glencrandall7051]

Glad to hear you suffered only minor hurricane damage. Thank for the update on turnouts. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe. 🙂🙂

[@NavyDood21]

Growing up I lived only a short walk from railroad tracks, hear trains at all times of the night and day. Even now, about 20 years after moving out of my home town, I still find the sounds of trains to be very relaxing. Thank you for another awesome video!

[@davidballoid2118]

Good to have you back with us "High Iron Danny," Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, it's never easy to say goodbye to family and friends that pass. 🙏✝

[@rayopeongo]

Glad to hear that you literally weathered the storms without too much difficulty. You had a lot of people thinking about you.

[@zachzebra56]

Thank god you guys are ok! Those hurricanes (especially Helene) were insane to say the least. My deepest condolences as well for the loss of your friend. Glad to see your alive and well! Nice video as always!

[@uk-martin4905]

I'm in the UK and I was thinking of you during the hurricanes. I'm so relieved that you have come through it OK, especially as your neighbours apparently fared less well. Now to enjoy the video!

[@timl1481]

Another great video, I'm very relieved that you and your family are ok after the hurricanes.

[@buddyhenson2559]

Awesome video Danny!! I also want to recommend the book you mention at the end. For years, we (Norfolk Southern) would provide this book to our management trainees as they came on board. It is a very comprehensive look into the industry, and the basics needed to understand operations. Thanks for posting!!

[@CNder77]

I Praise the Lord to hear you’re ok. Another good video, help me learn more. Thank you for sharing these Danny

[@elcastorgrande]

Glad to have you back, Danny.

[@charleslayno4372]

I love the drone shots. For those of us who are not familiar with Florida railroading, but follow your channel, we see all these wonderful viewing sites from track side but have no concept of distance to some of these places and the drone shots allow us to see that many of these locations are really not that far from each other. It really helps in comprehending and understanding what we are seeing (and wishing we had some of these great viewing vantages). Thank you!

[@niobraraterminalrailroad2709]

Distant Signal video All right!!! Great to see your latest video Danny. Sorry for your loss. Glad to see you and your family are doing well.

[@teddyc.newton4874]

Mr. H. Condolences for your loss for sure . So have been missing your 🎥 lately and I sure do welcome your latest. You absolutely do a terrific job on your 🎥 you know how to MIX things up to keep one interested , not the same old standing at a crossing and counting a two hundred car train go by. Now counting cars is ok but does tire one out and loose interest. Big boy Dave in western Pennsylvania also does a splendid job too, not the same old same old. Enjoy the humidity, heat and mosquitoes 🦟 in Florida. 😂😂

[@rechelieu]

Your drone work adds a sweet flavor to already fantastic videos! Well written scripts, just a class act. Thank you.

[@travisroach6505]

Another awesome video by Danny

[@USMCArchAngel03]

Another high quality video! The drones have been a great addition.

[@trans-galactic-express]

Great video as usual! 7:50 The cars which only have vertical ribs (UP and GATX boxes) are Trinity cars. The ones with vertical and horizontal (Waffle) ribs are Greenbrier. And if it's a TBOX with tapered ribs, that's a National Steel Car car (no that's not a typo). I think some of the older hi-cube boxes with only vertical ribs are Gunderson cars, but it's hard to keep up with company mergers.

[@michaelgallo9173]

I now have a better knowledge of turnouts/switches. Thank you, Professor Harmon!

[@rybak04]

Glad to see another video Danny!! So glad you and Liz made out okay. Come railfan Ontario Canada sometime. See you out on the high iron.

[@davidlewis9068]

It's good to see you got through the hurricanes. I also live in Florida, and we also had minimal damage.

[@Como7777]

Mixed emotions here Condolences for your loss. Happy you made it through the hurricanes Loved the fade in of the train at 17:28

[@CFRP.]

12:05 There’s Aaron Carter at the helm. Always nice seeing him come out of Tampa on Saturdays or any other day he is on board. Awesome video Danny

[@distantsignal]

Yes! That was absolute Aaron Carter! I should have shouted him out right there.

[@SD45-ET44AC]

Like so many others, prayerfully thankful for your safety through the hurricanes. Plus it’s always a treat to see one of your great videos. Thanks Danny!

[@seanthornton1659]

@distant signal i.m very happy that you guys made it through the hurricanes and i enjoyed watching your videos even if my arms are hurting me too much keep up the good work

[@Cking507]

Hi Danny. Sorry for your loss. Glad to see that you and yours were not too affected by the hurricanes. Shame about the rest of Florida. What a great video. This is the kind of stuff I like to know about. Can't wait for the next one.

[@ThroneOfBhaal]

Good to see you again! Glad to hear you're safe :)

[@gregbowen617]

Another great video from Danny Harmon! Glad to see you're safe and well and didn't suffer too much damage...

[@SignalMan9292]

Was catching CN M337-91 when this was uploaded. Made my day even better even after I saw a CN 100th Anniversary and IC unit on the same train.

[@tommy4trains]

In the last few years that I've visited the Lakeland/Plant City Area, Johnson's has become my go to place for Lunch. Their BBQ Sandwich is among the best around in my opinion. Once again another fantastic video production! So glad to hear that you and your family made it through the storms unscathed 👍

[@jameschristiansson3137]

Your food segment is always enjoyable.

[@JonManProductions]

I'm glad to hear that you rode out the storm with minimal damage, same story around my parts: alot of us were very lucky but alot of people around us lost alot more. And next door to Johnson's is probably the BEST southern buffet you can get in Hillsborough County, Fred's Market. For me personally I like going there for breakfast when I have a free morning to go by.

[@fldon2306]

Thanks Danny! And glad you weathered the Hurricanes okay. Excellent detail on turnouts. Never too old to stop learning; now I know. And I’ll “second” your take on Johnson’s BBQ; that and Fred’s next door (they serve Johnson’s on the buffet!) are excellent. Again, thanks!

[@southern_railman]

It’s always a good day when Danny uploads! Good to see and hear you’re okay! Rest easy to your friend however! 🙏

[@FSantoro91]

Engineer from Italy here. I don't know exactly how turnouts are designated here, but after a quick look it seems there's different parameters, including radius of curvature and tangent. Although rare, we have a few 1200 meter (0.75 mi) radius turnouts allowing speeds of 100 km/h (62 mph), but I've seen a pair of 3000+ meter (1.85 mi) radius, 160 km/h (100 mph) turnouts, and I know there's even a few 6000+ meters (3.75 mi) radius, 220 km/h (135 mph) turnouts on our high-speed lines. 😅

[@TheGrover1968]

From good oratory skills to the great detail, you're the only one I enjoy for the purpose of information more than Shoestring, RIP.

[@jackpetrone4031]

Another great. informative video! Thanks for the information. Glad to see you back up and running, you were in our prayers.

[@tfs4499]

Another great, informative video, THANKS Danny! Thankful you and your family survived the hurricane!

[@rcycle4075]

Condolences on your loss and thankful that the storms caused limited damage for you. Always enjoy your informative and entertaining videos. Keep up the great creativity and carry on!

[@louiehoward4354]

A plus video glad you're back to continue the awesome railfaning you do hats off!!!

[@deesalkelly3069]

sorry about your loss - love your videos and subjects - you are a great story teller - we still got the Cyclone season a head of us - Townsville Australia

[@distantsignal]

Thank you so much for the kind words. I appreciate it.

[@rayhenwood3833]

It is great to see you back with another interesting and informative video. I particularly enjoyed this one as I used to install points and signals when I worked on the railway here in the UK. Best wishes and glad everything is ok at home after the storms x

[@distantsignal]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@3henry214]

Excellent video... everything that didn't know that I needed to know about crossovers, beautiful editing. Happy and relieved to hear that you came through those two hurricanes with minimal impact. Every time you feature a BBQ place in one you videos, I'm like a Pavlov dog... drooling st the mouth!

[@jamesmarlowe8231]

Great seeing all this familiar stuff. I have watched trains here since ‘74. Thanks Danny!👍🏼😊

[@pastorjerrykliner3162]

Glad you came through the storms safe and sound. Agreed on the "Roamin' Railfan". Love his work.

[@pearidgefarmer]

Nothing outshines your knowledge, but your drone video work is just super. It makes us feel we are there with you. Thanks for your time. Pete in South Carolina 10 minutes from the oldest rail road junction in the world, Branchville, South Carolina.

[@deauvilledad07]

It was great to see a Distant Signal notification this morning. Great to hear that you were still alive and well after the recent hurricanes. Nice video explaining all about the track and turn outs used on the CSX. I found it extremely informative. The food tip was also appreciated. Well done Danny can't wait for your next production. 🤓

[@danmathers141]

I'm glad you're ok. Sorry about your loss and your neighbors' loss.

[@joecarlson6428]

This is the first video i have watched on this channel. Excellent, well narrated, and lots of good information.

[@distantsignal]

Thanks very much! I hope you'll subscribe.

[@joecarlson6428]

@@distantsignal I have.

[@ny4i]

The wide angle drone shots were just outstanding Danny. It really showed the switches in operation. Nice job.

[@paulkoza8652]

Glad to hear you came through the storms OK. Always appreciate the insights.

[@RailFanRob]

Glad your ok Danny and sorry to see that your friend passed on...God Bless and thanks always for the awesome content....Over and Out from Daytona Florida.

[@dougthornton6884]

Another superb, educational video, Danny. Thank you ! And fantastic drone work. I love seeing you , operating, on the ground. I was in Kingston NY yesterday at a auto parts store and was greeted by a CSX IM train, with 2 locos on the head end. Only about 300' from the store. I could not suppress my joy !!! Thanx again sir, you are the best !!!

[@BBT609]

Another great day for a GREAT VIDEO!!

[@Waterslide_Productions]

Great to see you back and safe Danny, and amazing video as usual

[@beulahpowell1478]

Good seeing you again Danny and we really enjoy this video and tracks info. Always interesting and exciting. Thank you so much and have a wonderful rest of your day. God bless you.❤😊

[@frankr7306]

I retired to southwest Fl 11 years ago, no real train watching close by and no more rail fan friends. Thank you for all of your work. The vids you produce are like being there without the wait. Love all of the operating information too!

[@distantsignal]

Many thanks, Frank!

[@pgw1977]

Welcome back Danny, good to see you and yours are safe! And another interesting video too.

[@matthewfawbush7731]

We're glad you guys are okay We're all sorry of hearing Alan's Passing We will say a prayer for the murley family for their loss We're glad to see you back and safe Glad you are okay Danny We will keep on saying a prayer for Florida 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@23431]

@distantsignal I’m Glad to hear that you and Liz are safe after those horrific storms Danny thank you and see you soon

[@peterkazmir]

I'm so relieved you weren't impacted badly by the hurricanes.

[@GreenRC24]

Another fantastic video!

[@Railfan_Austin]

Glad you guys are okay, rest easy Alan.

[@gusjones9388]

Great camera work and great info as usual. Great lunch too.

[@jeffreyharkness8551]

Thank you for a highly informative video. Many people enjoy the locomotives, or the cars. The track and all of the related equipment supports all of this.

[@francisschweitzer8431]

Side Note about the Phosphate: I trucked it out of Central Florida in bag form. This phosphate was course ground and went to pig farms to be used as a feed supplement

[@DarrellSmith-lx5yt]

I'm so glad you made it safely through both storms. Florida got hammered according to news reports I've loved trains since I was a kid. When my step great grandad worked for AT&SF back in the early 1980. I used to get to ride with him sometimes. But you have brought back memories about what he would teach me when I was little.

[@idamay6469]

Good to see you back and safe! Now for a great video to watch.

[@idamay6469]

Such great information! Thanks for the video!

[@ollieahokas9179]

Always a treat to watch your incredible videos, informative and top notched filmed. Cheers from Sweden!

[@ebf82234]

Welcome back, Danny!! This turnout (spotting) information is a treat...over here, on CSX's A-Line between Haines City (MP829) and Loughman Holdout (MP819), there are numerous turnouts, many of which comprise two Controlled Sidings. Gonna take a closer look 🔎at them now, thanks to your video.👍👍

[@andross51]

Danny your videos NEVER cease to amaze me! Another great video! Keep the great content coming woohooo!! :)

[@willardlocks]

Thank you for the video sir, Glad you all are safe with little damage.

[@DickvanderFluit]

Hi Danny, so sorry to hearing for your loss of Alan.

[@lizzharmontamparealtor9365]

Thank you. He’s my youngest brother.

[@twofoottaylor1]

Very happy to see that you and your family made out so well following the 2 devastating hurricanes, thanks for such a great video and an excellent explanation of 'turnouts', very well done, thanks again from London, Ontario, Canada.

[@Andrewleedy133]

Glad yall are okay

[@ericbengtson2822]

We all glad you guys are okay.

[@gerardjohnson2106]

It's amazing the design, operation and intricacies of rail operations. Aircraft and air transport don't have anything on the railroad industry. Railroads are not as appreciated as they should be. Your videos are very educational. 👍👍👏👏🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@paul-andrelarose3389]

In an analogy with living entities, a railway track network is like a bone system, its signaling infrastructure is like a nervous system, its rail traffic control (aka dispatching) is like the cerebral decision making system (aka the brain), the movement of its rolling stock is like that of blood flow and its motive power pool is its muscle mass!!! 2024/11/11. Ontario, Canada.

[@neilray9357]

Glad to hear you guys are okay! Thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by the hurricanes. 🙏🙏🙏 Seems like the mountains of N.C. we're hit very hard! I bet there's allot of rail service damage to be repaired in several places! Thanks and God bless!

[@ChrisBlaneyOfficial]

I deliberately wait to watch Danny’s new videos each month until I have adequate time to sit down, grab some snacks, and give my undivided attention to them. This channel is taken very seriously in my household haha

[@distantsignal]

That is awesome, Chris!! I wish everyone would watch them like you do. HaHa!

[@kevinheard8364]

Super! As always; and so happy for your good fortune in the hurricane picture

[@ronniesmith5473]

Danny Enjoyed watching this video. The reason is I was Roadmaster with CSX in LAKELAND from 1983 to 1986 then in Mulberry. We took up the old Lakeland Yard. I had the old A line to from Taft to Faukenburg Rd. Including Winston Yard down to Mulberry and part of the S line. A lot of good memories. Ronnie Smith

[@tzadik36]

Thank you for this video! Another great video as always. Educative as usual. Once again whetted my appetite with the food. Glad you weathered the storms. 🙏🏻

[@davesimmonds9338]

1.6k views within 30 minutes of posting your vid - just show how much people like these!!!!! Thanks for posting from the UK My personal favourite is still the Bone Valley one !!

[@jameseubanks1509]

Thanks for a great video and for staying safe. Here in North Carolina there are complete towns in our mountains that are simply gone. Glad you made it.

[@distantsignal]

Yes, we took a beating from Helene. I have many friends who got saltwater in their houses, but nothing compared to what you folks in Western North Carolina got from that same storm. Absolutely incredible.

[@davidkalbacker6033]

Dr. Harmon, Professor of railroad technology and information. I like the sound of this, as it speaks to your growing knowledge of the high-iron. Again kudos to you for all that good information presented in a very entertaining fashion, complete with a luncheon recommendation. Your videos continue to get more interesting and your shots more varied with every new offering. Many thanks.

[@distantsignal]

That's a heck of a nice compliment, David , and much appreciated. my philosophy is Nothing is interesting without Food. Ha!

[@davidkalbacker6033]

@@distantsignal I agree Dr. Harmon

[@kennybaran1080]

Glad you’re safe, we were in Orlando two weeks ago mid-Hurricane of all things, luckily the storm was south of us and we were able to enjoy our vacation. It’s our annual trip and next year we’re going in December should be be safe from hurricane season then.

[@thomasmackowiak]

Thank you. Danny, for this fascinating video om railroad turnouts! I found the information that you presented in this video interesting. The Union Pacific Railroad has two turnouts on main line tracks one and two east of Montour, Iowa. Those two turnouts are on the former Chicago & North Western Railroad's mainline between Chicago, Illinois, and Omaha, Nebraska. Those two turnouts must be rated at 45 miles per hour based on the speed at which trains crossover from one track to another. (Posted 27 October 2024 at 2115 CDT.)

[@joshbenton4080]

Thanks Dan for this highly informative but interesting video on turnouts / switches. Another fun to watch video as always. I learned something new on railroad switches today that I didn't know. And I've built switches for both "O Scale" and "HO Scale", but mostly HO. As of right now, I'm assembling a #5 Facing Point Switch in Code 70. This means that the rail has a height of .070 inch and represents 100 pound rail and or, as you put it, appliances. This includes the movable point rails, frog, (sometimes called a "common crossing") closure rails and so forth. There's a company called Central Valley that offers a lone of switch kits that require assembly and the modeler supplies the rail for it. I've assembled #6 and #8 switches. (Most of my layout has Atlas code 83 #6 switches and code 70 track for some of the mainline.) Danny, my deepest condolences for your loss and glad to see you're unscathed by those hurricanes that ravaged Florida. Stat safe and God bless.