Danish Signaling, Vehicle Signals

Aspects and indications 1944-1975

Updated 000605

Head signals
Tail signals
Information Signals
Helper Engine Signals
Vehicle Signals used by Private Lines

Head Signals (Danish: kendingssignaler)

By day, a train would have either no indication or a disc at the front. A shunting engine would have no indication.

By night, a train would have 1 or 2 lights, the latter being arranged vertically or diagonally. A shunting engine would have 2 horizontal lights.

Since 1971, head lights are used day and night.
 

"Ordinary Train" (Danish: "Almindeligt kendingssignal")

1944-1971: no. 63.

1971-1975: no. 63.

The train is a scheduled train.
 

"Wrong Main Train" (Danish: "Kendingssignal for tog, som på dobbeltsporet bane kører på venstre spor")

1944-1964: no. 64.

1964-1971: no. 64.

1971-1975: no. 64.

The train is travelling on the Wrong Main Track.

No. 64 would have precedence over no. 63, 65 and 66.
 

"Extra Train" (Danish: "Kendingssignal for særtog")

1944-1971: no. 65.

1971-1975: no. 65.

The train is not included in the normal timetable.

1971-1975, this signal was also used for Work Trains.
 

"Work Train" (Danish: "Kendingssignal for arbejds- og hjælpetog)

1944-1964: no. 66.

1964-1971: no. 66.

The train is a Work Train.

The signal was not used by Snow Plough Units (these would always carry one or more white lights).

1971, it was replaced by no. 65.
 

"Shunting Engine" (Danish: "Kendingssignal for rangerlokomotiver og rangertraktorer")

1944-1971: no. 67.

1971-1975: no. 67.

The headlights were carried at both ends.
 

"Trolley" (Danish: "Kendingssignal for dræsiner, troljer o.l.")

1944-1975: no. 68.

This signal was used to indicate different kinds of small vehicles.

By day, small vehicles would carry no indication.

By night, small vehicles would be indicated as follows:

On single-track lines: 1 red light at both ends of the vehicle.

On double-track lines:  1 white light at one end and 1 red light at the other. The lights were arranged corresponding to the normal direction of travel, not for the actual direction of the vehicle.

A second white light might be added if the vehicle was carrying a white light at the front, and 1 or 2 white lights might be added, if the vehicle was carrying a red light at the front.

1969, the name was changed into "Work Vehicle" (Danish: "Kendingssignal for arbejdskøretøjer").
 

Tail Signals (Danish: slutsignaler)

Tail signals are used to indicate the last vehicle of a train.

A train pushed by an uncoupled helper engine would carry the tail signal, while the helper engine would carry a helper engine signal.
 

"Ordinary Tail Signal" (Danish: "Almindelight slutsignal")

1944-1951: no. 69;

1951-1955: no. 69b.

1951-1955: no. 69a.

1955-1975: no. 69.


[Photo]

The night signals display white light in the opposite direction (towards the engine).

Until 1971, all trains - including single DMUs - would carry no. 69. Since 1971, it was only used if the last vehicle was not equipped for no. 70.
 

"Single Engine Tail Signal" (Danish: "Slutsignal for enkeltkørende lokomotiv")

1944-1964: no. 70.

1964-1971: no. 70.

This signal was only used by proper engines. Single DMUs would carry no. 69.

1971, this signal was replaced by the new no. 70 (below).
 

"Special Tail Signal" (Danish: "Særligt slutsignal")

1971-1975: no. 70.

This signal would be used if the last vehicle was equipped with built-in head or tail lights. The signal was used by trains as well as single engines. Since 1973, it was also used by train sets that had previously used no. 71:

Older DMUs not equipped with 2 horizontal headlights continued carrying no. 69 until 1973. Since 1973, they were allowed to display only one red light using the built-in headlight.
 

"Tail Signal for Train Sets" (Danish: "Særligt slutsignal for elektrisk tog og lyntogsmateriel")

1944-1973: no. 71.


[Photo]

This signal was only used by electric suburban trains and the so-called "lightning" DMUs.

1973, it was replaced by no. 70.
 

Information Signals (Danish: underretningssignaler)

Information signals at the tail of the train would always be used together with the ordinary tail signal.
 

"Extra Train Next, same direction of travel" (Danish: "Særtog kommer i samme retning")

1944-1955: no. 72.

1955-1971: no. 72.


"Extra Train Next, opposite direction of travel" (Danish: "Særtog kommer i modsat retning")

1944-1955: no. 73.

1955-1971: no. 73.


"Train Is Being Overtaken" (Danish: "Toget overhales")

1944-1953: no. 74.

This signal was displayed by the overtaken train. The signal was only used by night, and only if the overtaking train was not informed in advance that an (unscheduled) overtaking should take place.
 

"Work Train Returns Before Next Station" (Danish: "Arbejdstoget går ikke til næste togfølgestation")

1944-1955: no. 75.

1955-1964: no. 75.

1964-1971: no. 75.


"Vehicles May Not Be Moved" (Danish: "Flytning af vogne forbudt")

1944-1975: no. 77.

One or more vehicles of a train are in a condition that does not allow for any movement (e.g. derailed or being repaired). Shunting near the vehicles requires caution.

The night signal was displayed in both directions.
 

"Vehicle May Be Moved With Caution" (Danish: "Ranger forsigtigt med vognen")

1944-1975: no. 78.

The vehicle is staffed. Shunting the vehicle requires caution.

The night signal was displayed in both directions.
 

Helper Engine Signals (Danish: Signaler for skydelokomotiver)

Helper Engine Signals acted as combined tail and information signals. They were only used by helper engines that were following a train beyond the station limit, although not coupled to the train.

At the opposite end, a helper engine would carry no. 63 (train engines) or no. 67 (shunting engines). A helper engine not following a train beyond the station limit  would carry these signals at both ends.

A helper engine coupled to the tail of a train was considered a proper part of the train and would consequently carry no. 69.

The signals were retired 1961 when the use of uncoupled helper engines beyond the station limit ceased.
 

"Helper Engine Returns Before Next Station" (Danish: "Skydelokomotivet går ikke med til næste togfølgestation")

1944-1961: no. 79.

This signal had the same appearance as no. 75 and provided the same kind of information to the wayside staff.
 

"Helper Engine Continues Until Next Station" (Danish: "Skydelokomotivet går med til næste togfølgestation")

1944-1961: no. 80.

This signal had the samme appearance as the old no. 70 and provided the same kind of information to the wayside staff.
 

Vehicle Signals used by Private Lines

This section provides a summary of the relevant signals.
 

Head Signals (Danish: Kendingssignaler)

1944-1975:

No. 63, 65, 65a, 66, 67 and 68 (single track) were used as described above. However, even after 1971, lights were not used during daytime.

There were no double-track private lines, so neither no. 64 nor the double-track version of no. 68 were relevant.
 

Tail Signals (Danish: Slutsignaler)

1944-1975:

No. 69 was used as described above, however, retaining the old (69b) version in most cases.

No. 70 was used as described above, however, retaining the original day indication:

Infomation Signals (Danish: Underretningssignaler)

1944-1975 :

No. 72, 73, 75, 77 and 78 were used as described above.

No. 74 was displayed by the overtaken train. The signal was only used by night, and only if
- the overtaking train was not informed in advance that an (unscheduled) overtaking should take place, or
- the overtaking was taking place at an unstaffed station (i.e. the procedure was handled by the train staff only).
 

Helper Engine Signals (Danish: Signaler for Skydelokomotiver)

1944-1961:

No. 66, 67 and 75 were used as described above.

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Copyright © 2000 Henrik W Karlsson