SIGNALS AND CONTROL

SYSTEMS
MOD 2 - RTE
SIGNALLING
● Signalling consists of the systems, devices and means by
which trains are operated efficiently and tracks are used to
maximum extent, maintaining the safety of the
passengers, the staff and the rolling stock.
● It includes the use and working of signals, points, block
instruments and other equipments.
Objectives of Signalling
The objectives of signalling are as follows.
1. To regulate the movement of trains so that they run safely at maximum
permissible
speeds.
2. To maintain a safe distance between trains those are running on the same line
in the same direction.
3. To ensure the safety of two or more trains that has to cross or approach each
other.
4. To provide facilities for safe and efficient shunting.
5. To regulate the arrival and departure of trains from the station
yard.
6. To guide the trains to run at restricted speeds during the
maintenance and repair of tracks.
7. To ensure the safety of the train when it comes in contact with
road traffic at level crossings.
TYPES OF SIGNALS
Classification based on Operating Characteristics
1. Detonating Signals
2. Hand Signals
3. Fixed Signals
1. Detonating signals
● Audible signals such as detonators and fog signals are used in
cloudy and foggy weather when hand or fixed signals are not visible.
● Their sound can immediately attract the attention of drivers.
● Detonators contain explosive material and are fixed to the rail by
means of clips.
● In thick foggy weather, detonators are kept about 400 to 500 m
ahead of a signal to indicate the presence of the signal to the
drivers.
● Once the train passes over the detonators thereby causing them to
explode, the driver becomes alert and keeps a lookout for the
signal so that he/she can take the requisite action.
2) Hand signals
● These signals are in the form of flags (red or green) fixed to wooden
handles that are held by railway personnel assigned this particular
duty.
● If the flags are not available, signalling may be done using bare
arms during the day.
● In the night, hand lamps with movable green and red slides are used
for signalling purposes.
● Used by guards, Station masters, Cabin man, Gang man, Key man,
Point man or authorised man
3) Fixed signal
● These are firmly fixed on the ground by the side of the track and can be
further subdivided into caution indicators and stop signals.

Caution indicators
● These are fixed signals provided for communicating to the driver that
the track ahead is not fit for the running the train at normal speed.
● These signals are used when engineering works are underway and are
shifted from one place to another depending upon requirement.
Stop signals
● These are fixed signals that normally do not change their position.
● They inform the drivers about the condition of the railway line lying
ahead.
● The stop signals normally used on railways are semaphore signals,
coloured light signals, and other such signals as explained in
subsequent sections.
FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
a) Semaphore or Stop signals
● The principle of design of semaphore signal is to show the stop
position of any failure that happens to be in the apparatus.
● It consists of a movable arm, weight and lever arrangement, spectacle
frame, a crank rod and a ladder
● The arm of the semaphore signal on the side facing the driver is painted
red with a vertical white stripe.
● The other side of the signal is painted white with a black vertical stripe.
● This is pivoted on the horizontal pin known as spindle near top of the
post.
● The arm is 1.2m to 1.7m long, 23cm to 25cm wide at the inner edge
and 25cm to 35cm wide at the outer edge in normal position arm
remains horizontal.
● In order for the signal to also be visible at night, a kerosene oil or
electric lamp, operated through a twilight switch, is fixed to the
post.
● A spectacle is also attached to the moving signal arm, which
contains green and red green and red coloured glasses.
● The red glass is positioned at the upper end and the green glass is
positioned at the lower end of the spectacle so that the red light is
visible to the driver when the arm is horizontal and the green light
is visible when the arm is lowered.
● The semaphore signal can be used as a stop signal as well as a warner
signal.
● A lever capable of revolving about horizontal pin is provided.
● At one end, a weight is attached and a crank rod is connected to the lever
through a cam .to the other end of lever, a wire is attached which is taken
to signal cabin after passing over pulleys.
● The movable arm being higher than mans average height a ladder is
provided for physical connection between movable arm and the ground
level.
Working principle
● The ordinary position of signal is horizontal but it can be lowered to an
angle by pulling the wire from the signal cabin .when the signal is in
horizontal position,it is said to be in ‘ON’ position which indicates stop or
danger. When the signal is lowered by pulling the wire at an angle of 45 o
to 60o ,it is said to be in ‘OFF’ position which indicates proceed.
● Lower quadrant semaphore signals move only in the fourth quadrant of a
circle and have only two colour aspects.
● In order to provide the drivers with further information, upper quadrant
signalling is sometimes used on busy routes.
● In this system, the arms of the semaphore signals rest in three positions
and the signals have three colour aspects, namely, red, yellow, and
green associated with the horizontal, 45° above horizontal, and vertical
directions, respectively.
b) Permissive signal - Warner or distant signal
● In order to ensure that trains speed up safely, it is considered necessary
that warning be given to drivers before they approach a stop signal.
● A warner or distant signal has, therefore, been developed, which is to
be used ahead of a stop signal and is in the form of a permissive signal
that can be passed even in most restricted conditions.
● In the case of a stop signal, the driver has to stop the train when it is in
the 'on' position, but in the case of a permissive signal, the driver can
pass through even when it is in the 'on' position.
● The most restrictive aspect of a permissive or warner signal is that the
driver is not supposed to stop at the signal even when it is in the ‘on’
position.
● The warner signal is similar to a stop signal except that the movable
arm is given the shape of fish tail by providing a V-shaped notch at the
free end; the white strip is also V-shaped.
● It is painted yellow and exhibits a yellow or amber colour at night
instead of red colour.
● The warner signal is intended to warn the driver of a train regarding
the following aspects
(a) That the driver is approaching a stop signal.
(b) To inform the diver as to whether the approach signal is in an ‘on’
or 'off' position.
SIGNAL INDICATIONS
Inclined Position: Track is clear and driver can proceed with
confidence
Horizontal Position: Driver can take his train upto Stop signal
cautiously

The warner signal can be placed at either one of the following

locations.
(a) Independently on a post with a fixed green light 1.5 m to 2 m
above it for night indication.
(b) On the same post below the outer signal or the home signal.
● Semaphore and Warner Signals can be placed on same the pole.
Semaphore is placed on top and the Warner at about 2 m below it

SIGNAL INDICATIONS
● Both in Horizontal Position:
Neither approaching section nor next
block is clear
● When Semaphore is inclined and
Warner Horizontal - proceed with
precaution i.e. section up to station
is clear but not the block beyond
● Both in Inclined Position: Track is clear and proceed with confidence
SHUNTING SIGNAL
Also called DISC or GROUND signals
Used for shunting operations in station
yards
Low speed shunting movements such
as those to or from sidings or through
crossover roads are governed by
shunting signals.
Circular disc with a red band on white background.
Disc can revolve in vertical plane by pulling lever by hand.
Two holes are provided one for red lamp and other for green.
A shunting signal, when cleared, gives the driver authority to
proceed cautiously as far as the line is clear, or to the next
signal.
Most shunting signals are ground mounted, though some are
elevated.
INDICATIONS
When red band of disc is in horizontal position or shows red light at
night – STOP
When red band of disc is in inclined position at 45 ˚or shows green light
at night -PROCEED
COLOUR LIGHT SIGNALS
The introduction of electric light bulbs made it possible to produce
colour light signals which were bright enough to be seen during
daylight
Semaphore signals replaced
by high intensity beam
colour light signals both
day & night
III. CLASSIFICATION BASED ON LOCATIONAL
CHARACTERISTICS
1. RECEPTION SIGNALS
1. Outer signals
2. Home signals
2. DEPARTURE SIGNALS
1. Starter signals
2. Advance starter signals
RECEPTION SIGNALS-
The signals which control the reception of trains into a station are called
reception signals. They are two: outer signals and home signals. At some
stations they also include routing signals.

Outer Signal
first Stop signal of a station
Indicate entry of train from block to station
located at an adequate distance outside the point up to which the line
may be obstructed after Line Clear has been granted
For B.G – 0.54km
M.G - 0.4km
Generally have 1 arm & a warner signal on same post 2m below it.
RECEPTION SIGNALS- HOME SIGNALS
Located at the door of station. Hence called home signal
Has bracketed arms to indicate which line is to be used
second Stop signal of a station at which an Outer signal is
provided.
Main function: to protect lines already occupied.
Located not more than 180m from start of switches.
Signal carry as many arms as no. of diverging lines.
DEPARTURE SIGNALS – STARTER SIGNALS
The signals which control the departure of trains from the stations are
known as departure signals. They are of 2 types -

Starter Signal
Stop signals which control the movement of trains leaving a station
Separate starting signal is provided for each line
When a train leaving a station is guided by only one starting signal,
it is the last Stop signal of the station and is called the Starter.
Controls movement of trains when they depart from stations. No
train can leave station unless starter signal shows Proceed position
(INCLINED)
DEPARTURE SIGNALS – ADVANCE STARTER SIGNALS

When a train leaving a station is guided by more than one

Starter signal, the outermost starting signal is the last Stop
signal of the station and is called the Advanced Starter.

Indicates that the train had left station & is no more the
responsibility of station master.
IV . SPECIAL SIGNALS
1. Repeater or Co –Acting signals

2. Routing signals

3. Calling on signals

4. Point indicators

5. Miscellaneous signals
Repeater or co acting signal
● In case a signal is not visible to the driver due to the presence of some
obstruction such as an over bridge, a high structure or due to sharp
curvature, another signal is used in its place, preferably on the same
post.
● This signal, known as the co-acting signal, is an exact replica of the
original signal and works in unison with it.
● A repeater signal is provided with an R marker and can be of the
following types.
(a) A square-ended semaphore arm with
a yellow background and a black vertical
band.
(b) A coloured light repeater signal.
(c) A rotary or disc banner type signal.
ROUTING SIGNALS
At big stations where large no. of lines exist besides home signal routine
signals are provided at points of diversion.
The various signals fixed on the same vertical post for both main and
branch lines are known as routing signals.

Lowering of signal indicates track .

Platform no. or line no. is indicated by number plate

CALLING ON SIGNALS
A calling-on signal is used to allow train to move into a track
which is or may be already be occupied by another train or loco.
Uses
Done for the purposes of coupling trains,
For a train to enter a track for a long platform which already has
another train stopped at it,
For a train to enter station limits and wait behind another train on
the section
Useful when repair works are going on
● This consists of a small arm fixed on a home signal post below the main
semaphore arm (Fig).
● When the main home signal is in the horizontal (on) position and the
calling-on signal is in on inclined (off) position, it indicates that the train is
permitted to proceed cautiously on the line till it comes across the next stop
signal.