Everyone who drives hopefully knows that with traffic lights, red is always on top & green is on the bottom. Is there a standard with railroad signals??? I notice that some lines display red on bottom with green on top,but it doesn’t seem to be a set rule.Is it up to each railroad to decide how they want to display??? Easter .
I believe the top signal is always for the primary route. So if you have a green over red at a switch, you’re not taking the switch. Where as if you had a red on top and an approach or restricting signal on the bottom, you’re taking the switch or diverging route. Others my have better thoughts, but that’s what I’ve seen.
Check out this site for explaination of signals:
http://www.alkrug.vcn.com/rrfacts/signals/signals.htm
The location of the green is an indication of what route the indication is for.
My first take on the question was “What order are the lights within the signal?” On the old three lamp, vertically oriented signals, I think red was on the bottom. Have yet to see a “Darth Vader” signal in action, so don’t know about them.
Searchlight signals, of course, have all the colors inside on vanes. And then there’s color position lights, etc.
On the other hand, thanks for the insight on meanings of multiple signals (ie, 2 or 3 one above another). As many pictures as I’ve seen of signal indications, I’d just never really put that together in my mind that way…
I may not be asking this question correctly. Sorry guys,let me try again. Lets say a train is aproacing a block & it’s protected by a 2 light,red & green signal. If the block was occupied & it showed “red,” would red always be on the bottom??? Easter
Consult the rulebook, folks. It’s more uniform than it used to be, but each railroad has its quirks. Anyone who thinks the signals have the same meeting as highway signals just signed his own death warrant.
Not always…
"As you move away from downtown, you enter some of Syracuse’s ethnic neighborhoods. One of the most unique is Tipperary Hill on the west side of town. It is the old Irish section, and the focal point is on Burnet Park Drive, with its upside-down traffic light. Tradition has it that the sons and daughters of Eire couldn’t accept any color on top other than green. The city just gave up after many lights were ruined. "
On the road:
Red = stop
Green = go
Yellow = go faster
I know Chicago paints the river green for St Patty’s Day,but now I’ve seen everything.Great scene Larry Easter
Two different things here and I don’t know which you are talking about.
A group of lights (like a traffic light) is called a head. A head can have 1 to 4 color lights in it (red, yellow, green, white) A signal can have 1 to 3 heads on it.
Are you asking if there is a certain order to colors on an individual head? (no)
Or you asking if there is a particular order to colors displayed on a signal? (yes).
Depending on the signal just about any color can be displayed in any position. The names and indications do change for railroad to railroad.
Dave H.
Dave, I believe you answered my question,on order to colors displayed on a signal. Thank you. Easter