Interesting question about signaling at crossings. I recently completed a cross-country trip on Amtrak and various engineers did signal & some didn't signal at crossing gate protected grade crossings.

So... to add to the signaling question. Are trains required to signal at unprotected crossings only? Or do they have to signal at ALL crossings - unless there are local codes preventing train horns?

I noticed that the signal/non-signaling behavior had little to do with state or whether it was rural or city or even different parent railroad tracks. There didn't appear to be any rhyme or reason to the grade crossing signal/non-signaling other than the engineer's preference.

Any ideas?

Talk to ya later,
Dale Jones
[www.railroads-of-montana.com]