Signs of the Times

Signs of the Times. . Railroad signals communicate track conditions to the engineer of an approaching train. They are vital to rail safety. Without signals, it would be impossible to run multiple trains on a line., Though some resemble traffic lights, railroad signals are more complicated. Every railroad is responsible interpreting their own signaling system, which have historically varied widely. At their simplest, a signal might convey “proceed,” “proceed with caution,” or stop.” However, some signals might communicate a message as complex as “proceed prepared to stop before your train passes the next signal; trains exceeding 35 mph must immediately reduce speed.”, One of the first types of signals was a simple ball on a vertical pole and pulley, manually positioned higher or lower. As the railway system grew, signal technology evolved.