PLACING SEMAPHORE SIGNALS ON MODEL RAILWAYS

Excellent read. Thank you.

Although intended for a primary audience of British Railway Modelers of the semaphore signal era, this book would be very useful for anyone interested in British railways. Signals are used to communicate to a train's crew, permitting or denying them permission to enter a section of track and, with Distant signals, some information about restrictions which might be encountered ahead. They are essential for safe operations, and semaphore signals were present over much of British Railways prior to the 1970s. This book details, with 21 illustrations, types of semaphore signals used on British railways, and, with 18 photographs, positions, locations and situations in which they may be found and used. Most of the illustrations and all the photographs are in colour. The main text contains 11 diagrams of track configurations showing the locations and signal types which would be used for such configurations. Typical signal requirements for different track classifications (depending on whether used for passenger or only for freight trains or if just a shunting yard) and the division of running track into separate sections or blocks is also described. The manner in which signals are positioned and identified around these blocks is diagrammed and detailed. An appendix contains a further 5 diagrams showing track configurations and signal locations for the model areas in the photographs. Although there is no separate Glossary, definitions for many words and terms are included in the text. These include such as a line's direction as "Up" or "Down", a signal's position being "On" or "Off", the "Absolute Block" system and many others. There are also many interesting details such as the reason that the "green" lens to illuminate a semaphore signal being in the "go" position at night is actually blue, while the red lens for the "stop" position is actually red. This is an excellent book from which to gain an understanding of semaphore signalling and related railway operations on British railways and not solely for Railway Modelers.

An interesting book for a first time modeller but of little use to anyone else. Nevertheless not a bad publication.