Signals Flashcards

1
Q

What is the main purpose of signalling

A

To ensure there is one one train in one section at any one time.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the two main types of signals

A

Colour light signals
Semaphore signals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the two main systems used to trigger colour light signalling

A

Track circuits
Axel counters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What does a single red light mean

A

Danger
Do not pass

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What does a single green light mean

A

Proceed, Clear

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does a single yellow light mean

A

Caution,
Expect the next signal to be red (danger)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What does a pair of yellow lights mean

A

Preliminary caution
Expect the next signal to be caution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

When dispatching a train, what does a single or double yellow light mean

A

Proceed
All aspects apart from red mean proceed, unless the red is fitted with an active position light

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

On ground position signals, which light formation indicates Proceed

A

Two white lights displayed at 45 degrees

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

When dispatching, what does a blank Off indicator mean

A

Stop

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What does a Banner repeater look like and what are the 3 stages

A

White circle with black line through the middle.
Horizontal line is Stop
Line at 45 degrees is restrictive proceed (same as double or single yellow)
Line at 45 degrees with a green circle is Proceed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How do you recognise a co-acting signal

A

It is a lower level duplication of the main signal
The signal plate has the suffix letters CA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What stations would you see a RA indicator

A

London or Manchester

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the RA indicators used for

A

Platform staff use them to convey the ready to start signal to the driver
This replaces the buzz buzz

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

In a colour light signal area, how do you identify a distant signal

A

A black signal plate with a white triangle on it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How do you identify a “not in use” signal

A

The signal will be covered and have a white cross displayed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

How do you identify an automatic signal

A

It has a white plate with a black horizontal bar through the middle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

How can you identify a semi automatic signal

A

It has a white plate with a horizontal black bar through the middle and the word SEMI above the bar

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How are automatic signals operated

A

By the passage of trains, using either track circuits or axel counters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What does SPAD stand for

A

Signal Passed At Danger

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What does a red horizontal semaphore signal mean

A

Stop

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What does a distant semaphore signal look like

A

Yellow arm with black chevron (yellow light at night)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is the part of the line called between the Home signal and the Section signal

A

Station Limits
(There’s not always a station within the station limits)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the part of the track called between the Section signal and the following Home signal (which includes the distance signal)

A

Block section

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What does a red semaphore signal at 45 degrees mean

A

Proceed / off

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What does a distant semaphore signal look like

A

Yellow board with a fish tail and black chevron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What does a semaphore shunt signal look like

A

White round disc with red bar across the middle
Horizontal for danger
45 degrees (with green light at night) for proceed at caution as far as the line is clear

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Semaphore Route indicators are used at locations of diverging routes
Which signal relates to the main line

A

The highest signal
Signal 1 relates to the route on the far left and then successive routes to the right

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Route indications by stacked shunting signals, which signal relates to which track

A

Signal 1 at the top of the stack relates to the route on the far left
As you work down it relates to successive routes to the right

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What are the two main route indicators in colour light signalling

A

Junction indicators (feathers)
Route indicator box (theatre box)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What does a flashing yellow light mean

A

This is telling the driver that the route ahead has been set

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

When can you disregard the main aspect of a signal

A

Only if the main aspect is fitted with a Subsidiary / Position light or you are working under special rules

33
Q

How can you identify a controlled signal

A

A black plate with the signal identification number on it

34
Q

How do you identify a Distant colour light signal

A

A distant signal cannot show a stop aspect.
Can be identified by a white triangle or the letters R or RR on the identification plate

35
Q

How do you identify an Intermediate block signal

A

White signal plate with vertical black line through.

36
Q

What is the sequence of three aspect signalling

A

Green = proceed = top
Yellow = caution = middle
Red = stop = bottom

37
Q

What is the sequence of four aspect signalling

A

Green = proceed = second from top
Double yellow = preliminary caution = top & second from bottom
Yellow = caution = second from bottom
Red = stop = bottom

38
Q

What does the “end of emergency special working” sign look like

A

Yellow square with black EW on crossed diagonally with red line

39
Q

What is the hand signal for Stop

A

Both hands straight up in the air,
Red flag during daylight
Red light during darkness or poor visibility

40
Q

What is the order of signals in absolute block signalling

A

Distant
Home
Section

41
Q

In absolute block signalling whats station limits

A

The part between the first home and the section signal controlled but the same signal box

42
Q

How many stop signals can 1 signal box control

A

5
4 home and 1 section

43
Q

If the distant signal is showing off, what position is the home and section signal in

A

Both the home and section signal must be off for the distant to be off

44
Q

What’s the part called between the distant signal and the first home signal

A

Service breaking distance

45
Q

Where is the AWS magnet in semaphore absolute block signalling

A

180 metres before the distant signal

46
Q

What is CP in semaphore absolute block signalling

A

Clearance point,
The train has to pass 440 yards past the signal before the next signal can be pulled off

47
Q

What is the 20/20 rule

A

Be slowing down to 20 mph at least 200m before the signal and be able to stop 20 m before the signal

48
Q

What does the white diamond attached to a signal post mean

A

Track circuits fitted

49
Q

Why might track circuits be fitted to a semaphore signal

A

Because it’s out of view of the signal box, so to let the signaller know when the train has arrived

50
Q

What does the back of a semaphore stop and distant signal look like

A

Stop signal is white with black line
Distant signal is white with black chevron

51
Q

In absolute block signalling, which signals can have AWS magnets

A

Only the distant signal

52
Q

If you are unsure if a semaphore signal is off or on what should you do

A

Stop the train before the signal, secure the train and call the signaller

53
Q

What part of absolute block is classed as the block section

A

From section signal, box A to the first home signal, box B

54
Q

What does IBS stand for

A

Intermediate block section

55
Q

How do you identify an IBS stop signal

A

The ID plate will be a white rectangle with a black line top to bottom

56
Q

Which signal box controls any additional distant or stop signals in an IBS area

A

The signal box prior

57
Q

What’s does IBS achieve

A

It splits up a long block section into smaller sections letting more trains travel through whilst keeping one train in one section at any one time

58
Q

What does a subsidiary semaphore signal look like

A

A smaller signal arm which is either white with red line top and bottom or completely red
When on will show either a red, white or no light
When off will show a green light
Some have a letter C or S

59
Q

Where would you find a subsidiary semaphore signal

A

If used they are always attached underneath the main signal

60
Q

What is a subsidiary semaphore signal used for

A

When showing the off aspect you are signalled past the main signal aspect at danger under authority of the subsidiary signal

61
Q

If stopping at any signal what must you do

A

Switch on DRA and have full service brakes applied

62
Q

What does the C or S mean when the subsidiary semaphore is in the off position

A

C = calling you on
S = shunting

63
Q

What do shunting discs look like

A

White circle with red line through the middle and red and green lights.
Works the same as a subsidiary signal

64
Q

Can you carry passengers when being signalled past a shunting disc

A

No

65
Q

How must you drive after passing an off distant signal or any subsidiary signal

A

At caution, at a speed which allows you to stop before a train, obstruction or buffers

66
Q

What is a small semaphore signal arm

A

It’s a stop signal that controls movement into a loop or No-block line.
Once cleared you must proceed at caution

67
Q

How do stepped diverging route indicators work

A

The highest signal relates to the main route
Lower signals relate to progressive routes to left or right

68
Q

What is the advantage of a directing distant signal

A

A directing distant signal relates to the signal controlling the junction signal, which enables you to keep moving and not come to a near stand before clearing the junction signal

69
Q

How are stacked shunting signals read

A

Top to bottom
Left to right

70
Q

Why would you find a distant and stop signal on the same signal post

A

This happens when the block sections are small, these signals are controlled by different signal boxes

71
Q

When might you find an outer and inner distant signal

A

When the block sections are close together and outer then inner distant signal may be used to increase breaking distance

72
Q

How do you know if a semaphore signal is not in use

A

It’s marked with a large white cross

73
Q

Where might you find a distant board

A

On approach to
A colour light stop signal
A semaphore stop signal
A stop board
A points indicator
A buffer stop

74
Q

What do shunting signals that don’t show red look like

A

Either black or white discs with a thick yellow line through the middle.
Moves to diagonal and can show green light for clear
Can also be 3 light in black triangle

75
Q

What is a co-acting signal

A

A lower down version of the main aspect signal positioned on the same post for visual purposes

76
Q

What is a fringe box

A

A signal box which controls colour light and semaphore signals going from track circuits to AB.

77
Q

How is permission given to move over points worked from a signal box

A

Verbally
Day light = arm raised above head
Night = white light moved quickly twisting wrist

When clear of points, if no shunter give the signaller one short blast of horn

78
Q

Can you shunt outside the home signal

A

Only with the signallers permission

79
Q

Who controls good loops and good line

A

Good loop = one signaller, on TCB it’s one section

Good line = two or more signallers, on TBC it’s more than one section.