Let’s take a look to one of the more recent but now defunct interlockings, SH interlocking, located in Southampton, one that came online rather recently with the Speonk to Montauk Signalization Project.
Signals
SH interlocking is a rather simple interlocking, as it starts out as one track then splits into two tracks a couple hundred feet east of the station before there’s a small siding running for at least hundred feet before a pair of crossovers leading into the station, similar to what can been seen at Hampton Bays and Patchogue. There’s only one platform, so the first train would stop do it’s station work, then go onto the passing siding and wait for the other train to go and clear the switch. While’s it’s not ideal, it’s better than nothing and it generally works out alright if the trains are on time.
However, here’s where things get interesting, they closed the west side switch, so if a train were to enter the siding they wouldn’t be able to come back out on the other side. This basically renders the interlocking defunct. While some may initially think this was a bad descison, it honestly doesn’t affect the LIRR’s South Fork operations too much as it was rarely-used and is much more of a burden then it’s worth considering the high maintenance costs.
Signals
SH interlocking uses the modern signals Tri-light color signals.
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