Welcome to "Railway Signs and Signals of Great Britain", where you can learn about the many different signs and signals that appear by the side of Britain's mainline railways for the purpose of conveying information or instructions to train drivers. The object of this website is to illustrate, and explain the meaning of, every signal indication or lineside sign that exists today or has existed in the past. Never before has all this information, which includes historical details as well as modern regional variations and 'one offs', been brought together and made available from a single point of reference. This site's contents are organised into convenient sections relating to distinct categories of signs and signals. Most of these sections comprise more than one page. Within each section, new or altered signs and indications are arranged in chronological order according to their earliest usage. Where known, the year of introduction is recorded along with any explanatory information. Experimental signs or signals are included, provided they have been exhibited alongside a railway open to normal traffic. The illustrations on this site deliberately omit any visible detail that has no influence on a sign or signal's meaning (e.g. holes or slots provided in early signals to reduce wind resistance). Variations in a sign's shape or colour, but not its size, are recorded. Signals and signs are generally depicted as being mounted on simple straight posts, as is most usual, but it is emphasised that the method of mounting or the position or absence of a post carries no relevance to drivers. Similarly, while colour light signal aspects are shown inside a typical signal head, the shape of the backboard or the position of the aspect within the head can vary without altering the meaning to the driver. Signalling and signage through the Channel Tunnel and in the vicinity of the Cheriton terminal follows SNCF (French National Railways) practice and is therefore outside the scope of this website. This site does, however, include information relating to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (or 'High Speed 1'). Each item illustrated within the main sections of the website is accompanied by key details summarised under the following three headings: Area:

This refers to the location, route or geographical area in which the sign or signal was used or, alternatively, the relevant company. Usage:

This provides an indicative guide to the level of usage the sign or signal has seen, according to the total number of individual examples that exist or have existed, and split roughly as follows: High - More than 200 examples.

Medium - Between 10 and 200 examples.

Low - Fewer than ten examples.

Nil - No usage on a railway open to normal traffic. Status:

This describes the present status of the sign or signal, as follows: Current - Within current practice, but this does not necessarily imply that any examples exist at the present time.

Obsolescent - No longer within current practice, but examples remain in use. Further provision has ceased, except where there is a need to maintain consistency at a given locality.

Historical - No longer present on the national network (but may exist on heritage railways).

On Trial - Presently exists for trial purposes only.

Uncertain - Generally relates to a 'one off' sign or signal that is extant but of unclear status. Clicking on this symbol takes you to a photograph of the relevant item, on a different page. More detailed information on a range of related topics can be found in the 'Supplementary Information' section. I welcome your comments and queries about this website. If you can contribute some new information or if you find an error, please let me know. I can be emailed at this address:





Support the NHS by never voting CONservative. Don't be conned - The Tories are not on your side.



Rail privatisation has failed. What the Tory government told us:

"I anticipate the level of subsidy will be about the same.

It'll then fall, because we're getting better value for money from

the people who bid for the franchises than we got from British Rail,

so the taxpayer will eventually save money, not lose money."

- George Young, Secretary of State for Transport, speaking in 1996.



"The fares will be lower, following privatisation, than they were before."

- John Major, Prime Minister, 20 March 1997.



The reality:

Annual subsidy to British Rail before privatisation: around £1 billion

Annual subsidy to the privatised rail industry: around £6 billion

and the most expensive fares in Europe! Read the CRESC report on the failure of rail privatisation. Sign the petition calling for the renationalisation of Britain's railways.