Signal Position

[Anthony566]

Hi I am sure this has been covered but I can not find this so my question is are signals always on the left in the direction of travel ?

 

Thanks in advance

[beast66606]

Simple answer - No.

[BR(S)]

Signals are not always on the left and this can depend, for example, on the sighting of the signal.

 

The best place I can think of to start searching for pictures would be of semaphores on the sea wall between Dawlish and Teignmouth, as I seem to remember there were a number on the right hand side.

[BR(S)]

Example of signal on right hand side:

 

Class 50 Teignmouth 14/5/80 by Stapleton Road, on Flickr

[ikcdab]

Well the default position is normally on the left - but as has been said above, occasionally they are on the right if that makes sighting better.

The other place is at a terminus island platform end where both starters tend to be on the same post - so by definition one of these will always be on the right.

[Anthony566]

Thank for the responses, most of mine will be positioned on the left but the odd one may have to be on the right but as this does happen sometimes I am happy with that.

 

Anthony 

[Londontram]

I think in the "Firing says at Saltley" books Terry Essary refers to a couple of occasions where as the fireman he had to "Sight" the signal for his driver as it was on his side ie. the right side.

[SM42]

I recall there is one at Droitwich on the wrong side, as it were.

 

As mentioned above those on the right are normally for sighting purposes where something such as a curve or structure would make it difficult to see a signal placed on the left.

 

Andy

[28XX]

In BR days, new signals were often positioned by a 'signal siting committee' who would visit site en-mass and decide on the best position to suit all interested parties.

[St. Simon]

Hi,

 

It is preferred to have signals on the drivers side, i.e. left hand side, but it can be moved over to the right hand side due to a number of reasons, as outlined in Railway Group Standard GE/RT8037 'Signal Positioning and Visibility':

 

 

C1.2.2 Positioning of signals on right-hand side of line A departure from the requirement for signals to be positioned on the left-hand side of the line shall demonstrate, as a minimum, that:

 

a ) the readability is improved for trains approaching the signal and SPAD risk is reduced

 

b )  for stop signals, the signal is readable by drivers of trains stationary in the normal stopping position at the signal (clause only applicable to stop signals)

 

c ) there is no line immediately to the right of the signal, such that drivers on either line might associate the signal with that line rather than with the line to which it actually applies (signals on lines separated by an island platform can usually be regarded as meeting this criterion).

 

 

In BR days, new signals were often positioned by a 'signal siting committee' who would visit site en-mass and decide on the best position to suit all interested parties.

 

New Signals still have to be sited by the SSC, although now they use Computer 3D Modelling and Test Train Footage instead of walking the line.

 

Regards,

 

Simon

[beast66606]

Thank for the responses, most of mine will be positioned on the left but the odd one may have to be on the right but as this does happen sometimes I am happy with that.

 

Anthony 

 

It depends on region too - GWR steam engines were driven from the right so visibilty was more of a factor to them than say the LMS which were left hand driven. The GWR signal positiioning was regarded as a factor in the spectacular near miss at Taunton - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norton_Fitzwarren_rail_crash_%281940%29