What are the nets one sees on rockfaces or hillsides abutting railway lines in some areas?

19-07-2019

In areas where rock falls or landslides are common, IR uses meshes or nets fixed to the rockfaces or the hillsides -- these are 'stitched' to the hillside at frequent intervals. They act to trap and stop, or slow down falling or sliding rocks and boulders so that they either do not fall all the way down, or lose their kinetic energy and fall without infringing the tracks. Generally the nets are made of polypropylene ropes of 10mm-16mm diameter with high thermal, abrasion, and ultraviolet resistance. The mesh size is from 100mm to 300mm depending on the area, and the typical size of the fractured or falling rocks. These are appropriate for retaining and slowing small to medium sized

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What are ‘single-wire’ and ‘double-wire’ signalling?
July 14, 2019

'Single-wire' apparatus, as the name implies, utilizes a single wire or cable connecting the signal lever at the cabin or elsewhere where the signal frame is located, to the actual semaphore mechanism on the signal post. Operating the signal lever to take the signal off causes the transmission wire to be pulled, moving the semaphore arm to the

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What are the systems of semaphore signalling used by IR?
July 14, 2019

In IR's lower quadrant system (Two-aspect Lower Quadrant) the semaphore arm can only be in two positions. The horizontal on position shows the most restrictive indication (requiring the train to stop or slow down or proceed with caution depending on the kind of signal), and a lowered position where the semaphore arm is at about 60 degrees or more

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What types of signalling systems are used on IR?
July 14, 2019

R uses several forms of signalling. In IR manuals reference is made usually only to 4 main types of systems, Lower Quadrant semaphore, Modified Lower Quadrant semaphore, Multiple Aspect Upper Quadrant semaphore, and multiple-aspect colour-light signalling. But in practice there are some variations in the kinds of colour-light signalling seen, so

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What kinds of signals (semaphores, lamps, etc.) does IR use?
July 14, 2019

IR uses several kinds of signals. Semaphore signals have generally given way to colour-light signals although there are still many places with semaphore signalling in use. Semaphore signals are the older style signals seen widely throughout the country, where each signal has an assembly with an arm mounted on a mast, where the arm can move

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Why are multiple aspect signalling systems used? What was wrong with the older systems which had two aspects?
July 14, 2019

Multiple aspect signals, by providing several intermediate speed stages between 'clear' and 'on', allow high-speed trains sufficient time to brake safely if required. This becomes very important as train speeds rise. Without multiple-aspect signals, the stop signals have to be placed very far apart to allow sufficient braking distance, and this

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How is failure of signals guarded against?
July 14, 2019

Signal installations are designed as far as possible for fail-safe operation, which means that any failure should leave the system in a state where dangerous train movements are not allowed. For instance, in case of a failure detected at a panel interlocking installation, all signals controlled by it are designed to revert to On. Similarly, a

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