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Proper Placement and Uses of Train Signals
Devon G posted this question in the hope someone can assist:
“I want to put some signals on my track to make operations look more real, but I am a bit unsure where to place them so that they appear to serve a purpose rather than just look good. I’ve never bothered with signals before, stupid me, and I’m not even sure where they are supposed to go in relation to real life operations. I guess I am asking about the placement, purpose and uses of signals in real life operations. Sorry, I enjoy focusing on the visual aspects of the hobby building scenery and stuff, and my technical skills and appreciation of real railroad operations are not so great. It’s a weakness that has resulted in stupid mistakes I’ve already made on my layout, so I better get this one right. I know signals are important for train separation, and for various forward/reverse movements, but that’s about the extent of my knowledge. Can someone explain in simple words how various signals should be positioned and why? It would be a big help thx.”
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seems every company and every era used a different system
I’m designing one for my use that indicates blocks open, for which throttle (DC) by using rotary switches that also power indicator LEDs
so the question is whether you make it useful to you, or try to match prototypes and then you need to research yours,
The old semaphore type signals would be worked from a signal box close to the actual signals. In UK terms there would be a yellow warning (distant) signal followed by the red signal.Maybe to protect a junction or station.That is in it’s simplest terms. So you could have the warning signal followed by a red signal for a jct or part of the layoit that would need teh protection of a signal.
The modern colour light signals would do the same job as protecting a certain part of the layout but in the real world a colour light signal could be placed maybe every three quarters of a mile to speed the running of the trains up. Again a yellow signal would be preceed a red signal unless all signals were showing green. Again,this is UK arrangements but the worlwide idea of signals is to protect something and also help speed the running of trains and allow more trains to run.
A very good book with details for the UK is “Aspects of Modelling – Signalling” by Nigel Digby.
Go to JMRI.ORG and read up on signals. Signals often involve 3 down stream blocks or track sections.
The Approaching block is first with perhaps a passing siding turnout and its signal. The aspect also tells about block 2 and if it is occupied. Same for block 3. There is a method to placement.
Another aspect of signals is route indication. Often dwarf signals, they indicate the routing of turnouts to prevent a train from entering a turnout from the frog end when the switch is set against them. This is more common in yards than on the mainline.
As a retired Union Pacific trainman and rules instructor, I could fill several pages on where, how and why signal are placed but basically they are use to control access to a portion of track usually on a mainline or into and out of a controlled siding/passing track. They generally placed on the engineers side of the tracks when viewed running forward or on a signal bridge above each track where multiple parallel tracks are used. On modern railroads they are also used to control the speed of trains by signaling the engineer through the use of aspects (combinations colors on a signal mast) ie: yellow over green means the train is cleared to proceed onto a diverging route at the proscribed speed,by rule or time table, trough the next turnout. Most railroads now use either two or three signals in combination – Approach ( only yellow, green or white) and Control ( red, yellow or green) or Advanced Approach, Approach and Control. A turnout has at least three signals controlling movement over the points – each direction on the mainline and at the fouling point of the siding or converging route. I hope this helps.