Safety Management System
Chapter 4 Ver.12. rev.0.
Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway
CHAPTER 4
SIGNALS AND BOARDS
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Safety Management System
Chapter 4 Ver.12. rev.0.
Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway
Document Control Sheet
Version History.
Version Number
Ver 12
Date
21.03.2012
Author
G Adams
Amendment
NEW
BOARD APPROVAL
Position
Chair
Accreditation
Officer
Review Date
01.06.2012
Name
Signature
Page 2 of 7
Date
Meeting Date
Safety Management System
Chapter 4 Ver.12. rev.0.
Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway
CHAPTER 4
SIGNALS AND BOARDS
CHAPTER 4: - SIGNALS AND BOARDS
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.10
4.11
4.12
4.13
4.14
4.15
4.16
4.17
4.18
4.19
Catch Points Disc – Q.P.S.R. Siding
Catch Points Disc – 5.0km
Whistle Boards
Down Approach Beacon
Flashing Light Approach Beacon
Trailable Points Approach Beacon
Trailable Facing Points Indicator
Clearance Point Board
Semaphore Signals
Super Control Signal
Hand and Hand Held signals
Shunting Signals
Right away Signals
Train Signals
Whistle Codes
Permanent Way Stop Signals
Speed Restrictions Signals
Hand Signals for Permanent Way Restrictions
Speed Boards
Page No.
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
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5
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6
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8
9
9
NB: All signals and boards mentioned in this chapter are attached with this chapter.
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Safety Management System
Chapter 4 Ver.12. rev.0.
Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway
CHAPTER 4
SIGNALS AND BOARDS
4.1 CATCH POINT DISC – QUEENSLAND PIONEER STEAM
RAILWAY SIDING
A Catch Point Disc is located at catch point showing, the catch point is open. Train crews
do not proceed over the catch point when the red disc is showing.
4.2 CATCH POINT DISC – 5.0 KM
Catch Point 2A and Catch Point Disc is located on the main line at Box Flat in the vicinity of
the 5km point. Train Crews must ensure that trains do not pass this disc if this
disc is displaying red.
4.3 WHISTLE BOARDS
Whistle boards consist of a black ‘W’ on a white background and indicates to Train Crews
that it is necessary to sound the whistle
for a level crossing.
4.4 DOWN APPROACH BEACON
The Down Approach Beacon is located prior to the Down Home Signal at Box Flat. This
Beacon is to remind Drivers that there is a Signal ahead which maybe at Stop and they are
required to bring their train under control and be prepared to stop.
4.5 FLASHING LIGHT APPROACH BEACON
This is a Triangular Shaped Beacon with Yellow and Black Stripes, which is located on the
Box Flat side of the Swanbank Station. The Beacon has a Flashing Light sign attached
below the Beacon. This indicates to the Driver that he is approaching a set of Flashing
Lights, which is protected by a Signal. The Driver should have his train under control and be
prepared to find the Signal at stop.
4.6 TRAILABLE POINTS APPROACH BEACON
A Triangular shaped Beacon with Yellow and Black Stripes is located on the Swanbank
Balloon Loop side of Swanbank Platform, facing the up direction. A Right Hand Trail able
Facing Points sign is attached below this beacon. This indicates to Train Crews that they are
approaching the trail able facing points on the balloon loop.
4.7 TRAILABLE FACING POINTS INDICATOR
Refer to Section 3.30 on Page 46.
4.8 CLEARANCE POINT BOARD
A board with the letters ‘C.P.’ displayed is located on the left hand side of the line at the
clearance point at the entrance to the balloon. This board indicates the point where Rolling
stock leaving the balloon loop will not foul rolling stock entering the balloon loop.
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Safety Management System
Chapter 4 Ver.12. rev.0.
Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway
4.9 SEMAPHORE SIGNALS
An Up Home Semaphore Signal is located on the left hand side of the line, 100 metres fro
the balloon loop points at Swanbank. A Down Home Semaphore Signal is located on the
right hand side of the line on the Swanbank side of Patrick Street Level crossing at Box Flat.
4.10 SUPER CONTROL SIGNAL
A Super Control signal is a Signal that has a Super Control sign attached to the signal.
The function of this signal is to allow the Flashing Lights to operate even when the signal
protecting the level crossing is at stop, when a train is approaching the Flashing Lights and
the Signal at Stop. The reason is to ensure that the crossing has been protected if for
some reason the train fails to stop at the station and passes the signal at stop.
The lights will deactivated after a short period of time and will only operate again when the
Signal at the Crossing is set to proceed. The Signal should be placed at Stop if the Train is
to stand at the Signal for any period longer than One (1) Minute.
4.11 HAND AND HAND HELD SIGNALS
Hand signals, Hand Held Flag signals and Hand Held Light signals must be used and
displayed correctly to ensure there is no misunderstanding or confusion.
To stop a train or other railway vehicles during daylight, use a red flag or raise both arms
above the head. At night use a red light or any light waved vigorously. To indicate a train or
railway vehicle to proceed during daylight use a green flag and at night use a green light.
4.12 SHUNTING SIGNALS
To instruct a shunt to move forward the member giving the signal is to wave an arm slowly
from side to side across the body below chest height during daylight, or wave a white light
slowly from side to side across the body at night. During daylight to instruct a shunt to move
slowly onto a rail vehicle or to compress the buffers to allow coupling or uncoupling
(easing up), raise both arms above the head forming an arc, then separate and lower arms
to the side. At night move a green light very slowly from side to side in a small arc. To
instruct a shunt to move away from a vehicle during daylight, the member giving the signal is
to move one arm outwardly from the body in a circular motion. At night time, a white light
held at the side of the member’s body is to be slowly raised and lowered below shoulder
height.
4.13 RIGHT-AWAY SIGNALS
Right of way signals must be given when a train is to depart after stopping at Box Flat,
Swanbank and Bundamba stations.
To indicate that the train may proceed, use a green flag outstretched at shoulder height
during daylight and a green light held steady at night.
Right-away signals may also be given by radio communication. Correct procedures are to be
adhered to. A first right-away signal is to be acknowledged by the Driver by sounding the
locomotive whistle or by radio communication. Prior to giving right-away signal the Guard is
to check that all doors and gates are properly closed. The Guard is to check that all persons
are clear of the train and that no persons are approaching the train from either side of the
line.
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Safety Management System
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Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway
The Guard is to blow a whistle to warn passengers that the
train is about to depart. The right-away signal can then be given.
4.14 TRAIN SIGNALS
Train crews are to ensure trains carry the required signals. Locomotives are to display two
white marker lights at night, located on either side of the locomotive or tender.
Guard’s Vans are to display two red markers lights at night, located on wither side of the
guard’s van. The red light is to face the rear of the train. The opposite side of these lights
show a white light facing to the lead of the Train. Headlights are to be turned on at night and
dimmed when approaching Persons standing at station platforms or when a motor vehicle is
approaching on a roadway from the opposite direction.
Train crews are to observe the white lights on the rear of the guards van at night to ensure
the train is intact.
4.15 WHISTLE CODES
In an emergency situation, or potential emergency situations, or where help is required the
train crew is to sound the whistle continuously or a continuous series of short whistles in
sets of threes.
A long whistle of at least two seconds duration is to be sounded when approaching level
crossings or approaching another train or approaching persons on or close to the line or
approaching whistle boards.
A whistle is to be sounded prior to any locomotive or train being moved. When approaching
members working on or near the line the train crew is to sound one long whistle, the
members are to acknowledge the whistle by raising an arm upright above the head
and move clear of the line. Train crews are to continue to sound the whistle and stop the
train if a person does not move clear of the line.
A short whistle of approximately one-second duration is to be used by train crews to
acknowledge right-away signals.
Three long whistles are to be used by train crews to tell a member of the train crew to
return to the train.
4.16 PERMANENT WAY STOP SIGNALS
Queensland Rail may place Permanent Way Stop Signals on the Bundamba to Box Flat
Section and/or the Box Flat to Swanbank section. These signals are placed to stop trains at
least 500 metres from an obstruction and are generally placed on the right hand side of the
line in the direction of travel. In sidings the Stop Signals may be placed in the middle of the
track. They are rectangular in shape. A Permanent Way Stop Signal is a reflective red board
attached to a stand. Three detonators are located ahead of the stop Signal and are 10
metres apart. A Stop Ahead Signal warns train crews that they are approaching a Stop
Signal. The front of the Stop Ahead Signal is reflective white with red lettering. The Stop
Ahead Signal is located 2000 metres prior to the Stop Signal and a detonator is placed 100
metres prior to the Stop Ahead Signal. Train crews approaching a Stop Signal are to look out
for the Stop Signal and bring the train to a stop before the Stop Signal.
4.17 SPEED RESTRICTION SIGNALS
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Safety Management System
Chapter 4 Ver.12. rev.0.
Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway
Queensland Rail may place Speed Restriction Signals on the Bundamba to Box Flat Section
and/or the Box Flat to Swanbank section. These signals are used to show where speed must
be reduced below the usual allowable speed. They are rectangular in shape. Speed
Restriction Signals consist of a Caution Signal with speed indication attached and a Slow
Signal with speed indication attached and a Cancellation Signal. These signals are placed
on the right hand side of the line in the direction of travel.
A caution Signal has reflective yellow front with a black letter
‘C’. The back of the Caution Signal is black with two reflective
white stripes. Numerals attached below the Caution Signal indicate the restricted speed.
The Caution Signal is located 2000 metres ahead of the Slow Signal. Train crews are to
watch out for the Slow Signal after observing a Caution Signal and ensure the train is slowed
to the restricted speed before passing the Slow Signal.
Slow Signal has a reflective yellow front with the word ‘SLOW’
depicted in black letters. Numerals attached below the Slow Signal indicate the restricted
speed. The back of the Slow Signal is black and gives no indication to train crews. Train
crews are to maintain the train at the restricted speed until the last vehicle has passed the
Cancellation Signal. A Cancellation Signal indicates the end of a speed-restricted section.
The front of a Cancellation Signal is reflective white and
the back is black and gives no indication to train crews.
4.18 HAND SIGNALS FOR PERMANENT WAY RESTRICTIONS
Queensland Rail staff to regulate the speed of trains may use hand signals. When a train
approaches a hand signaller who is displaying a red flag or red light signal, the train crew is
to stop the train prior to the hand signaller and obey any direction given by the hand
signaller. When a train approaches a hand signaller who is displaying a yellow flag or yellow
light signal, the train crew is to reduce speed to 15 kph prior to reaching the hand signaller
and maintain 15 kph speed until the last vehicle on the train has cleared the speed restricted
track.
4.19 SPEED BOARDS
Speed Boards are circular in shape, 600mm in diameter. The boards have a reflective
yellow background with black numerals. Speed boards indicate the maximum permissible
speed of trains. If a Speed Restriction indicates a speed slower than a speed board the
Speed Restriction speed is maximum permissible speed.
A speed board fitted with an arrow indicates the maximum permissible speed of trains
diverging in the direction of the arrow
at a turnout.
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