Route Signal Aspects and Indications
Rear View of Route Signals
Route signals were used on certain stations to indicate
- which entry route was set (to track no. ...) or
- which exit route was set (from track no. ...).
Route signals provided one arm per track. The older versions had 2 or more arms with the top arm indicating the leftmost track and so forth. The newer versions had 1 arm and were situated next to their relevant track.
The following description is not complete regarding types in use before 1935.
Entry or exit route is not set. No departure is permitted. Arriving train must stop at the station. Aspects in use 1935-19xx.
Entry or exit route is not set. No departure is permitted. Arriving train must stop at the station. Aspect in use 1903-1935.
Entry or exit route is set for the relevant track. For exit routes, the aspect further indicates that the exit signal shows "Proceed" or better. Aspect in use 1935-1982(?).
Entry or exit route is set for the relevant track. For exit routes, the aspect further indicates that the exit signal shows "Proceed" or better. Aspect in use 1935-1971.
Exit route is set for the relevant track and in accordance with route destination indicator. Exit signal shows "Proceed" or better. Aspect in use 1935-1987.
Entry or exit route is set for the relevant track. For exit routes, the aspect also acts as exit signal "Proceed". Aspect in use 1903-1935.
To provide general information about train routes and approaching trains, route signals used to be equipped with colour filters for rear view. Originally, green and white lights were used for this purpose, but to avoid confusion with "proper" green lights, yellow and blue were adopted instead around 1935:
