Railway Terms

[beast66606]

Note - these terms and definitions are based on information from various original documents.

 

• Backing signal - a specialised form of shunt signal, used by the GWR and LSWR (and others?)
  
• Banner Repeating Signal - A Signal that provides the driver with preliminary information about whether a Signal is On or Off, usually provided where Sighting of that Signal is inadequate.
  
• Catch Points - Points provided to derail vehicles running back on rising gradients. The points may only be Unworked if traffic is in one direction only frequently subject to local variation and interchange with trap
  
• Co-Acting Signal - An additional Signal that is provided in exceptional situations for sighting reasons. It is located in the same transverse plane as the primary signal and displays identical Main Aspects.
  
• Colour Light Signal - A Signal that conveys its information by coloured lights.
  
• Distant Signal - A Signal (not itself a Stop Signal) capable of displaying a Caution Aspect that informs the driver of the state of the Signals or Level Crossing ahead.also known (sl) as distant board, back board, backun, peg.
  
• Junction indicator - an indicator provided at a junction which uses a line of (3/5) white lights to indicate which way the junction is set. also known (sl) as feather, router
  
• Limit of Shunt Indicator (LOS) - a sign to terminate a Shunting
  Movement along a line in the Wrong Direction, modern LOS are position lights with fixed reds (and are even numbered)
  
• Shunting Signal - A Signal provided for the movement of trains or vehicles other than normal passage along running Lines.. also known (sl) as dummy, dolly, tommy dod, doddy.
  
• Signal - A visual display device which conveys instructions or provides prior warning of instructions regarding the driver??™s authority to proceed.
  
• Signal Box - The building in which the Signalmen/women are situated together with the control and indication system for the signalling.
  
• Signaller / Signalman / Signalwoman - A person responsible for the operation of the Signalling System, to safely control the passage and regulation of trains, usually located in a Signal Box.also known (sl) as bobby and other not so polite terms
  
• Stencil Indicator - a type of alhpa numeric indicator, used in conjunction with shunting signals or off indicators, which uses a stencil to form the characters
  
• Stop Signal - Any Signal capable of showing a Danger Aspect.also known (sl) as home board, stop board, peg.
  
• Theatre Indicator - a multi lamp alpha numeric indicator also known as a multi lamp route indicator (!)
  
• Trap Points - Facing Points provided at an exit from a Siding or converging line to de-rail an unauthorised movement, thus protecting the adjacent Running Line.frequently subject to local variation and interchange with catch
  
• Yellow Shunt Signal - A type of Shunting Signal which applies only to movements in the direction(s) to which the Signal can be Cleared, other movements being able to pass the Signal without it being cleared. Can be white with a yellow band or black with a yellow band, can also be ground Position Light Signal using yellow lights.
  

 

Most signals (even semaphores in the modern, ca. post 1990, period) are provided with identification plates, these are normally an abbreviation of the controlling signal box and a number, although some areas, particularly the Southern, used a standard convention resulting in strange prefixes. The Western also used line reference rather than signal box for some areas such as the Paddington - Bristol area lines.

Network rail uses a national numbering scheme for new installations.

[beast66606]

Any more ?

[buffalo]

Potentially a very useful thread, I look forward to seeing it develop.

 

In the very earliest days of the GWR, drivers received hand signals from people known as 'policemen'. Was the same terminology used by other companies, and is this the origin of the term 'bobby' for signalmen?

 

Perhaps the meaning(s) of catch and trap points can be refined -- I seem to remember some argument about this in a recent thread. Also, as you've included them here, do you intend extending this glossary to include switch and crossing terminology? As ever, the GWR was a bit different here, and I wonder about variation between other companies.

 

Nick

[beast66606]

Potentially a very useful thread, I look forward to seeing it develop.

 

In the very earliest days of the GWR, drivers received hand signals from people known as 'policemen'. Was the same terminology used by other companies, and is this the origin of the term 'bobby' for signalmen?

 

Perhaps the meaning(s) of catch and trap points can be refined -- I seem to remember some argument about this in a recent thread. Also, as you've included them here, do you intend extending this glossary to include switch and crossing terminology? As ever, the GWR was a bit different here, and I wonder about variation between other companies.

 

Nick

 

We've done the trap and catch ... don't want to get hung up on two definitions which were locally used in all sorts of ways !

 

"Policemen" were indeed the later "Bobbies", generic term I think from those railways that had anything other than hope for early signalling.

[Poor Old Bruce]

I assume that the definition of "shunting signal" refers to a ground signal. Many shunting signals of the semaphore variety were small arms on posts. At Derby there used to be (maybe still is?) a ground (type) signal mounted at drivers' eye level.

 

On P&C terms, I did get a bit confused at one time when a report from the (not so) great Western Region referred to a "compound". I eventually elicted that it referred, not to a fenced-off area but to what most people call a double slip.

 

Richard

[The Stationmaster]

We've done the trap and catch ... don't want to get hung up on two definitions which were locally used in all sorts of ways !

 

"Policemen" were indeed the later "Bobbies", generic term I think from those railways that had anything other than hope for early signalling.

 

Also not at all uncommon - perhaps even to today - for a Driver coming on an SPT (signal post telephone) to call a Signalman 'Bob'.

[The Stationmaster]

Potentially a very useful thread, I look forward to seeing it develop.

 

In the very earliest days of the GWR, drivers received hand signals from people known as 'policemen'. Was the same terminology used by other companies, and is this the origin of the term 'bobby' for signalmen?

 

Perhaps the meaning(s) of catch and trap points can be refined -- I seem to remember some argument about this in a recent thread. Also, as you've included them here, do you intend extending this glossary to include switch and crossing terminology? As ever, the GWR was a bit different here, and I wonder about variation between other companies.

 

Nick

 

The use of the words 'trap' and 'catch' in relation to various applications of what were once called 'safety points' was officially formalised between the wars and is clearly explained (at considerable length in umpteen different kinds of application) in the official document 'Requirements For Passenger Lines and Recommendations For Goods Lines' and has to be used correctly in any formal documents, e.g explanation of new works to the Railway Inspectorate or under current legislation. It also appears to have been formalised across the Big Four by the mid 1930s reissue of the RCH standard Rules - at the latest, and possibly in the previous edition. There was however definitely differeant usages in place between Company Rule Books prior to the Great War.

 

Principle We4stern language taht I'm aware of in relation to switch and crossing work (s&c) is the use of the term compound points (qualified by either double or single slip for the appropriate formation), use of the word 'elbows' for switch diamonds, and use of the term 'Barry slip', which is easier drawn than explained

[beast66606]

Added some more as mentioned by 25082 (I photographed and signalled you back in the 1970s iirc)

[Grovenor]

Principle Western language that I'm aware of in relation to switch and crossing work (s&c) is the use of the term compound points (qualified by either double or single slip for the appropriate formation), use of the word 'elbows' for switch diamonds, and use of the term 'Barry slip', which is easier drawn than explained

The oddest one to me when I read up on Western Track is the term "Check lump" which I have never come across anywhere else.

Regards

Keith

[Swindon 123]

Just found this thread. Will add some terms as I remember then but one that comes to mind is a Junction indicator being known as a "Flash" and a "Theatre Box" for a Theatre Indicator.

 

Paul J.