This is a suggestion to add additional realism features to Northeast Corridor: New York. Cab Signals without Wayside Fixed Signals, Impedance Bonds, and ACSES Transponders. I will explain each in detail. Block Points without Wayside Fixed Signals A block point is an area where one signal block ends and another begins. The ones without fixed signals function the exact same as their counterpart, except that movement is governed 100% by the cab signal. Below is an example of a block point with no fixed signals on the wayside. This particular one is just west of Pelham Bay interlocking. The signal network is comprised of hundreds of miles of fiber optic cable. These fiber optic cables run the entire length of the Northeast Corridor. It's what the dispatchers use to monitor the status of each signal block and remotely move motor-powered switches. At signalling points, these fiber optic cables go up into small huts known as "signal relay huts". These huts have computer systems which communicate with the other huts in the network. The cables protruding from the hut inject "signal current" into the rails at a certain frequency. The frequency injected into the rails determines which signal aspect is displayed in the cab. To learn more about how that particular system works, read this article. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse_code_cab_signaling So when the signal current is injected into the rails, what prevents that frequency from spilling into the adjacent signal block? That's the job of the impedance bond. The impedance bond connects to the rails and prevents signal current from passing through it and into the adjacent signal block. The signal current injected into a particular block stays contained within that block. Here is an impedance bond diagram that I created which shows the components. So this suggestion isn't saying that all the components of this system need to be replicated. I am suggesting that the signal blocks that don't have fixed wayside signals actually be present in the route. If you look at the map in game, only areas that have fixed wayside signals appear as signals on the map. These areas without fixed signals are technically signals too, even if they do not have a fixed signal on the wayside. If you've ever played New York to New Haven for TS1, then you know that that there were areas that showed up as signals on the map but there was no signal there. These ARE those areas. How can DTG implement this feature? Easy. Add a signal here and hide it underground. Add objects for the impedance bond into the track gauge and place signal current wires. It's that simple. Impedance Bonds Since impedance bonds were mostly covered above, this section will be brief. It should be noted that a set of impedance bonds are present at EVERY signal, not just block points without fixed signals. The wayside signal is just a visual representation of the signal current injected into the block ahead. A set of impedance bonds and signal current cables should still be present at areas with fixed wayside signals. ACSES Transponders Like impedance bonds, ACSES transponders are also present in the track gauge. I'm not going to get into detail on how ACSES works (I've done that in numerous other articles here), but the placement of ACSES transponders is critical to the proper operation of the system. These transponders ARE visible in the track gauge and they should be present in order to increase realism and immersion. ACSES transponders comes in groups of 2 to 4. A minimum of two transponders must exist in a set in order to identify the current of traffic (the first one traveled over is activated before the second one and thereby determines which direction the train is traveling). Increasing the number not only increases reliability, but also increases the amount of information that can be stored in the transponder set. Here is a set of ACSES transponders before the home signals at East limits Pelham Bay. ACSES transponders are ALWAYS present before interlocking home signals (like the image above). This is to enforce Positive Stop. Positive Stop ensures that trains stop in advance of an absolute stop signal at an interlocking. Transponders can also be placed around areas of speed restrictions, like the set pictured below. This particular set is located on a stretch of track with a maximum speed of 60MPH. The curve ahead is 50MPH. The curve behind is 40MPH. All of these speed restrictions are programmed into the transponder set. Since ACSES is a distance-based system, the transponders know the distance to these speed restrictions and can enforce them using the tachometer on the train. It would be nice if we could see the ACSES transponders and impedance bonds in the track gauge in game. It would add a whole new level of realism and immersion. Let me know if you have any questions!