Signalling

[Newbie2020]

Hi,

 

I'm modelling era 3-4 and want to have some working signals on the layout. I am using DCC and can operate the signals from the corresponding Cobalt iP Digital turnout motors. What I would like to know is does anyone know of a resource (book, web page video etc) that will show me the prototypical layout of signals? ie where they should be sited, what type and colour of semaphore?

 

Cheers

 

Clive

[The Stationmaster]

A really good starting place is this book, 'British Railway Signalling' by Kichenside and Williams -

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Railway-Signalling-Geoffrey-Kichenside/dp/0711008981

[WillCav]

Hi Clive,

 

You could have colour light signals for some main line areas in your era - if you want semaphores (I think they look better) then the company who ran the railway when it was last resignalled will determine the types of semaphores.

 

Generally - GWR areas would be lower quadrant and others would be upper quadrant.  The design of the signals and signal box are important to help locate a model.

 

In terms of positioning, you need to protect junctions from all approaches with home (red rectangular with white line) semaphores. Most model railways aren't big enough to need to have the distant signals (yellow / black fishtail from 1920s) unless it is the distant for the adjacent box.

 

The problem with signalling design is that it is a bit of an art and it depends on the track layout and the operability required. The pway signalling etc forum on rmweb can assist.

 

Regards

 

Will

[Newbie2020]

 

Thanks Guys

 

 

[Nick Holliday]

This website is quite a useful guide

https://signalbox.org with animated signals and a guide through basics.

[DaveTurner]

Essentially the signals were designed to control the movements required at a location. The golden rule is no train must pass a stop signal - so the position must protect whatever may be happening beyond this signal such as a conflicting movement. Where space permits at a junction the signal would be placed several yards ahead of the points so that if the signal is passed there is some leeway before a possible accident. As well as reading the books suggested it is worth visiting a heritage railway and looking at all the signals and working out what each does and why it is where it is. Watching as trains arrive and are shunted and which signals control each move really helps to understand it all. A friendly signalman may give you a tour of the box. One extra thing to look for is the main signals, calling on signals and shunting signals. Colour lights were in that era equivalent to semaphores. 

[Michael Hodgson]

24 minutes ago, DaveTurner said:

As well as reading the books suggested it is worth visiting a heritage railway and looking at all the signals and working out what each does and why it is where it is. Watching as trains arrive and are shunted and which signals control each move really helps to understand it all. A friendly signalman may give you a tour of the box. One extra thing to look for is the main signals, calling on signals and shunting signals. Colour lights were in that era equivalent to semaphores. 

Heritage railways tend to provide signals for every conceivable movement, whereas BR and its cost-conscious predecessors only provided what they thought necessary.  There were minimum requirements laid down by the Board of Trade, but additional signals would be provided in practice where it appeared expedient to efficient operation.  

 

In general a signalman shouldn't give you a tour of his box - an operational signalbox is required under the rules to be kept private, this is because of the risk of the signalman being distracted by visitors, accidents have happened as a result.  Some signalmen do allow visitors when there are no trains about however.  A better approach to learning would be to visit one of the preserved boxes which do not control an active railway, for example St Albans South, Cromer or Romsey to name three.  These have advertised open days from time to time when volunteers are on hand and happy to explain the working to visitors who may have little knowledge of how signalling works.

[Brian The Signal Engineer]

The absolute answers can be found in the series of books produced by the IRSE, Institute of Railway Signal Engineers, commanally known as the little green books. Number 1 deals with the layout of uk signals, particularly semaphore signals. Number 2 deals with interlocking. Other books have details of every type of equipment used by the signalling engineers, including SSI.

These come up on eBay from time to time. 

[Michael Hodgson]

26 minutes ago, Brian The Signal Engineer said:

The absolute answers can be found in the series of books produced by the IRSE, Institute of Railway Signal Engineers, commanally known as the little green books.

 

The first few volumes of the "IRSE green books"  were shortly after WW2 and reprinted several times with only minor revisions.  They are approx A5 size, and were out of print for a long time, creating a problem for people studying for IRSE exams.  There was also a series of A4 sized combined issues (about three books per volume covering most of the earlier booklets).  Can't remember who produced those but it was with consent of the IRSE who have the copyright.

 

I have also seen what I assume to be unlicensed copies available to download.

[The Stationmaster]

5 hours ago, Brian The Signal Engineer said:

The absolute answers can be found in the series of books produced by the IRSE, Institute of Railway Signal Engineers, commanally known as the little green books. Number 1 deals with the layout of uk signals, particularly semaphore signals. Number 2 deals with interlocking. Other books have details of every type of equipment used by the signalling engineers, including SSI.

These come up on eBay from time to time. 

Not exactly 'absolute answers' as they show a 'typical' sort of installation which was/is in many ways very different from actual practice on the Big Four and the BR Regions.  very good for basic understanding and as a starting point and very good on the basic rules of interlocking so a good starting point but then you really need to go into studying practice in your d chosen part of the railway.   Truly national practice, even with colour light signalling (especially subsidiaries and shunt signals) didn't really begin to appear until well through teh 1980s although signal meanins gs and asects were standardised well before then.

 

So get into the basics first then armed with that understanding translate it to the way it was done on the part of the railway you are interested it during the particular time frame you are interested in.   But you also need to understand - this takes longer - how signals were used in everyday working in the part of the railway you are interested in.