page_title: Australian railway signalling
section_title: Upper quadrant semaphore signals
hierarchical_section_title: Australian railway signalling / New South Wales / Upper quadrant semaphore signals
caption_attribution_description: English: New South Wales, upper quadrant semaphore signals. The one on the left is a 'distant' signal (fixed top green light) The one on the right (shown from the rear) is an automatic 3 position semaphore (arm at top with lower lamp unit) Both signals were replaced with single aspect colour light type signals in 2010. Location is near Goulburn, NSW, Australia
context_page_description: Australian railway signalling varies between the states of Australia as each railway was established under the different colonial governments with separate legislation. As with the notorious situation of having different gauges, there are differing signal systems. New South Wales signalling systems generally follow British precepts, however American influence has increased somewhat since the 1990s. The Victorian Railways use Speed Signalling. This can cause confusion where the systems meet. For example, in New South Wales, Green-over-Red means 'Caution', indicating the next signal is at 'Stop'.
  In Victoria that same aspect, Green-over-Red, means 'Clear Normal Speed', indicating the next signal is anything but at 'Stop'. On the main south line from Sydney, Single Light Colour Light signals are now exclusively used from Spring Creek bridge to Albury on the Victoria border. This forms a buffer zone between the areas giving conflicting signal indications. Gradually the remaining Upper Quadrant signals are being replaced by Single Light Colour Light signals.
  South Australia uses two primary forms of signalling.
context_section_description: The power-operated three-position upper quadrant semaphore signal, American in origin, was introduced to New South Wales by the English signal engineer, C.B. Byles, in 1913. Byles (1871–1948) led New South Wales Railways through its introduction of power signalling, from 1911 until 1929.
  At night, two lights, one above the other, are exhibited. The spectacle attached to the signal arm has three lenses, that is a green for the vertical clear position and red for the other two lenses. In some cases, the semaphore arm moves to the horizontal danger position when the line between the distant signal and the stop signal to which it applies is occupied.
  The Distant signals capable of exhibiting Danger are fitted with an upper red/green spectacle; the two-position versions have a fixed upper green. The Home/Starting signals give three indications. The arm moves from horizontal displaying a red light, upwards to 45 degrees displaying a green or yellow light, and fully vertical also displaying a green light. In double light areas, the lower light of these signals stays red until a full Clear indication is shown. Therefore, these signals will show the same lights indicated by the Lower Quadrant Semaphore Distant and two-arm signals, that is, two greens for Clear, a green over a red for Caution and two reds for Stop.
caption: UQ semaphore signals, 3 position auto (right) and 2 position distant (left)
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