18/01/2019

Transportation Engineering II
Railway Signals
CE-407
• Objectives:
– Efficient movement of trains
Railway Engineering – Ensuring safety of trains moving on crossing
tracks
Lecture 6 – Maximum utilization of track
– Safety during shunting operations
– Managing train movement during maintenance
Syed Muhammad Noman
and repairs
Assistant Professor
Department of Civil Engineering

Signals Classification Operational Classification

• Based on Operating characteristics Operation
• Based on Functional characteristics
• Based on Locational characteristics Audible Visual
• Based on Special characteristics
Hand
Operated

Fixed
Installation

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Operational Classification Operational Classification

• Audible Signals • Visual Signals
– Detonators
– Hand Operated
– Used during low visibility conditions • Operated using hands in many forms
– Fixed to the rails
– Detonates as the train passes over them – Fixed Installation
– Paced 400 to 500m before the signal • Placed on the top of the post
• May be of movable arm type or colour light
type or disc type
• 1 or more Nos. placed on the same post

Functional Classification Functional Classification

• Using Hand
Function – Flag, Red or Green colour
– Light, Green, Red and sometimes yellow
Hand Fixed
– Hand indications are used mostly on
Shunting Operations
– Used by Station masters, Guards, Gang
Hand
Flag Light Stop Warner man, Cabin man, Point man, etc..
Indicator

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Functional Classification SEMAPHORE SINGAL

• SEMAPHORE STOP SIGNAL
• Fixed Signals – Consists of the following
– Stop Signals • Movable arm
– Warner Signals • Spectacle, holding two colour
glasses
• Lamp for light indication
– May be of movable arm type (SEMAPHORE) or • Crank rod, cam, lever, and
colour aspect type counter weights
– Indicates stop condition, caution condition, • Signal post
respectively • Chain and Pulley
– These are operated using electric current, or • Wire to cabin
wires or keys.

Colour Aspect Signal Warner Signals

• Semaphore signals are replaced • Indicating caution
by colour aspect signals on
electrified tracks. • Provided with a V-notch at
• High intensity colour beam
focused at eye level of driver is the free end and V band.
used. (Visible in day and night as
well) • Yellow in colour with a white
• Used for heavy traffic, urban background.
and sub urban tracks
• Sometimes two yellow lights are • Can be placed separately on a
used having a meaning that Pass post or in combination with a
with full speed but be prepared
to caution for the next signal. SEMAPHORE SIGNAL

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Locational Classification Locational Classification

• Reception
– Signals which control the reception of trains into a
Location station.
– Outer Signal: First stop signal before the entry from
block section to station section
Reception Departure Routing Shunting • Placed at some specified distance from the station limit.
(Usually 0.5 Km )
– Home Signal: Signal provided at the door of the
Outer Home Starter
Advance station section. (Last opportunity to stop the train
Starter before they finally accommodated to a particular
platform)

Locational Classification Locational Classification

• Departure Signals:
– Starter Signal:
• Mark the limit upto which the train stopping at
a station should come to a stand.
• Separate for each line
– Advance Starter Signal:
• These are last stop signals on station limits

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Locational Classification
• Routing Signals:
– Depends upon the number of lines existing on
the station.
– This signal indicates the track for which points
are set.

Classification based on Special

Shunting Signals Characteristics
• Used for shunting operation in the station
yards
• Where semaphore signals are provided, these
signals are provided in disc shape. • Repeater Signal
– Disc is provided with a red band on white • Co-Acting Signal
background
– Provided with two holes, one for red light
and other for green.
– It revolves in a vertical plane
– When red band is horizontal or it is
indicating red light during night then it is
STOP condition.

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Repeater Signals Co-Acting Signal

• Provided when a signal is • Provided when a signal is not visible to
not visible to the driver the driver due to some obstruction such
from adequate distance due as over bridge, high Structure etc.,
to curvature.
• Placed preferably on the same post and
• This may be semaphore
type or colour aspect type is exact replica of the original signal.
• It is provided with “R”
marker