Talk:Railway signal

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To-do
list

Pending tasks for Railway signal:

 (purge cache –  edit this list)
  • Images of dwarf, position and color position signals
  • Copyedit
  • References
  • Review/augment non-USA discussion
  • Historical section (e.g. ball and banjo signals)
See also Wikipedia:WikiProject Trains/Todo

I've never seen a British signal, and the article makes me quite curious. Pictures would be great. Stargoat 20:10, 1 Sep 2004 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Richard Spikes

According to other online sources and information out there, this African-American inventor was the one who invented the railroad semaphore in 1906 not that James fellow. I believe this page along with many others needs some dire re-visioning soon. Once again, African Americans who have contributed something to U.S society is left out again.

source: http://www.blackinventor.com/pages/richardspikes.html —Preceding unsigned comment added by Dew3 (talk • contribs) 20:49, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Railway semaphores existed long before 1906 - the one invented by Mr Spikes must have been one of many variants on the original concepts - further research would be required on what exactly, the link isn't specific enough. Wongm (talk) 22:24, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
One can see an illustration from 1888 of a semaphore here. I did a google patent search on Spikes, and while plenty of other stuff that he invented shows up, there's no patent for a railroad signal, no matter what the year. As far as I can tell, this claim is puffery. Mangoe (talk) 22:27, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] What about the USA?

Would be nice to have some info about RR signalling in the US. Topics might include searchlights/color position light signals, and the absolute permissive block system. --ZekeMacNeil 23:41, 23 Dec 2004 (UTC)

It's nearly completely content-free right now, but I've started a North American railway signaling stub. A similar article, using the British spelling signalling also links there. Someone (maybe me, maybe you) can fill it with content along the lines of the articles already out there on similar national/regional practices:
— JonRoma 06:37, 6 February 2006 (UTC)
I just completely rewrote the section at Railway signalling#Signaling in the U.S.. It might contain a little bit of what you're looking for, although you seem to be looking more for info on the actual signals themselves (style, aspects, method of operation, etc.), which I'm less familiar with (though I know a signal maintainer who would know all of that stuff). Try looking at the following resources for some leads, too:
cluth 04:26, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Proposed merge

There is significant overlap of content and subject matter in Railway signal and Railway signalling and I propose the content from Railway signal be merged to Railway signalling, which is a more appropriately-named article.

  • Support. — JonRoma 21:26, 4 February 2006 (UTC)
  • Support. — John 22:16, 4 February 2006 (UTC)
I sure don't see a formal proposal or consensus from that discussion (in November 2005). Anyone is entitled to their opinion, of course, but I fail to see the value of two distinct articles that treat nearly the same subject matter. Both treat the fundamental subject of signalling practice rather than one discussing signaling devices and the other discussing the philosophy behind signalling. Perhaps someone can explain the benefit of having such similar material divided between two articles. Regards. — JonRoma 06:19, 6 February 2006 (UTC)
  • Oppose - G-Man * 20:06, 5 February 2006 (UTC)
  • Oppose — Railway signalling should be about all the operations to do with railway signalling, and Railway signal should be about the signals themselves. Ae-a 12:57, 31 May 2006 (UTC)
  • Oppose A Signal, and Signalling are two differing topics
  • Oppose There is too much to discuss about signalling as it is without merging the "signal" article in. Mangoe 04:06, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

I've taken out the RfM as there is no reference on the RfM page, this has sat around for months, and I've expanded the article drastically since the proposal was made. Mangoe 14:42, 4 July 2006 (UTC)

  • Support I support the merge because the topics are nearly identical; however, I have no position as to the "direction" of the merge, as both articles are potentially of GA quality. 69.140.164.142 03:25, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Major Rewrite

I've almost totally rewritten this article, partly to filter out the general signalling discussion, but mostly to discuss the great variation in North American practice. At this point I don't think there's cause to merge this into railway signalling anymore.

As I've made such extensive changes, the article needs considerable review. See the "tasks" list for more info. Mangoe 19:22, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Safeworking/signalling topic organisation

I have posted my thoughts on the organisation and coverage of signals and signalling articles in Talk:Railway signalling#Safeworking/signalling topic organisation. Philip J. Rayment 11:22, 18 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Signal power section

This part seems extremely dubious. At least in US practice there is important detail about batteries and such. The variation in line current supply is really of no importance. Mangoe (talk) 22:55, 27 December 2007 (UTC)

Signalling power supplies is a topic for the Railway signalling article, not this one. I'm struggling to find any of this worth keeping here. Signalhead (talk) 23:07, 27 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Possible false information Re: Long Island Rail Road

The following paragraph from the article -

"Furthermore, the Long Island Rail Road adopted position lights after it was bought outright by the PRR. After the Penn Central merger, the former all-amber position lights were modified with twin red lenses in the upper horizontal position for enhanced recognizability of Stop signals at interlockings."

- is incorrect from what I've seen. I have never noted twin red lenses above any amber position lights, and I've been riding the LIRR for years (and paying attention to such things). The LIRR's use of all-amber position lights is correct, however, although I can't speak to the history of when and why they were adopted.

I'd be interested to see if someone could confirm my assertion before I go and edit the article.

-_Scott

BTW - I'm writing this message whilst on my way home from work on an LIRR train. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Scott.m.rosenberg (talk • contribs) 00:08, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Gantry vs. signal bridge

I've undone some recent changes, and particular checking reveals that "gantry" and "signal bridge" are essentially synonyms. Mangoe (talk) 20:52, 24 April 2008 (UTC)