2 position starting/advance starting signals
| Starting and advance starting signals are identical in appearence to 2 position home signals. Starting signals controlled the entrance into a double line block section and were identified by their location and being named as such on signal diagrams. Although the rulebook never explicitly stated that they were only used to depart into a double line block section, the exceptions for passing a starting signal at the stop position were clearly meant for signals taking you into a double line block section. In later years the term "starting signal"was often used for any signal beyond a set of points which was the last signal at an electric staff station. It is important to understand that starting signals did not protect points. The aspects for a starting and advanced starting signal were identical to a 2 position home signal. There are no advanced starting signals remaining in Victoria and all reference to them has been removed from the current rulebook. |
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| Up starting signal (at proceed) from Ballarat East, 1983 | ||||||
| Down starting signal from Batman, 1982 | ||||||
| Up starting signal from Bendigo A box, due to signal sighting problems this signal was on the "wrong side." This particular starting signal led onto an advanced starting signal (shown below) which was provided because trains took a long time to go up the grade out of Bendigo and the advanced starting signal allowed another train out of the yard. The advanced starting signal can be see in the distance on the left side of the track, (and in the photo below)
A signal diagram of this layout can be found here (note, the diagram shows post 3 on the left side of the track) |
Up advanced starting signal from Bendigo A and up distant for Golden Square. 1986
| Up starting signal from Murtoa, this is an example of what I consider an incorrect use of therm "starting signal" it was at the entrance to an electric staff section. On the electric staff system the authority to enter the section is the staff, not a "starting" signal. This signal was provided in 1965 when the crossing "Wimmera Highway"was equipped with flashing lights and it allowed a train to move up to the signal without activating the flashing lights at the crossing. As the signal protected the crossing I believe it should have been called a home signal. Photo date 1982 |