• These are the arrangements provided in a

railway track to divert a train from main line to

branch line
• TurnOuts: pair of points and a crossing, to divert
a train
• Left hand turnout: if train is diverted to left of main track
in facing direction
• Right hand turnout: if train is diverted to right of main
track in facing direction
Tongue
rail
• Main track or main line
• Branch track
• Flange way clearance
• Stock rails
• Tongue rails
• Stretcher bar
• Switch
• Toe of switch
• Heel of switch
• Throw of switch – 9.5cms for B.G
• Facing points and facing direction
• Trailing points and trailing direction
• Check rails
• Wing rails
• ANC
• TNC
• Sleepers provided under both railway tracks i.e main line
and branch line
• Purpose is to maintain both tracks at same level
• Sleepers laid when long sleepers are not available
• to transformed from one track to another parallel
track
• Various tracks available are
• Diamond crossing
• Cross over
• Scissors cross over
• Ladder track or gathering lines
• Gauntlet track
• It consists of 2 acute angles and 2 obtuse angles
• Provided when one track is to be diverted to another
parallel track
• It consists of 2 set of points and 2 acute crossings
• Combination of one cross over with the another one in
opposite direction
• Number of parallel lanes are connected
• When two tracks of same or different gauges running
parallel to each other, they are converted into single track
at bridges for economizing
• It consists of systems, devices and means by which trains
are operated efficiently and tracks are used to max. extent
Objectives of Signalling
• Facilities for efficient movement of trains
• Safety between trains
• Max use of track
• To guide trains movement during maintenance and repairs
of track
1) Operation Characteristics
1) Detonating (Fog or Audible) signals
2) Hand (Visual Indication) signals
3) Fixed (Visual Indication) signals
2) Functional Characteristics
1) Stop or Semaphore type signals
2) Warner signals
3) Shunting signals
4) Coloured light signals
3) Locational Characteristics
1) Reception Signals: Outer & Home signal
2) Departure Signals: Starter & Advance starter
1) Detonating (Fog or Audible) signals: during the foggy & cloudy
weather when hand or fixed signals are not visible, detonators are
placed on rails which explode with a loud when train passes over
them. Generally placed before 400-500m ahead of the signal to enable
the driver to stop the train or to obey it.
2) Hand (Visual Indication) signals: hand signals are given by flags
fixed to wooden handle or by bare arms during day times and lamps
with glass sides or green, red and amber during night times. Generally
used by guards, station masters, cabin man, gang man, key man or
any authorised man.
3) Fixed (Visual Indication) signals: theses signals are usually fixed at
a place.
1) Stop or Semaphore type signals: ordinary position is
Horizontal but it can be lowered to any angle by pulling
the wire from cabin. ON indicates stop or danger, OFF
Indicates proceed.
2) Warner signals: similar to semaphore signal at the
entrance to station except a V-notch at free end
 3) Shunting (Disc or ground) signals: used for shunting
operation at station yards.
Shape of circular disc with red band on a white background.
The disc can revolve in a vertical plane by pulling the lever
arm.
• Horizontal positions indicate STOP
• Inclined position (450) indicates PROCEED
4) Coloured light signals: with the introduction of electric
traction, semaphore signals are replaced by colour light signals
both during day and night.
4/17/2016
 1) Reception Signals: Signals which control the reception of trains
into a station. They are two types i.e Outer & Home signal
Outer signal – it is fist stop signal at a station and it must be placed at
adequate distance(0.54km for B.G and 0.4km for M.G) before railway
station.
Generally a warner signal is provided.
In stop position, driver must stop train at a distance of about 90m before
outer signal and then proceed to home signal with caution
Home signal – this signal indicates which line is to be used
So main function is to protect the sidings already occupied
not more than 180m away from the start of switches
2) Departure Signals: Signals which control the despatch of trains
from the station. They are two types i.e Starter & Advance starter
• Starter signals – it is last stop signal at the station. It is the limit upto
which trains at a station come to stand or halt.
• Advance starter – it is last stop signal at station. It indicates that train
has left the station and station master is no more responsible of station