Main and distant signals

Important Note: This web site has not been updated since 2003 and is therefore not up-to-date. See here.

Main and distant signals

Signal profiles
Signal aspects
Mast board
Countdown marker board
Main and distand signal on the same mast

Signal profiles

Please note: the shape of the backboard does not affect the meaning. The number of lamps on a particular signal depends on the necessary aspects. Therefore the profiles below are only examples.

BBÖ Hauptsignal

Main signal 1926
These signals have almost disappeared. Characteristic is the semicircular top.

ÖBB-Hauptsignal 1954

Main signal 1954
Originally there was an additional red light (emergency red) in the middle. Nowadays this place is sometimes used for a substitution signal.

ÖBB-Hauptsignal 1980

Main signal 1980
The advantage of these signals is that several additional signals can be integrated into the backboard (substitution or caution signal, departure signal and shunting signal).

Vorsignal

Distant signal 1954 & 1980
This signals was adopted from Switzerland.

Signal aspects


Distant signal		Main signal
	Warning (Vorsicht) § 6 (1) (main signal shows stop)		Stop (Halt) § 4 (1)
	Main signal shows clear (Hauptsignal frei) § 6 (3)		Clear (Frei) § 4 (3) (clear with maximum local speed)
	Main signal shows restriction to 60 km/h (Hauptsignal frei mit 60 km/h) § 6 (6)		Clear with speed restriction to 60 km/h (Frei mit 60 km/h) § 4 (5)
	Main signal shows restriction to 40 km/h (Hauptsignal frei mit 40 km/h) § 6 (8) (On narrow gauge lines: 20 km/h)		Clear with speed restriction to 40 km/h (Frei mit 40 km/h) § 4 (7) (On narrow gauge lines: 20 km/h)

Note: Speed limits others than 40 and 60 km/h are shown by speed indicators.

Mast board


				All main signals and protection signals are equipped with white-red-white retro-reflecting boards (post plates). If the red light fails these boards tell the engine driver to stop. On signals mounted on gantries or on dwarf signals the boards are attached directly to the backboard.

On electrified lines the last three masts of the overhead wire preceeding a main signal are equipped with white-red-white boards similar to the mast boards of the main signals themselves.

weiß-rot-weiß gekennzeichnete Fahrleitungsmaste

Countdown marker board


			Countdown marker (Abstandstafel, also called Vorsignalbake) § 13 (20) Distant signals are announced by countdown markers (approach markers). The default number of markers is three. If visibility is bad (tunnels, curves) up to five markers are provided. When line speed is 60 km/h or less one marker is sufficient.
			Most countdown markers are equipped with white retro-reflecting stripes to enhance their visibility at night.

Beispiel Abstandstafeln

The distance between the markers and between the last marker and the distant signal is approx. 80 to 100 metres.

Main and distand signal on the same mast

If the distance between main signals is less than 1300 m the distant signal for the 2nd main signal is attached on the mast of the 1st main signal. Such distant signals have no countdown marker boards.
Distant signals of exit signals are (in general) always combined with the entry signal.

The distant signal remains dark until the main signal shows a proceed aspect.

Examples

Beispiel Haupt- und Vorsignal

(Last Update: 09.03.2003)

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Errors and Omissions excepted!


	Main signal 1926 These signals have almost disappeared. Characteristic is the semicircular top.
	Main signal 1954 Originally there was an additional red light (emergency red) in the middle. Nowadays this place is sometimes used for a substitution signal.
	Main signal 1980 The advantage of these signals is that several additional signals can be integrated into the backboard (substitution or caution signal, departure signal and shunting signal).
	Distant signal 1954 & 1980 This signals was adopted from Switzerland.