What is a certain signals job?

[rastis]

G'day! :wave:

Something I've been wanting to ask for a while now, what is the exact purpose for say... a home signal. What does it do? Because one thing I've never understood what signals do. I know they're supposed to signal things like 'Caution' or 'Stop' or 'Go' like traffic lights. So can someone offer me a list of what types of signals do what?

Cheers!

Jake.

 

[BLACKWATCH]

Try this http://www.railsigns.co.uk/home.html

 

[rastis]

G'day! :wave:

Useful but I'm really in need of Australian signals.

Cheers!

Jake.

 

[Enkidoh]

Signalling is a very complex topic, and there are far too many variations too list here, but in a nut shell, signals are basically there to control train movements and maintain safe distances between trains to prevent collisions (hence, the blanket term for signalling as 'safeworking').

There was a signalling guide for Trainz released by Auran that was included with earlier versions of Trainz which explains a little about the basics of signalling and how Trainz handles it by default, but I don't think it's still available.

There are too many different types of signal to list here, but there are numerous web pages online which cover the topic in detail. A good starting point is the Wikipedia article on the subject which has basic descriptions on common signals: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_signal

EDIT: Rastis, Wikipedia also has an article on the basics of Aussie signalling systems: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_railway_signalling

 

[Satyr]

Gday,

If you go to this site, and scroll down a bit you will find several entries of prototype info on Ozzie signaling systems:

http://www.thesignalpage.nl/en/data.php

Look for AU (duh).

Hope this helps.

Have a good one,
E.C.

 

[pware]

Useful but I'm really in need of Australian signals.

Try this link, it is specifically about signals used in NSW.

http://www.nswrail.net/library/signalling.php

 

[martinvk]

Just be aware that what real world signals do and how they are implemented in Trainz are not necessarily the same thing. It is possible to make Trainz signals look like the real thing but how they behave might not be.

Placement is one example where Trainz deviates from the real world. The AI reacts to signals no matter where they are, even if they are hidden behind other objects like trees, buildings, etc. A real world engineer would never see them in time to react before passing them.

 

[cascaderailroad]

A home signal is just outside of a critical junction, or interlocking. The Distant signal preceeds the Home signal, and gives advance warning to slow down, that the Home signal is red. A second Distant signal preceeds that first Distant signal, showing the speed that should be reduced, in order to not blow through the 1st Distant signal.

Trains usually take upwads of 1 mile to stop. so many Distant advance warning signals protect the Home signal.

When I run 15,000 ton loaded coal trains on my route, it takes 5-10 miles to slow a train down.

 

[colourlight]

With reference to UK signalling when I was a young signalman, too many years ago, I read a book called Red For Danger. That taught me more about signalling than any rule book I,ve read since. It is the life story of signalling from the earliest days of the railway to (fairly) modern times and in particular train crashes, their causes and how signalling evolved as I result. It is not a dry book and I found it an enjoyable read. For anyone interested in the subject try and get hold of a copy.

 

[cascaderailroad]

Also in the US ... if you see 3 reds on a 3 masted signal, it means if it is Red, is is not read, and is a clear signal, as displaying Red color shows that the bulb circuit is live .

 

[rweber95]

Signals and their behavior, as implemented in Trainz, is covered by section 4 and 5 of this tutorial http://trains.0catch.com/tutorial.html

Bob Weber

 

[colourlight]

I find US signalling strange. 3 reds not a red. Sounds a bit like what came first the chicken or the egg. If a UK driver passed a red signal without authority he would be sespended. Our colourlights have 2 filaments and if the first one fails there is a back up and an alarm sounds in the controlling signalbox. And if they both fail we say it is a "black" signal and the signal next in rear automatically reverts to red. With reference to my earlier post the book "Red For Danger", several editions the most recent being 2009 is available from Amazon UK

 

[JohnnyC1]

Also in the US ... if you see 3 reds on a 3 masted signal, it means if it is Red, is is not read, and is a clear signal, as displaying Red color shows that the bulb circuit is live .

Not true! Check out http://www.railroadsignals.us/rulebooks/cora/cora1.htm for an explanation of a red aspect and what an engineer is required to to when a red is displayed.
John

 

[b9k9kiwi]

I find US signalling strange
...

I think you will find that most USA railway signalling is directed towards speed notification and control rather than block protection - so, it seems, it is OK to have more than one train within a given block.

So, a red signal (or two reds, or a flashing red, or whatever) indicates to the driver that he/she can proceed past the signal either with caution (at a reduced speed) or first come to a stop and then proceed with caution.

I can't that it appeals to me at all - anyway, Trainz can't play that game.