What does it mean when the signal is up/down on the railway?

Question

Please explain!

Answer 1

up means cler and down means stop

Answer 2

This is a nice simple one!

The signals on the up line = signals on the line 'Up' to London

The signals on the down line = Signals on the line Down (Out) of London.

I do not know why London was always seen as Up mind, but I gather that it delveloped like that from the early days of the railway.

(On the line that runs from Hastings to Brighton the Up line is the line leaving Hastings & going to Brighton, while the down line is the line running from Brighton to Hastings. So any branch line will be the same Like Bromley North to Grove Park in London )

Anyway I hope that my answer helps.

Answer 3

If the signal is in the horizontal position, it is considered to be showing a "Stop" or "Danger" aspect, if the signal arm is raised or lowered by 45degrees (upper or lower quadrant signal) it is considered to be "Off", therefore the trains can proceed on there journey.

Out of interest, three months ago several new semaphore signals have been errected on the railway line between Derby and Stoke on Trent, these signals have replaced some LMS signals that were nearly 70 years old.

Answer 4

Fiona, you're right about the semaphores but I should mention "approach lit" signals too, which do not turn on until the approaching train is near the block.

Answer 5

Up is clear to go ; Down is stop.

Railway signals work on a fail-safe system. If there is any fault, then gravity makes the signal fall down, thereby indicating "Danger" and stop!

Quite simple and very, very clever.

On modern electronic signals, although red is the signal for stop, no lights showing at all is also regarded as danger.

Answer 6

Above answers are correct, the last semaphore on our line came down a bit over a year ago, sad day.

We still use the same terminology though, when someone says "the signal just came up" they mean they just got a proceed indication.

when a signal is said to drop, it means it just went to a stop indication even though it is all just colored lights and not arms.

Answer 7

You question (up/down) suggests you are referring to semaphore signals as opposed to modern colour light ones.

Well, if it is a stop signal (red with a squared end, vertical white stripe), is raised or lowered by 45 degrees, it  means proceed.  If horizontal, it means stop.

If it is yellow with a fishtail end, black chevron, it's a distant signal.  Raised or lowered 45 degrees means all associated stop signals worked from the same signal box are off.  If it's horizontal, prepare to stop at the at the next stop signal or other designated place.

Answer 8

It should be pointed out that semaphore signals can be "upper quadrant" as well as "lower quadrant."

The indications are the same in that horizontal is the stop position.  Upper quadrant signals have the blade pointing upwards for a proceed indication.  With a lower quadrant system, the blade points down to indicate proceed.

Answer 9

Wow. I haven't seen a semaphore signal in decades. I heard that there are still a few around. Send me a photo.

Answer 10

There are 2 types: Upper Quadrant (used throughout the world, as it will display danger automatically if the cable is cut) and Lower Quadrant (used by the GWR).

Upper Quadrant signals are normally 2 point (Danger and clear), the "Distant" coming form a Yellow signal, either adjoining the signal on the post or on a nearby post (depending on when it was installed).

American Signals are generally of the Upper type, combining both the "Home" and "Advance" in 1 signal with 3 positions.

Lower Quadrant signals are the same as Upper Quadrant, except they go down instead of up. Lower Quadrant signals are more prone to danger as they show "all clear" when the signal cable is cut. This problem was Highlighted in Thomas the Tank Engine (episode "The Flying Kipper", season 1), when Henry crashed into a waiting train because the ice froze the signal is "down/all clear" position; however, signals are generally provided with an attendent in Winter who applies hot oil to keep them working.

Also see:

http://www.roscalen.com/signals/index.ht...

http://www.signalbox.org/

Answer 11

Some good answers here about signals.

There are still quite a few locations that have mechanical signalling.

Castleton east junction and Rochdale east being my two closest boxes with semaphores (apart from My local preserved railway).

(I work a box with levers operating colour lights).

Have a look at the link below it has some descriptions of signalling written for the non railway buff.

Answer 12

If it's up slam on the breaks, when it's down hit that pedal to the floor and roast them tires baby!

Answer 13

derail--------type in http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A1f4cfzWMvt...