Railway Signalling System

Railway Engineering-5
 Railway Signals
Objectives:
Efficient movement of trains
Ensuring safety of trains moving on crossing tracks
Maximum utilization of track
Safety during shunting operations
Managing train movement during maintenance
and repairs
 Signals Classification
Based on Operating characteristics
Based on Functional characteristics
Based on Locational characteristics
Based on Special characteristics
Operational Classification
Operation

Audible Visual

Hand
Operated

Fixed
Installation
 Operational Classification (ctd)
Audible Signals
Detonators
Used during low visibility conditions
Fixed to the rails
Detonates as the train passes over them
Paced 400 to 500m before the signal
 Operational Classification (Ctd..)
Visual Signals
Hand Operated
Operated using hands in many forms

Fixed Installation
Placed on the top of the post
May be of movable arm type or colour light type or disc
type
1 or more Nos. placed on the same post
 Functional Classification

Function

Hand Fixed

Hand
Flag Light Stop Warner
Indicator
 Functional Classification (Ctd)
Using Hand
Flag, Red or Green colour
Light, Green, Red and sometimes yellow
Hand indications are used mostly on Shunting
Operations
Used by Station masters, Guards, Gang man, Cabin
man, Point man, etc..
 Functional Classification
Fixed Signals
Stop Signals
Warner Signals

May be of movable arm type (SEMAPHORE) or

colour aspect type
Indicates stop condition, caution condition,
respectively
These are operated using electric current, or wires
or keys.
 SEMAPHORE SINGAL
SEMAPHORE STOP SIGNAL
Consists of the following
Movable arm
Spectacle, holding two colour
glasses
Lamp for light indication
Crank rod, cam, lever, and
counter weights
Signal post
Chain and Pulley
Wire to cabin
 Colour Aspect Signal
Semaphore signals are replaced
by colour aspect signals on
electrified tracks.
High intensity colour beam
focused at eye level of driver is
used. (Visible in day and night as
well)
Used for heavy traffic, urban and
sub urban tracks
Sometimes two yellow lights are
used having a meaning that Pass
with full speed but be prepared
to caution for the next signal.
 Warner Signals
Indicating caution
Provided with a V-notch at the
free end and V band.
Yellow in colour with a white
background.
Can be placed separately on a
post or in combination with a
SEMAPHORE SIGNAL
 Locational Classification

Location

Reception Departure Routing Shunting

Advance
Outer Home Starter
Starter
 Locational Classification
Reception
Signals which control the reception of trains into a
station.
Outer Signal: First stop signal before the entry from
block section to station section
Placed at some specified distance from the station limit.
(Usually 0.5 Km )
Home Signal: Signal provided at the door of the
station section. (Last opportunity to stop the train
before they finally accommodated to a particular
platform)
 Locational Classification
Departure Signals:
Starter Signal:
Mark the limit upto which the train stopping at a
station should come to a stand.
Separate for each line
Advance Starter Signal:
These are last stop signals on station limits
Locational Classification
 Locational Classification (Ctd)
Routing Signals:
Depends upon the number of lines existing on the
station.
This signal indicates the track for which points are
set.
 Shunting Signals
Used for shunting operation in the station
yards
Where semaphore signals are provided,
these signals are provided in disc shape.
Disc is provided with a red band on white
background
Provided with two holes, one for red light and
other for green.
It revolves in a vertical plane
When red band is horizontal or it is indicating
red light during night then it is STOP condition.
 Classification based on Special
Characteristics

Repeater Signal
Co-Acting Signal
 Repeater Signals
Provided when a signal is not
visible to the driver from
adequate distance due to
curvature.
This may be semaphore type or
colour aspect type
It is provided with R marker
 Co-Acting Signal
Provided when a signal is not visible to the
driver due to some obstruction such as over
bridge, high Structure etc.,
Placed preferably on the same post and is
exact replica of the original signal.