Danish Signaling, Wrong Main Signals
Updated 000224
Wrong Main Signal Types
Wrong Main Entry and Wrong Main Exit Signals are located at the station
limits, usually adjacent to the normal Entry and Exit Signals. Wrong Main
Entry and Exit Signals are shaped like Platform Exit Signals and are normally
placed at ground level. Where visibility is problematic or where the Wrong
Main Entry or Exit Signal is not located immediately adjacent to the normal
Entry or Exit Signal, the Wrong Main signal is mounted on a mast like a
Platform Exit Signal. Wrong Main Entry Signals are no longer being installed,
as normal Entry Signals are used instead. On newer installations the Wrong
Main Exit Signal is always placed high on a mast.
Wrong Main Block Signals are quite rare. As the name implies they are
used to create several Block Sections for wrong main running where stations
are far apart. The Wrong Main Block Signal consists of a high mounted signal
to the left of the track and a dwarf signal to the right of the track:
Technically, Wrong Main Block Signals are Wrong Main Entry and Exit
Signals for a special type of interlocking, where 2 normal Automatic Block
Signals act as automatic Entry and Exit Signals. Wrong Main Block Signals
are therefore located in pairs, at 2 consecutive Automatic Block Signals.
Below is illustrated a line with the throat of an ordinary station to the
left, a section of line with Automatic Block SIgnals (here represented
by a single pair) and then a Wrong Main Block (WMB) station (Danish: VM-station):
Wrong Main Entry Signal Aspects and Indications
"No Passing" (Danish: "Forbikørsel Forbudt")
Stop. Used when the block signal system is not switched to Wrong Main
running and no Wrong Main Entry Route is set.
"Stop" (Danish: "Stop")
Stop. Used when the block signal system is switched to Wrong Main running,
or when a Wrong Main Entry Route is set but the signal cannot show "Proceed".
"Proceed" (Danish: "Kør")
Proceed on Entry Route at maximum 40 km/h (25 mph) prepared to stop
at next signal.
Wrong Main Exit Signal Aspects and Indications
"No Passing" (Danish: "Forbikørsel Forbudt")
Stop. Used when the block signal system is not switched to Wrong Main
running.
"Stop" (Danish: "Stop")
Stop. Used when the block signal system is switched to Wrong Main running.
"Proceed" (Danish: "Kør")
Proceed until next Wrong Main Signal at max. 80 km/h (50 mph), prepared
to stop at next signal.
Wrong Main Block Signal Aspects and Indications
"No Passing" (Danish: "Forbikørsel Forbudt")
Stop. Used when the block signal system is not switched to Wrong Main
running.
"Stop" (Danish: "Stop")
Stop. Used when the block signal system is switched to Wrong Main running.
"Proceed" (Danish: "Kør")
Proceed until next Wrong Main Signal at max. 80 km/h (50 mph), prepared
to stop at next signal.
Wrong Main Running
Please refer Line Block System type DSB
1954 for a description of Wrong Main signaling.
Peculiarities
"Blind" Wrong Main Entry Signals
In a number of occations trains have entered a station without permission
from wrong main on a line without wrong main signals. Wrong Main Entry
Signals have been installed at a number of such locations, in order to
emphasize the station limit. Since there is no wrong main facilities in
the Block System and no Wrong Main Entry Routes in the station interlocking,
the signals are only capable of showing "No Passing".
Two Stop Aspects and still no "Proceed"....
A particularly strange variation of the "blind" Wrong Main Entry Signals
is signals that can show to different stop-aspects but no proceed aspects.
This variation of the Wrong Main Entry Signal can be found at the Copenhagen
Freight Yard and at the southern (freight line) entry to Vanløse
interlocking (the former Damhus junction of Flintholm interlockimg). The
interlockings have no Wrong Main Entry Routes but the (newer) block system
leading to the signal is equipped for signaled wrong main running. The
Wrong Main Entry Signal therefore can show "No Passing" and "Stop" as ordinary
signals, but cannot show "Proceed". The signal at the Copenhagen Freight
Yard is a high signal due to visibility:
