Understanding warner routes better

When a full overlap is not available beyond the exit signal of a route, there may be a facility for calling a warner route. To the driver this appears as a red signal which changes to a yellow at the time he stops in front of the signal. It means that only a reduced overlap, or no overlap at all, is available and so he must approach the next signal with extra caution. For some routes a warner route is selected automatically according to circumstances; for others a separate button will be provided in the form of a yellow triangle. In the latter case routesetting is the same as for a main route except that the yellow triangle must be clicked on for the exit rather than the signal itself.

Surely warner signals must have something different on their plates to identify them to drivers as warners and not running signals? Can setting warner routes in preference to running routes save time by eliminating overlap timeout? When should one opt to use a warner route if there is a choice? Etc., etc.

Thanks for feedback.

So a player who hasn't taken much notice of warner signals before might miss the possibility of non-warner alternatives, and vice versa. It seems that only by trial and error would he know whether alternatives are possible and whether the interlocking may or may not allow warner/non-warner alternative routes to be set, and what these conditions are.

Surely warner signals must have something different on their plates to identify them to drivers as warners and not running signals?

Can setting warner routes in preference to running routes save time by eliminating overlap timeout? When should one opt to use a warner route if there is a choice?

It seems that only by trial and error would he know whether alternatives are possible and whether the interlocking may or may not allow warner/non-warner alternative routes to be set, and what these conditions are.

As has been mention the driver doesn't need to know what route has been set. We always expect drivers to stop at a Red Signal so how much overlap he has available is irrelevant.

Are drivers told where warner routes are provided? Or do they just think the signaller's slow getting the signal off?

Surely warner signals must have something different on their plates to identify them to drivers as warners and not running signals?

" said:

Surely warner signals must have something different on their plates to identify them to drivers as warners and not running signals?

Bypassing the point already made about warner routes not signals - why would this be necessary? What difference would it make to how a train is driven? The driver will already be driving the train appropriate to the signal aspect in front of him.

If anything, if you think about it, identifying a signal as part of a warner route could actually be quite dangerous. Not only is it unnecessary information for the driver, but if a driver was anticipating a signal would step up from red to yellow on approach, on the knowledge it was a warner route, and it didn't, then you would be increasing your chances of a SPAD.

If anything, if you think about it, identifying a signal as part of a warner route could actually be quite dangerous. Not only is it unnecessary information for the driver, but if a driver was anticipating a signal would step up from red to yellow on approach, on the knowledge it was a warner route, and it didn't, then you would be increasing your chances of a SPAD.

" said:

So a player who hasn't taken much notice of warner signals before might miss the possibility of non-warner alternatives, and vice versa. It seems that only by trial and error would he know whether alternatives are possible and whether the interlocking may or may not allow warner/non-warner alternative routes to be set, and what these conditions are.

The availability of warner routes towards a signal is indicated by the presence of a yellow triangle. If it's there, you can choose whether or not you use it.

Quote:

Surely warner signals must have something different on their plates to identify them to drivers as warners and not running signals?

There is no distinction on a signal number plate.

My experience with warner routes is usually limited to discovering that setting some routes require a warner signal (= "delayed yellow" signal) to be used as the exit signal, instead of a main signal.

The Down line through Topsham (Exeter sim) from signals EJ25 to EJ27 is one example.

So a player who hasn't taken much notice of warner signals before might miss the possibility of non-warner alternatives, and vice versa. It seems that only by trial and error would he know whether alternatives are possible and whether the interlocking may or may not allow warner/non-warner alternative routes to be set, and what these conditions are.

The Indian Railways Fan Club site has a very detailed section on warners but their system and symbols probably differ widely from UK standards.

The UP approaches to Haymarket (on Edinburgh) have auto-Warner route (for want of a better phrase) ROLs. These allow trains to get closer to the station while the OL is occupied. They will step up to main routes when the main OL becomes clear.

Peter Bennet wrote:
Quote:

The UP approaches to Haymarket (on Edinburgh) have auto-Warner route (for want of a better phrase) ROLs. These allow trains to get closer to the station while the OL is occupied. They will step up to main routes when the main OL becomes clear.

Excuse me, what are ROLs and OLs?

Excuse me, what are ROLs and OLs?

Reduced OverLaps and OverLaps.

What's the score with CCTV/MCB crossings within an overlap?

Certain types of obstruction within the clearing point are permitted, as they are not deemed to be permanent obstructions. These include:

Level crossing gates
Road and pedestrian traffic on level crossings

Peter Bennet wrote:
Quote:

The UP approaches to Haymarket (on Edinburgh) have auto-Warner route (for want of a better phrase) ROLs. These allow trains to get closer to the station while the OL is occupied. They will step up to main routes when the main OL becomes clear.

Excuse me, what are ROLs and OLs?

They're not warner signals, they're warner routes, or more accurately known as reduced overlap.

So what's the official term for the exit signal on a warner route? Delayed yellow, warner exit signal, ROL signal?

Pics 1 and 2 show Platform 3 Full and Reduced overlap (OR and ROL) respectively, in cyan. The ROL signal (yellow triangle) has the same ID as its main (running) signal - no distinguishing prefix.

The yellow ROL triangle here is located between P2 and P3, yet there is only one warner route, i.e., through P3. This may be inferred by noting the two overlap segments Down from P3, if you overlooked the yellow triangle! A better design might have been to attach the triangle to the side of P3, similar to P4 in Exeter St Davids in the same sim, to avoid any confusion as to where the ROL applies. Nevertheless, it is equally obvious that the triangle only points in one direction - Down (Main or Relief).