Speaking Signaleze

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by Denis M. Larrick

From Modeltec, February 1991

(Ed: This article has been updated using BNSF Aspects and Signals 2018)

Who among us has not at one time felt, if not totally ignorant, then at least selectively stupid when standing alongside the "big kids" tracks, attempting to decode the intentions of the signal department? Now, this is not a guide to the twenty zillion variations peculiar to individual railroads, but a simple list of the most common standard signals, providing that authentic aspects aren't beyond the average miniature coal-slinger and, in fact, could be quite practical and colorful along our tiny trials. There are only two simple rules to remember.

  1. Unless a signal is all red (meaning STOP), the color red is just a place keeper, saying, "don't look at me, stupid, look at the other lights!"
  2. American signals show speed, not routing. You will find out where you are going when you get there! If a mast has more than one head, the top head permits you normal rulebook speed. The second head restricts you to travelling "medium" speed (30 mph) ... may times (but not always) a diverging route through a switch. if a third head is used, it will indicate a slow speed (15 mph) route, such as a tight curve through a wye, a string of switches coming up, etc.

Not too tough, eh? Now let's jus pretend we're out on the high iron ...

Ah, a clear track. "Proceed." This means at least the next tow blocks are clearn. (No "Smokies," either!) Signal Proceed Green Red.png or Signal Proceed Green.png
"Approach" is saying that the next signal will probably be "stop", so slow down and be ready! Signal Approach Yellow.png or Signal Approach Yellow Red.png or Signal Approach Yellow Red Red.png
"Stop!" (Enough said?) Signal Stop Red.png or Signal Stop Red Red.png or Signal Stop Red Red Red.png
"Approach approach?", Close! once in a blue moon, if the blocks are exceptionally short or speeds are high, "Advance Approach" will give you two blocks warning before a stop. Signal Advance Approach Yellow Green.png or Signal Advance Approach Yellow Green Red.png

So, traveling down the tracks, we might see:

Signal Proceed Green Red.png then Signal Advance Approach Yellow Green.png then Signal Approach Yellow Red.png then Signal Stop Red Red.png

OK, so far, so good. Suppose we just fantasize for a moment that the turkey in the tower is going to put us in "the hole" so a hotshot can fly by. To go through the diverging route of the switch we will need a "medium" speed indication, right? How about...

Shall we call it "Diverging Clear?" We shall, and so do the railroads! 30 mph and at least two clear blocks Signal Diverging Clear Red Green.png or Signal Diverging Clear Red Green Red.png

But what if the next signal is "Stop?"

Yep, you guessed it! "Diverging Approach" ... "medium speed" (now) approaching stop (next signal). Signal Diverging Approach Red Yellow.png or Signal Diverging Approach Red Yellow Red.png

But wait a minute! They gave us some warning before a redboard, so why not some warning before a medium speed route, too? (Gotta start dumping the air in advance, you know.)

Approach over medium. What do they call it? Well, "Approach Medium," of course! Normal speed (now) approaching medium speed (next signal) means to start slowing down to 30 mph because that next ol' signal is gonna do it to you anyway. Signal Approach Medium YellowFlash.png or Signal Approach Medium YellowFlash Red.png or Signal Approach Medium YellowFlash Red Red.png

And if anyone cares, once in awhile you might see;

"Approach Limited" You've got the smarts to figure this out by now, eh? Signal Approach Limited Yellow GreenFlash.png

So chugging down the line now, we might see:

Signal Proceed Green Red.png then Signal Approach Limited Yellow GreenFlash.png then Signal Approach Medium YellowFlash Red.png then Signal Diverging Clear Red Green.png or Signal Diverging Approach Red Yellow.png

Enough of this being simple, now let's really throw a monkey wrench in the drive rods!

(...heh,heh,heh) "Slow Approach?" Wrong! Most railroads reserve this for "Restricting", defined as... Signal Restricting RedFlash.png or Signal Restricting Red RedFlash.png or Signal Restricting Red RedFlash Red.png

Restricting: An official-sounding railroad term meaning the signal department got tired of putting up signals and you are on your own to make sure you don't cream some guy's caboose. 15 mph is all you get (if the track can handle that much!). Seen entering branch lines, yards, industrial sidings.

Perhaps the most appropriate way to end a serious dissertation such as this is to mention in passing that "Stop" doesn't necessarily mean stop! Sometimes, to save scheduling time, a hogger-in-question following another train, will be permitted to stop, then forge ahead at fifteen, creeping up behind his predecessor, and preferably stopping before assaulting the afore-mentioned caboose! This is called "Stop and Proceed".

You may tell "Stop" (an "absolute" signal) from "Stop and Proceed" (known as a "permissive" signal) in a variety of ways. A semaphore signal with a square, blunt-ended blade tells you bluntly that this absolutely the place to stop, whereas a pointed end blade points you onward. If a multi-headed signal has its heads on opposite sides of the mast, then those sexy staggered heads are permissively luring you onward, as contrasted to the "straight" signal which is sternly absolute. Furthermore, poor old signals never blessed with a number plate will want you to stay there and keep them company, while those snobbish road signals with number plates would be just as apply if you passed them by.

So there you have it, an easy introduction to the Broadway world of color and flashing lights along ye olde right-of-way. Perhaps just one more challenge to the mechanical fascination of miniature railroading.

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