Mechanical Symbol Signals

Revolving lanterns are used for ordinary turnouts and derails. Single slip turnouts are equipped with 2 revolving lanterns. In rare instances, double slip turnouts are equipped with 1 or 3 revolving lanterns.

Movable-cover lanterns are used for double slip turnouts and 3-position ferry turnouts.

Symbols are usually white. A yellow symbol (introduced c. 1940) indicates a facing turnout leading from a track with overhead wire to a track without.

"Turnout Set for Straight Track" (Danish: "Sporskiftet stillet til lige Spor")

1935-1944: no. 20; 
1944-1975: no. 28; 
1975- : no. 10.1.

Ordinary turnout: The turnout is set for the straight (non-diverging or least diverging) track. The signal usually has the same appearance to both directions of travel.

Derail: The derail can be passed. The signal has the same appearance to both directions of travel.

Double slip turnout with 1 lantern: The turnout is set for the crossing straight tracks. The signal has the same appearance to both directions of travel.

3-position ferry turnout: The turnout is set for the straight (middle) track. The signal has the same appearance to both directions of travel.

"Facing Turnout Set for Diverging Track" (Danish: "Modgående Sporskifte stillet til afvigende Spor")

1935-1944: no. 21; 
1944-1975: no. 29; 
1975- : no. 10.3.

Ordinary turnout: The facing turnout is set for the diverging track as indicated by the arrow.

3-position ferry turnout: The facing turnout is set for a diverging track as indicated by the arrow.

"Trailing Turnout Set for Diverging Track" (Danish: "Medgående Sporskifte stillet til afvigende Spor")

1935-1944: no. 22a; 
1944-1975: no. 30a; 
1975- : no. 10.4.

Ordinary turnout: The trailing turnout is set for the diverging track.

1935-1944: no. 22b; 
1944-1975: no. 30b; 
1975- : no. 10.5.

Ordinary turnout: The trailing, symmetric turnout is set for a diverging track as indicated by the crescent.

3-position ferry turnout: The trailing turnout is set for a diverging track as indicated by the crescent.

"Train Route Inaccessible" (Danish: "Togvejen spærret")

1935-1944: no. 23; 
1944-1951: no. 31.

The facing catch turnout is in derailing/protecting position.

This version was used in main tracks only. 1951, it was replaced by no. 32.

"Track Inaccessible" (Danish: "Sporet spærret")

1935-1944: no. 24; 
1944-1975: no. 32; 
1975- : no. 10.8.

The track behind the signal is inaccesible because of
- a facing catch turnout in derailing/protecting position, or
- a derail or eqv. in derailing/barring position.

Until 1951, no. 31 was used instead for facing turnouts in main tracks.

Until 1965, no. 32 was also used to indicate buffer-stops:

"Double Slip Turnout Set for Diverging Tracks" (Danish: "Krydsningssporskiftet stillet til de afvigende Spor")

1935-1944: no. 25; 
1944-1975: no. 33; 
1975- : no. 10.6.

Double slip turnout with 1 revolving lantern: The turnout is set for the independent diverging tracks. The signal has the same appearance to both directions of travel.

"Double Slip Turnout Set for a Straight Track" (Danish: "Krydsningssporskiftet stillet til et lige Spor")

1911-1935: no. 29c-d; 
1935-1944: no. 26; 
1944-1975: no. 34; 
1975- : no. 10.2.

The turnout is set for a straight track as indicated. The signal has the same appearance to both directions of travel.

"Double Slip Turnout Set for a Diverging Track" (Danish: "Krydsningssporskiftet stillet til et afvigende Spor")

1911-1935: no. 30c-d; 
1935-1944: no. 27; 
1944-1975: no. 35; 
1975- : no. 10.7.

The turnout is set for a diverging track as indicated. The signal has opposite appearance to the 2 directions of travel.

Electric Symbol Signals

Theatre type signals were introduced c. 1950 for special double-slip turnouts, and later for ferry turnouts. Only the latter type is in service today.

Colour-light signals were introduced c. 1980 for ordinary turnouts, and later for double-slip turnouts. They are primarily used by private secondary lines, and are not very common.

Symbols are usually white. A yellow symbol may indicate a turnout leading from a track with overhead wire to a track without, but signals for this purpose have probably never been in service.

"Turnout Set for Straight Track" (Danish: "Sporskiftet stillet til lige spor")

1975- : no. 10.1.

Ordinary turnout: The turnout is set for the straight (non-diverging or least diverging) track. The signal has the same appearance to both directions of travel.

2- or 3-position ferry turnout: The turnout is set for the straight (middle) track. The signal has the same appearance to both directions of travel.

"Facing Turnout Set for Diverging Track" (Danish: "Sporskiftet stillet til krumt spor")

1975- : no. 10.3.

Ordinary turnout: The facing turnout is set for the diverging track as indicated by the arrow.

2- or 3-position ferry turnout: The facing turnout is set for a diverging track as indicated.

"Trailing Turnout Set for Diverging Track" (Danish: "Sporskiftet stillet til krumt spor")

1975- : no. 10.4.

Ordinary turnout: The trailing turnout is set for the diverging track.

1975- : no. 10.5.

2- or 3-position ferry turnout: The trailing turnout is set for a diverging track as indicated.

"Double Slip Turnout Set for a Straight Track" (Danish: "Sporskiftet stillet til lige Spor")

c. 1950-1975: no. 34; 
1975- : no. 10.2.

The turnout is set for a straight track as indicated. The signal has the same appearance to both directions of travel.

"Double Slip Turnout Set for a diverging Track" (Danish: "Sporskiftet stillet til krumt spor")

c. 1950-1975: no. 35; 
1975- : no. 10.7.

The turnout is set for a diverging track as indicated. The signal has opposite appearance to the 2 directions of travel.

Peculiarities