3/15/2024 0 Comments Stop hand signal drivingPrior to the 1985/86 review of the Rule Book and Regulations a green handsignal held steadily was used to authorise a train to pass a semaphore stop signal or two aspect colour light signal when the signal was at danger. The reason of course that signals were changed to green for all clear is that during the 19th century, more and more homes and streets were getting lit, first by gas and then by electricity, and the abundance of white lights around made a very real risk of a driver seeing a false clear, especially if the signal lamp had gone out.įor the OP - is this for a temporary replacement of a failed signal, or a signal being replaced, or for a temporary danger signal, for example during engineering works? In the UK, the indication will differ.Īh, an indication of youth or working in an area with multiple aspect signals (or both). I expect that shunting uses green for caution because it always did, and was not changed when signals went to showing a green light for all clear. There was even a little reminder poem for those concerned "White is right, red is wrong, green means gently go along." Originally semaphore signals displayed white for all clear, green for caution, and red for stop. I suspect it goes back to the beginnings of the railway. The use of a green light during shunting to indicate that a move must be made slowly dates back to at least 1933 as it is in my copy of the 1933 GWR Rule Book (with no exceptions re other companies listed so it was universal), but I suspect that it is very much older than that, dating back to the days when a white light was displayed for clear and a green light for caution. But I learned a few new words that night.įor the OP - is this for a temporary replacement of a failed signal, or a signal being replaced, or for a temporary danger signal, for example during engineering works? In the UK, the indication will differ. I waved a red for all my life's worth, and he stopped. The only occasion I had to stop a train in an emergency was when I had not reached a signal in time to start Single Line Working, and needed to flag down the approaching train to pick me up (in darkness). I have just checked the Bardic I managed to keep from some job later on, and it has no green aspect. I do not recall having a green aspect on my issued Bardic. When shunting, which I did many times in emergency and when the regular shunter was not available or off sick, I could not give any signal which told the driver to disobey the next working aspect. If flagging a signal, I was taught only to use a Red or Yellow, as I could not relay any message about the aspect of the next signal. Maybe I am wrong, but I recall being told never to use a green aspect when handsignalling. In my experience not only was green (for slow down) used a lot in yards but it was also common footplate practice on the Western for a Secondman/Drivers Asst, or someone else riding and looking out, to shout across to the Driver 'green light' even during day time when shunting or moving onto a train etc to attach. Shunting staff and Guards only ever needed a 3 aspect version as they only needed to show those handsignals. The original short lever type control switch on the 3 aspect version was ideal when shunting as you could flick between the colours very easily while still holding the lamp and keeping it visible to the Driver you couldn't do that with the 4 aspect switch. As anyone who has ever taken a Bardic apart will know the later versions all came with the 4 colour arrangement internally but it used a different control knob and had an internal stop to prevent it showing yellow. Perway staff got the 4 aspect version because they were likely to be used for handsignalling and fogging duties. Signalboxes were also originally issued with the 3 aspect version but in some cases, and later on after a Rule change, they got the 4 aspect (white, red, green, yellow) version because yellow was needed for handsignalling at some signals. The normal issue was that Guards, Shunters, footplate men and station staff got the 3 aspect version (white, red, green) because that was all they needed. Most Bardic lamps issued to the P-Way at least by the 1980's could show red, yellow, green and white. You also needed a green aspect in case you needed to request a movement at caution/slowly.
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