Signals Boys

SIGNALS
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Classification of Signals
Classification of Audible and Visible signals.
Audible Signals
• Audible signals such as detonators and fog signals are used in cloudy and
foggy weather when hand or fixed signals are not visible.
• Their sound can immediately attract the attention of drivers.
• Detonators contain explosive material and are fixed to the rail by means of
clips.
• In thick foggy weather, detonators are kept about 90 m ahead of a signal to
indicate the presence of the signal to the drivers.
• Once the train passes over the detonators thereby causing them to explode, the
driver becomes alert and keeps a lookout for the signal so that he/she can take
the requisite action.
Visible Signals
These signals are visible and draw the attention of the drivers because of their
strategic positions.
Caution
Hand signals Fixed signal Stop signals
indicators
• These signals • These are • These are fixed • These are fixed
are in the form firmly fixed on signals provided signals that
of flags (red or the ground by for normally do not
green) fixed to the side of the communicating change their
wooden handles track and can to the driver position.
that are held by be further that the track • They inform the
railway subdivided into ahead is not fit drivers about
personnel caution for the running the condition of
assigned this indicators and the train at the railway line
particular duty. stop signals. normal speed. lying ahead.
Fixed Signals
The various types of fixed signals used on railways are as follows.
1.) Semaphore signals

• The semaphore signal can be used as a stop signal as
well as a warner signal.
• The signals are designed to be fail-safe so that if
there is any failure in the working of the equipment,
they will always be in the stop position.
• These signals are operated by hand levers or buttons
located in a central cabin, which is normally
provided near the station master’s office.
• Semaphore signals are normally provided as outer
signals, home signals, starter signals, advanced
starter signals, and warner signals.
2.) Permissive signal—warner or distant signal
• A warner or distant signal has, therefore, been developed, which is to be used ahead of a stop signal and is in
the form of a permissive signal that can be passed even in most restricted conditions.
• In the case of a stop signal, the driver has to stop the train when it is in the ‘on’ position, but in the case of a
permissive signal, the driver can pass through even when it is in the ‘on’ position.
• The most restrictive aspect of a permissive or warner signal is that the driver is not supposed to stop at the
signal even when it is in the ‘on’ position.
• The warner signal is similar to a stop signal except that the movable arm is given the shape of fish tail by
providing a V-shaped notch at the free end; the white strip is also V-shaped.
3.) Coloured light signals
• These signals use coloured lights to indicate track conditions to the driver both during the
day and the night.
• In order to ensure good visibility of these light signals, particularly during daytime, the
light emission of an electric 12-V, 33-W lamp is passed through a combination of lenses in
such a way that a parallel beam of focused light is emitted out.
• This light is protected by special lenses and hoods and can be distinctly seen even in the
brightest sunlight.
• Colored light signals can be of the following types.
(a) Two-aspect, namely, green and red
(b) Three-aspect, namely, green, yellow, and red
(c) Four-aspect, namely, green, yellow (twice), and red.
In India, mostly three-aspect or four-aspect colored light signaling is used.
4.) Calling-on signal
• When the main home signal is in the horizontal (on)
position and the calling-on signal is in on inclined (off)
position, it indicates that the train is permitted to proceed
cautiously on the line till it comes across the next stop
signal.
• Thus the calling-on signal is meant to ‘call’ the train, which
is waiting beyond the home signal.
• The calling-on signal is useful when the main signal fails,
and in order to receive a train, an authority letter has to be
sent to the driver of the waiting train to instruct him/her to
proceed to the station against what is indicated by the
signal.
5.) Repeater signal
• A repeater signal is provided with an R marker and can be of the following types.
• (a) A square-ended semaphore arm with a yellow background and a black vertical band.
• (b) A coloured light repeater signal.
• (c) A rotary or disc banner type signal.
• The ‘off’ positions of these three types of repeater signals are depicted
6.) Shunt signals
• These are miniature signals and are mostly used for
regulating the shunting of vehicles in station yards.
• Unlike fixed signals, these are small in size and are placed
on an independent post of a running signal post. In
semaphore signalling areas, the shunt signals are of the
disc type.
• The disc type of shunt signal consists of a circular disc
with a red band on a white background.
7.) Point indicators
• These are used to indicate whether points have been set for the main
line or turnout side .
• It essentially consists of an open box with two white circular discs
forming two opposite sides of the box and green bands on the other
two remaining sides.
8.) Trap indicator
• A trap is a device fitted on the track, which in its open position derails the vehicle that passes over
it.
• When the trap is closed, the vehicle passes over it as it would over a normal track.
• A trap indicator reveals whether the trap is in an ‘open’ or ‘closed’ position.
Caution indicators
• When the track is undergoing repair, trains are required to proceed with caution at restricted speeds
and may even have to stop.
• Caution indicators help the driver of a train to reduce the speed of (or even stop) the train at the
affected portion of the track and then return it to the normal speed once that portion has been
covered.
• The following indicators are used for this purpose.
• Caution indicator : This cautions the driver to get ready to reduce the speed.
• Speed indicator :The driver has to reduce the speed (or stop) at this location.
• Stop indicator or stop board : The driver has to stop the train at this location.
• Termination indicator : This indicates that the driver can assume normal speed and that the speed
restriction zone has ended.
Sighting board
• A sighting board (Fig. 31.11) is an indication to the driver that he or she is approaching the first stop signal of
a railway station.
• The function of a sighting board is to allow the driver to estimate the location of the next stop signal from the
current location so that he/she starts applying brakes in case the first stop signal is in an ‘on’ position.
• As the requisite braking distance of goods trains and Rajdhani trains is greater than that of the passenger
trains, the sighting boards for goods trains and Rajdhani trains are located farther and their design is different
from that of sighting boards meant for passenger trains.
Stop Signals
1.) Outer signal
• This is the first stop signal at a station, which indicates the entry of a train from a block section into
the station limits.
• This signal is provided at an adequate distance beyond the station limits so that the line is not
obstructed once the permission to approach has been given.
2.) Home signal
• After the outer signal, the next stop signal towards the station side is a home signal.
• It is provided right at the entrance of the station for the protection of the station limits.
• The signal is provided about 190 m short of the points and crossings.
• The arms provided on a home signal are generally as many as the number of reception lines in the
station yard.
3.) Routing signal
* The various signals fixed on the same vertical post

for both main and branch lines are known as routing
signals.
* These signals indicate the route that has been
earmarked for the reception of the train.
* Generally the signal for the main line is kept at a
higher level than that for the loop line.
* It is necessary for the driver of a train approaching a
reception signal to know the line on which his or her
train is likely to be received so that he or she can
regulate the speed of the train accordingly.
4.) Starter signal
• The starter signal is a stop signal and marks the limit up to which a particular line can be occupied without
infringing on other lines.
• A separate starter signal is provided for each line. The starter signal controls the movement of the train when
it departs from the station.
• The train leaves the station only when the starter signal is in the ‘off’ (or proceed) position. As this signal
controls the departure of a train,it comes under the category of departure signals.
5.) Advanced starter signal
• This is the last stop signal provided for the departure of trains from a station.
• The signal is provided about 180 m beyond the outermost points or switches and marks the end of the station
limits.
• A block section lies between the advanced starter signal of one station and the outer signal of the next station.
• No train can leave the station limits until and unless the advance starter is lowered.

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SIGNALS

1.) Semaphore signals

* The various signals fixed on the same vertical post

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