Railway semaphore signal

A British semaphore signal on the former Southern Region of British Railways

British style "somersault" semaphore signals in Victoria, Australia

One of the earliest forms of fixed railway signal is the semaphore. These signals display their different indications to train drivers by changing the angle of inclination of a pivoted 'arm'.

Railway Semaphore Signal Media

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  Upper quadrant semaphore signals at Castleton East Junction in England

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  German semaphore distant (left) and home (right) signal exhibition in Steinfurt, Germany

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  Upper quadrant signal on the Santa Fe Railroad, 1943. The vertical position indicates a "clear" aspect.

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  Lower quadrant stop signals at St. Erth in 2007

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  Somersault signals at Carrickfergus railway station, showing the distinctive central pivot about which the arm "somersaults"

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  Semaphore signal levers inside train dispatcher's room of Cianjur railway station. These levers are connected to the signal by pairs of wires.

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  British semaphore stop signal (lower quadrant type)

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  British semaphore distant signal (lower quadrant type)

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  A typical signal box layout. The crossover and level crossing are protected by the home signal, while a starting signal guards the entrance to the next block section.

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  British semaphore stop and distant signals on common post (lower quadrant type)