Signalman (rail)

As turnout guards the operator of points and signals is referred to in railway operation.

In the early days of the railroad the course attendants were vested in the operation and maintenance of stationary asked turnout - Wait for the purposes of care, that is Gangbarhalten by lubricating the moving parts, hence the name switch guards. Until the 1980s there was in Germany in major railway stations in areas with no passenger trains Rangierbezirke whose turnout was provided by course attendants by hand. For the stay of course there were guards the course attendants stalls or hand switch item.

With the advent of remote Asked points and signals increasingly interlocking guards were established. These have been major stations, in which the number of points or the distance made ​​several interlocking systems required the facilities. In the main switchboard, the Dispatcher worked, the planning and implementation of the train were transferred. He was subordinate to the course attendants who were the guards interlocking worked either in the same switchboard, the dispatcher switchboard or in a separate switchboard.

The course attendants not only switches and other portable devices in rail infrastructure, but also signals. However, the main signals it can operate through the station block due to technical dependencies between the interlockings only in the individual order of the Dispatcher. For modernized systems, the signal operation is centralized at the dispatcher. The operation of the route block transfer - In addition, it is - depending on your connection and function of the signal box. The block field of the permission change for the single-track line block form ensures by signal closure for the prevention of counter- trips from the neighboring Zugmeldestelle. When the guards permission field is also depending on the order by the Dispatcher. This applies to the operation of the substitute signals.

The course attendants may perform shunting in the sidings of the railway station at its discretion; Shunting on main tracks he may permit only if he has previously informed the dispatcher.

By centralizing parking activities in larger control districts in modern signal boxes and the associated decline in mechanical interlockings the number of required switches guards went back. In larger interlockings they are still working to support the Dispatcher.

The term declaration for "soft guards " has changed several times. For the valid Explanation of terms and the functions to be on the point guards duties, the following applies:

Railway operation takes place in two processes ( processes ) rather than: 1 trains, 2nd maneuvering. The names of the two processes is the name of the policy 408 The rules of the Directive ( trains and shunting ) 408 408.0111 determine the module which employees work in railway operation, ie when performing the two processes do. These are Dispatchers, switch guards, drivers or train drivers.

For Dispatcher module 408.0102 contains a term explanation: Dispatcher governing the conduct of the train. The modules of the module groups thus apply to them exclusively ( trains and shunting - General - ) 408.01, ( trains - usually - ) 02 and 03 ( Trains - Excellence - ) 04, ( trains - irregularities in railway operation - ) 05, 06 ( trains - Irregularities of technical facilities -) and 09 ( trains and shunting - peculiarities and irregularities - ). Dispatchers are not involved in " maneuvering " at the end.

For the switches keeper no term explanation is given in Directive 408. Your responsibilities are limited to ( trains and shunting - General - ) in the modules of the module groups 408.01, 08 ( shunting ) and 09 ( trains and shunting - peculiarities and irregularities - ) called. You are not involved " trains " at the end.

In the notes to the announcement of 1 to the Consolidated Directive ( KoRil ) 408.01 - 09, effective 15 June 2003, describes how the concept has developed "soft guards " which tasks perceive a switch guards and why the term " operator " in Directive 408 is used.

Extract from the notes ( in italics ):

Thus, the user of the module groups 408.01 - 09, the module groups 408.11 - 19 (employees, the monitoring tasks perceive or Local regulations or Betra up ) or other persons, for example, executives or employees of authorities, the terms " dispatcher ", " operator " and better understanding of "soft guards " and the relationships we will explain it.

The term " operator " is not new. She is from the rules " signal systems use " (eg 482.9001 ) removed. Term: operator, meaning: the persons entrusted with the operation of signaling systems staff (eg dispatcher, points guards, gatekeepers, platoon leader ). An operator can be dispatcher or switch guards, for example, but it need not be. Not all operators must be Dispatchers or switch guards. Until 31.12.1995 was held the "operator ", " keeper " is used. Quote from the Preface, paragraph 4 h to the procedure for the operation of signaling systems - General - (Sig VB 1), valid from 1 July 1977: " In this regulation and in the other part of tacking the DV 482 are designated: h) " guards " entrusted with the operation of signaling systems staff (eg dispatcher, points guards, gatekeepers, platoon leader ). " the "track" called " guards " can be traced back according to the documents provided to us on the rules for the block - and interlocking service (Bl u StV ), valid from September 1, 1933 - issue 1942 - Preface, paragraph 6: "With all the guards entrusted with the operation of block and interlocking servants are referred to in these regulations. To this end therefore include the dispatcher have to use the block or interlocking. " To the rules for the block service ( BlV ) of the Prussian State Railway Administration, valid from December 1, 1913 quote from the foreword paragraph 5: " With guards are in these regulations all persons entrusted with the operation of block works officials called "In the regulations of the former Deutsche Reichsbahn (new Länder ), the term " keeper "is used as a generic term for those safety systems operate (DV 471 - SichV - ). .

(Pass and running regulations, driving service provision, trains and shunting ) In the rules 408 has been used, of course, the term " keeper ", and that is when the operation of signaling systems has been addressed. The term was not explained in the rules 408, because this is a term used in the rules for the operation of the signal system. In the Running Regulations (FV ), valid from April 1, 1944, edition 1947 it says, for example, in § 21, Section 9 ( security) " A Soft ... is considered guarded if the guards overlook ... may," in § 22 para 21 (stop position of a main signal not possible) " ... it shall advise the guards immediately Dispatchers ". In the former case the guard is a ( turnouts) warden, in the second case (signal) warden.

In the rules ... 408 is also the term " switch guards " used. According to the explanations given above the switch guards would be an " operator of the turnout ." " Turnout guards " would be a narrower term of " warden ". Rules 408 ( as far as you can to develop on the joint Deutsche Reichsbahn and also pursuing at the German Federal Railways and Deutsche Bahn AG) have used the term " switch guards " used exclusively in connection with the maneuvering.

The new rules in the module ... 408 111 reflect the development. Activities in railway operations perform dispatcher ( for the part of " trains " ), points guards (for the part maneuver " ). A shunting movement agrees with the course attendants - not the Dispatcher. An employee can therefore carry out several activities, it can be dispatcher or switch guards, depending on whether it regulates the sequence of moves, for example, or if they agree to a shunting movement. Served Become signal systems, this can be done by the dispatcher or by the turnout guards, both of which are according to the rules 482.9001 " operator " until 31.12.1995 " keeper ". The operator of an electronic signal box is when he controls the sequence of moves, Dispatchers, if it agrees to shunting, turnouts guards.

In an interlocking multiple employees can be active. The Dispatcher controls the execution of a train ride. Other employees who set the track as the train ride, are the operator. Operator of another signal box may be involved in the implementation of a train ride. The operator should then not - as is sometimes argued wrong - Point guards. A switch guards, as explained above, only operate in conjunction with maneuvering.

With the announcement of 1 to the Consolidated Directive 408, trains and shunting the harmonization of rules 408 was provisionally closed.

• Railway workers (occupation)