SEQUENCE OF OPERATIONS

The Steps of Signal Clearance will be as follows:

STEP 1: For Clearing any signal, only authorized persons can make operations. This is
ensured by providing a SM key on the control panel. For That SM key must be ‘IN,’ and
turned in On Position.

STEP 2: Presses GN and UN Button together and release. The respective GNR and UNR
will Pick up and Route initialization will happen. This is called route selection.

STEP 3: A relay called “LR” will pick up which in turn operates the points in Route, overlap
and isolation to the required position. (provided that no conflicting route is set)

STEP 4: if the point is free to be operated or the point is not engaged by any other route,
and the point zone is not occupied by train. The relays NWKR/RWKR picks up when
points are correctly set and locked at site.

STEP 5: Once if the points in the route are operated, i.e., the route is set and locked. For
route checking the relay called UCR picks up.

STEP 6: Every signal will have one route checking relay (UCR) and it
ensures NWKR/RWKRs of points in the route, overlap and isolation etc.

STEP 7: After checking, the route must be locked. Route Locking means, holding the
point in the route and overlap in locked condition, after the clearance of signal. A relay
called ASR OR ALSR is employed for this purpose. Normally this relay will be in picked up
condition. When route is checked i.e. When the UCR picks up, ALSR drops.

STEP 8: When ALSR drops, another relay called point lock relay (WLR) also drops. When
WLR drops, point cannot be operated.

STEP 9: Now the ALSR picks up only when the train has arrived on proper signal with
sequential operation of track circuits or if the route is cancelled ensuring back locking,
Indication locking and approach locking.

STEP 10: For clearing signal, Signal control relay called HR is energized.
DETAILS OF RELAYS FOR SIGNAL CLEARANCE:

 SM’s key inserted and turned to ensure authorized operation (SMR/SMCR/SMPR

up)
 Route initiation/selection is done (LRs up) by the authorized person.
 Route setting (operating the points to the required condition. (NWKRs/RWKRs
up)
 Route checking (UCR up)
 Route Locking/Overlap locking (ASR/TRSR/TLSR/OVSR down), Electrical locking of
points. (WLR down)

In addition to the above, for Signal Clearance, the following conditions are also to
be satisfied.

 The clearance of track in the route & overlap (TPRs up)

 One signal - one train feature (TSR up)
 Route Release Relays have de-energised after the last train movement (UYR1,
UYR2etc., are down) (In Southern Railways UYR 1 and UYR 2 are called as TSSLR
and TPZR respectively)
 Route Indicator lamps are not lit for straight line (UHRs or UGR and UECR down)
(compulsory in case of Junction type Indicator)
 Route Indicator lamps are lit for turn out (UGR or UHR and UECR up)
  Interlocked LCs if any in the Route and overlap are locked and closed against
Road traffic (LXPR up) and held locked till the passage of that train is over.
 Interlocked LCs if any in the Route and overlap are locked and closed against
Road traffic (LXPR up) and held locked till the passage of that train is over.
 Concerned crank handles are `in’ and locked (CHR /CHLR up)
 Sidings in the route & overlap are kept normal and held (siding KLPR/NPR up)
 Aspect of signal ahead is displayed (GECR up or RECR/HECR/DECR UP)
 Cross protection is provided for the signal control (by the Front contact of ALSR or
Back contact of UCR) These contacts are not favourable for signal clearance.
 Conflicting signals are proved either directly or indirectly by proving the front
contact of ALSRs of conflicting signals in UCR circuit of the signal to be cleared.

LR CIRCUIT: Route Selection/ Initiation Relay

Function: For Setting Route and taking OFF signal in RRI.

 For taking signal OFF, first we must press signal button (GN) with Route
button(UN)
 then respective Relay will pick up i.e., GNR and UNR.
 then for setting route LR will Pick up.
Step 1: GN () + UN: Press Together
Step 2: GNR (↑) + UNR (↑): Will Pick up.
Step 3: LR (↑): Will Pick up.

Note: At the Time when LR is picked up it will also operate the points to the
required condition (but not lock).

 LR front contact is used in UCR and HR circuits also.

 Normally LR is in dropped condition. And picks up only when there is an
operation to clear a signal.
 LR picks up only when the conflicting LRs are down.
 Thus, at the route selection stage itself, locking of conflicting signals is done.
 Once LR picks up, it sticks through its own front contact till the knob is
normalized with SM key `in’& turned to ‘R’ Position
 The back contacts of LR are included for locking the conflicting signals, which are
directly opposing.
 In other words, for those LR for which the point position is same are included.
  The ALR front contact bypass the button pressed contact, as the same will not be
available when SM releases the push button. The SMR back contact is bridged
across the reversed contact of signal knob to prevent the de-energisation of LR
when an un-authorised person normalizes the signal knob if SM has locked the
panel.
 LR is Named after the Signal and the Route

Example: For Signal No 2

2A LR -> Overlap set toward M/L

2B LR -> Overlap set toward L/L SH
2B ALT LR ->Overlap set toward ML or L/L -M/L (In Siding is present) : Not present in our
yard diagram
Everything we will write according to Point.
2A LR: both points will in normal condition (52A AND 51A)
How to write LR Circuit?

We will be writing circuit for 2A LR.

- TSR:
- ALSR ()
- CONFLICTING LR ()
- POINTS
- HOLDING PATH
- EGGNR ()

- PRESSED GN AND UN

TSR CIRCUIT Or One Signal One Train

Train Stick Relay (TSR) is normally an Energized Relay

A circuit is evolved to ensure that one train only passes on one signal clearance and after
each train the route must be released before the signal is taken off again, for the next
train. For this, a relay called TSR is used.

Step 1: Once signal is off,

Step 2: the train passes the signal and
Step 3: Actuates 9 TPR (the first track immediately after signal and is called
controlling track for this purpose).
Step 4: When 9 TPR drops, TSR also drops. (Signal: ON immediately)
Step 5: ALSR is already in de-energised condition.
Step 6: Now TSR can pick up only when ALSR picks up and after signal knob is
normalised.
Step 7: The next signal can be cleared again only when TSR has picked up as
TSR pickup condition is proved in HR Circuit.
Thus it is ensured that only one train is permitted on one signal clearance.
Evidently this is achieved by proving TSR front contact in HR circuit

When train passes signal, TSR drops. Therefore, front contact is used along with
approach track circuit in ALSR circuit to indicate that the train has not passed the signal
while the approach locking is made effective to release the route.

Similarly, TSR dropped condition indicates that the train has passed the signal.
Therefore, TSR back contact is used along with UYR relays for the normal route release
path of ASR.

TSR is made slow to release so that it does not drop in case of bobbing of
track circuit.

- If TPR drops and signal goes to danger in the face of an

approaching train, TSR cannot pick up as ALSR front contact is not available.

(If QSPA1 relays are used as TPRS, the TSR need not be a slow to release relay)

TSR is named after the signal, which it controls. TSR may be common if the track circuit
is common for two or more signals. This arrangement is only to save the Relays.

Write TSR Circuit for 9TSR?

Step 1: TPR (↑)

STEP 2: HR (↓) or RECR (↑) or UCR (↓) or LR (↓)
STEP 3: ALSR (↑)
STEP 4: Provide: Holding TSR (↑)
POINT CONTROL CIRCUIT: (Combined WLR/WNR/WRR)

A point can be operated only when,

i) The point is not engaged in Route or Overlap of any Signal i.e., WLR is up means Point
is free and ready to operate.
ii) The Track Circuit of Point zone are free and track circuit is not failed
i.e., ATR and BTR up.
iii) SM’s key is `in’.

Concerned LR should pick up with point button in for automatic operation. The point
button should be turned to the required position (N/R) with all LRs dropped for
individual operation.

NCR/RCR CIRCUIT

- A two position point button is provided with two relays,

NCR (normal control relay): NCR is energized for normal operation of point when point
button is turned to normal.

RCR (Reverse Control Relay): RCR is energized for reverse operation of the point when
point button is turned to reverse.

The N and R contacts of button are bridged by SMR back contacts,

thereby point remains in last operated position when the SM locks the panel.

Either NCR or RCR always remains in energized position till the point button is turned to
the other side.
POINT LOCK RELAY(WLR)

WLR is normally a de-energized relay. So normally the point is locked electrically.

During route setting, after LRs picking up WLR picks up.

WLR relay gets energized whenever the point button is turned from R to N i.e., NCR
energized or

Point button turned from N to R i.e., RCR energized, provided all other conditions are
satisfied.

When the point is set and indication relay is energized, drops the WLR and locks the
point electrically.

NWR/RWR CIRCUIT and POINT OPERATION CIRCUIT, POINT INDICATION CIRCUIT AT

LOCATION (WNKR/WRKR) & AT RELAY ROOM (NWKR/RWKR)

Whenever the point button is pressed, NCR/RCR picked up, Provided SM’s key is in.
With NCR/RCR picked up, WLR is picked up.
With WLR picked up, PCR1 picks up.
PCR1 is picked up, 110V DC for Point Operation is extended to Location.

With WLR, RCR/NCR picked up, NWKR/RWKR drops. Thereby all indication relays& its
repeater relays (NWKPRs, RWKPRs, NWKSRs, RWKSRs) drop.

With WLR up, all indication relays drop, NCR/RCR up, NWR/RWR will pick up at location

With NWR/RWR picks up, WJR picks up. There by WXR picks up and sticks with its own
front contact. With WXR picking up, normal feed to WJR removed but WJR held in pick
up through time delay condenser circuit.

With WXR, WJR, NWR/RWR up and WNKR/WRKR drop, WCR (QBCAI relay) picks up

With WCR & NWR/RWR up, 110V DC available on bus bar is extended to point machines
at A end & B end parallelly. Both points are set to Normal or Reverse.

There by WNKR/WRKR picks up.

Energisation of WNKR/WRKR results in dropping of WJR, WCR, and NWR/RWR With

WJR dropping, WXR drops.

Due to all controlling relays (WCR, WJR, WXR, NWR, RWR) at location dropping and
WNKR/WRKR picking up, energizes indication relay NWKR/RWKR at relay room.

Energisation of NWKR/RWKR results in dropping of WLR and locks the point electrically.
De-energisation of WLR in turn drops PCR1 /PCR2, thereby 110V DC is withdrawn from
the location bus bar
In nutshell it can be concluded that point operation initiated, point unlocked, point
operated & set, all point controlling relays de-energized, point indication obtained and
point locked again.
ROUTE CHECKING CIRCUITS (UCR)

Once the points are set in the required condition, then the route setting is
completed.

The energization of NWKR/RWKR indicates that points are set and locked after
setting the route, it is to be checked. This is achieved by picking up UCRs (Route
Checking Relays).

- The features of UCR circuits are as follows:

 One signal will have one UCR. UCR will be named after the signal.
 This relay is normally de-energised and picks up when signal button is
pressed and Route button is pressed, provided all the favourable
conditions are available, viz.,
 In UCR circuit all points in route, overlap and isolation (set& locked) are
proved.
 To achieve locking of conflicting signals, Front Contact of ALSRs or back
contacts of UCRs of conflicting signals are proved in UCR circuit.
Concerned LR front contact also will be proved in UCR Circuits.
 CH IN is also proved in UCR, so that once checking completed and route
locked, further route should not be altered mechanically by cranking.
 UCR front contact is proved in HR circuit.
  UCR back contact is proved in ALSR circuit. This is utilised to drop ALSR
as soon UCR picks up i.e., to lock the Route as soon as it is checked.
 Back contact of UCR in ALSR circuit also ensures that Signal button is
normalised before releasing the route.

Approach (Lock) Stick Relay Circuits (ASR/ALSR) - Part 1

 After checking the Route, it is to be locked (locked all the points in the
route including in overlap & isolation). For locking the route, ALSR to be
de-energised.

 It is necessary to lock the route before a signal is taken off.

 Every signal will be having one ALSR and the drop contact of ALSR is
proved in HR pick up circuit to ensure locking of that signal route before
the signal is cleared.

 ALSR stands for Approach Lock Stick Relay. ALSR is normally an energised
relay with stick path provided.

 UCR checks the route whenever a route is set , if set route is found
correct, UCR energises , which causes the ALSR to drop.

 In other word - ALSR drops as soon as UCR picks up, since UCR back
contact is proved in ALSR circuit.
 Dropping of ALSR causes OVSRs and TLSRs/TRSRs to drop. Thereby all
points in route, overlap and isolation are locked as the front contact of
ALSR, OVSR and TLSR/TRSRs are proved in NWLR/RWLR or WLR circuit.

 The drop contact of ALSR, OVSR, and TLSR/TRSR are proved in HR circuit

to prove that route is locked before signal is taken Off.

ALSR mainly consists of 3 circuits

Indication locking. (b) Back locking. (c) Approach locking

 In Addition to the above locking, UCR back contact is proved.

 All NRRs back contact concerned to that signal is also proved.

 Sequential route release and emergency cancellation circuits are take-off

from the circuit as shown in the diagram.

 Once ALSR picks up the locking effect on the signal route is released and
all the points will become free. Hence before a route is released, it must
be ensured that the signal is normal, and the movement is completed,
and the route tracks are clear. To achieve that indication locking, route
locking & approach locking applicable to a signal, are proved in ALSR
circuit.
 (a) Indication locking.

Before releasing the Route i.e. ALSR picking up, Signal assumed 'ON'
aspect Proved in Indication Locking.

For Colour Light Signalling , RECR front contact is not used to prove the
integrity of ON Aspect of signal Lamps, As Red Lamp Failure may cause
the route Locking condition, thereby causing delay to traffic.

To avoid the above under delay , instead of proving an energised contact

of RECR , all the de- energised contact of signal controlling relays and
there lamp checking relay (ECRs(↓)) are proved.

(b) Back Or Route Locking

 After the train passes the signal, is shall not be possible for SM to alter the
route unless the train clear the entire route. To achieve this Back or Route
Locking is provided.

 All the track circuits just after the signal to the last point zone track in the
route will be proved in back/route locking.
 where sectional route release is used, first Route section is directly
controlled by ALSR concerned.

 The subsequent section is controlled by TLSR/TRSRs. Therefore, only first

route section tracks are proved in back locking of ALSR.

(c) Approach Locking

Approach Locking is provided in ALSR circuit to prevent releasing of route in the
face of an approaching train and to prevent the route being altered.
Approach locking is providing in three parallel paths. i.e.
Sequential route release path
Cancellation path (Full route emergency cancellation)
Approach track path
- The above three path is the way to Energised ALSR.

When ALSR drops, the WLRs of points concerned drop and points become
inoperative. It is already understood that WLR should be in picked up position
for any point to get operated. This is the reason why WLR is controlled by ALSR
and TPRs contact and WNR and WRR are controlled by WLR contact. It will be
also seen that ALSR and WLR back contacts will be proved in HR circuit to
ensure that, both route and point are locked before signal is taken off.

ALSR can be energized in 4 ways.

Sequential route release: Only after the train travels on the entire route
sequentially and clears the route. i.e., the back lock TPRs are picked up. (As we
know the route shall not be released when the train is on route). This condition
is achieved by proving back lock track circuit relays in ALSR circuit and is known
as back locking.

Full Route Emergency Cancellation: On cancellation with time delay when dead
approach provided, or approach track occupied.

Approach track not occupied: On cancellation without any time delay when
approach track provided and not occupied by train.

Calling on cancellation: Whenever due to Back locking track circuit failures, the
route is locked (ASR not picked) then calling on knob reversed and calling on
ASR drops. Immediately calling on knob is normalized and calling on
cancellation is applied (CO-CAR up) calling on NJPR picks up after 240 seconds
time delay which picks up the Main signal ASR. this way the route is released
without S&T Person’s intervention.
Summary

ALSR is normally picked up (through its own stick path)

ALSR when energized, indicates that the route is free / signal concerned is not
taken off.
Each signal will have one ALSR or if a group of signals have common points and
only one signal can be taken off at a time, as in the case of starters they may
have a common ALSR.

ALSR front contact is used in WLR, TRSR/TLSR, TSR and conflicting UCR circuits.
To prove that a signal is not taken off, its ASR front contact can be used. This
feature is used to achieve locking of conflicting signals. In fact, ALSR is the ideal
relay to achieve interlocking between two conflicting signals. As ALSR can pick
up only when the train has arrived and cleared back lock tracks.

ALSR back contact is used to give route locked indication on the panel.
ALSR back contact is used in HR circuit to prove that route is locked before
signal is taken ‘off’.
ALSR back contact is also used in picking up route release relays i.e., UYRs to
ensure that they pick up only when the train is arriving on proper signals.

ALSR back contacts are used in Timer circuits also to ensure that the timer is
initiated only when the route is locked.

Different way to energies ALSR- Part 2

It can be energies in the following ways.

1. Sequence Route release. - UYR

2. Full route Emergency Cancellation. (Timer present) - EUYN
3. Approach Track not occupied. (Timer present) - RRBUN
4. Calling on Cancellation.
Sequence Route release.

When the signal is taken off, the train passes the signal and travel over the set
route, thereby picking up the ALSR, only when the following condition are meet:

The sequential route release relay UYR1,2,3 have picked up through ALSR back
contact indicating the sequential, directional movement and arrival of train.

The track circuits in the entire route up to Berthing track have picked up behind
the train.

The controlling switch if any has been normalised or route release relay (NRRs
picked up) concerned is dropped.

The signal is put back to 'ON' and the controlling relay and indication relay have
dropped.
Ones the ALSR picked up, on the arrival of train, the UYRs, drop, to be activated
for another signalled movement and proved in HR circuit.

Ones picked up, ALSR gets it stick feed, bypassing NRRs back contact , back
locking track circuits and approach locking circuit. etc.

This is to prevent dropping of ALSR, due to back lock track circuit dropping
during other signal movement or track circuit failure or switch contact failure
when signal is not given.

It is to be understood that the Route locked for a signal movement should get
released only after the train has arrived on proper signal in proper direction
and the track circuits have been sequentially actuated by the train.

This is registered by the picking up of sequential proving relays (UYRs (some

railways call them as TPZR, TSSLR etc.).
The pickup contact of UYRs are used to energise ASR in the normal route
release path.

Write Sequence route release circuit for 1/C-1?

Why UYRs are made slow to release?

ASR picks up through UYRs front contact. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure

that after the train arrival UYRs do not drop unless sufficient time is given for
ASR to pick up and stick. Any failure in the time delay arrangement will not give
sufficient time for ASR to pick up resulting to a failure and this aspect is to be
taken care during maintenance for a trouble-free working.

Summary of UYRs

UYRs are normally in de-energised condition.

UYRs are picked up to assist ASR to pick up, and it proves that train has
successfully travelled over the route by sequentially occupying all the
tracks in the route.
These relays are named after signal concerned.
Front contact used in ASR circuits and also for its stick path.
Back contact proved in HR circuit.
UYRs are having slow to release feature.

Full Route Emergency Cancellation:

Sometimes it become necessary to cancel the route of a train. The reasons can
be.

The Signal failed to take OFF and need to be tried again.

The train may be required to be admitted into another route or other train may
need to be dealt first.
In any case it must be first ensured that the signals are put back to ON(if already
taken OFF) and train has not passed the signal and stopped in rear of the signal .
In that case Emergency Cancellation is adopted.
While dealing with ALSR, it was explained that in case of Dead approach locking,
the route will be released only after two minutes if the train has not passed the
signal.

Overlap Stick Relay Circuits - OVSR

Whenever Home signal is taken OFF (example S-12),

the ALSR concerned drops
thereby the point in the route, in overlap and in isolation are locked.

Point in the route are locked till the train clears them and the back lock tracks
have picked up and the ALSR picks up. But Once the Home signals ALSR picks
up, the locking effect on the Overlap Point is released thereby making them
free, Which is undesirable.
So, the question arises is How we do secure Overlap and also make it flexible for
train operations?

Two scenarios will explain requirements of overlap locking clearly:

If starter is given the overlap points of home signal are held further by its ALSR
as they are in the route.
Even if starter is not given, the overlap points should continue in locked position
for specified time (120 sec) to ensure that the train has stopped in rear of starter,
after which only the points shall be free.

Sectional Route Release Circuits (TLSR/TRSR)

The Backed route locking provided on signal is sometimes cumbersome & time
consuming since all the points in the entire route are locked till the train clears
the full route it entered, and the points cleared by a train cannot be utilized for
other movements. In big/Major yard with busy traffic the complete route locking
hampers the efficiency and causes unnecessary detention.

Hence another type of Route locking is adopted. In this system, the entire route
is divided into small sub-route sections, according to the point zones.
When the signals are given for a particular route all the sub routes sections in
the route are locked, thereby the entire route is locked.
But the train on clearing each sub section of the route entered clears the locking
effect of that route thereby those points cleared by the train can be utilized for
other movements thereby increasing the flexibility of the yard.

The first route section is directly controlled by the concerned ASR.

The subsequent route sections are controlled by the TLSR/TRSR’s.

For leftward movement i.e. from RIGHT to LEFT, TLSR and for rightward
movement i.e., from left to right, TRSR is used.
Depending upon the direction of signal movement, TLSR/TRSR’s are designed.

The TLSR/TRSR’s do the same job as that of ALSR and TLSR/TRSR picks up
contact is used in WLR pick up circuit.

When the signal is given, ALSR drops which in turn drops the required
TLSR/TRSR’s to achieve complete route locking.

ALSR picks upon clearing the first route section and the point(s) in the first route
section becomes free.

Subsequent route sections are still locked as the train clears the section by
section and the points are released accordingly, and they can be utilized for
other movements.

With TLSR/TRSR’S, the ALSR circuit shall be modified accordingly with back lock
track circuits up to first route section or up to the first point.

TLSR / TRSR acts are normally adopted in big / major yards. (RRI’s)
PROVING OF THE ASPECT OF SIGNAL AHEAD (GECR)

- In colour light signalling, there is a possibility of signal going blank due to lamp
failures or power supply interruptions.

- This is undesirable since the Drivers are likely to miss the signal, which may
result in an accident.

- To avoid this, it is a recent practice to prove the aspect of signal ahead in the
rear signal.

- For example, for clearing a home signal, any one of the aspect of starters in
advance will be proved.

- GECR is made slow to release to cater for the aspect changing of signal in
advance.