Railway Signaling

Signaling consists of formative the location of railcars or trains on the direction and of operating electromechanical signals to notify the train operator of appropriate actions. Signaling is highly coordinated with scheduling to avoid collisions. Prior to the availability of modern radio communications, signaling, and messages passed to trains were the principle means of communication. Further signaling for safety is done by setting flares and by attaching explosive "torpedoes" to a rail.