Just wondering if anyone can tell me what this diagonal light aspect at the end of the platform is for. I have been trying to do my own research including https://www.drivehq.com/file/df.aspx/publish/railreports/intranet/_pdf/deu_signale.pdf but, I haven't come to any understanding. Thanks.
There’s a long and a short explanation. Short: It’s a repeater of the main signal for leaving the platform. If the diagonal light is on, the main signal shows an aspect allowing the train to proceed. Long: To leave the station, the guard needs to authorise the driver to depart. But the guard is only allowed to do this if the dispatcher has already given their permission (in the form of a positive signal aspect). As the guard will usually not be able to see the main signal, they can check this signal here in question (called a Fahrtanzeiger), which indicates what the main signal shows. The diagonal light bar means that there’s a positive signal aspect in the direction you’re looking into, three diagonal white dots mean there’s a positive signal aspect in the opposite direction from where you’re looking at. No light means the signal is red and the guard may not authorise departure. It’s worth noting that these are not technically true signals and therefore cannot replace checking the actual signal. For more information, see here (both only in German): https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahrtanzeiger http://www.tf-ausbildung.de/SignalbuchOnline/fahrtanzeiger.htm
Thank you so much for the insight, it is truly appreciated.. +1 to DTG for representing this in the game.
Is the hollow green circle appearing below exit signals at some major stations related to this? It tends to show up for me mainly with ICE runs.
You are talking about the signal Zp9, order to depart. As Lamplight was explaining above, the guard may only give Zp9 if the exit signal shows green, hence they are related. Zp9 is an official signal and only relates to certain train categories, where the „train chief“ is actually responsible for the train, not the driver, all ICEs and some ICs fall under this category. Zp9 can also be a hand held disk with a green circle.
Oh, and the old-school DB uniform! Or at least the hat- by my time I think the buttoned collars had given way to neckties
As it does look staged, I am surprised not to see the whistle, if not in his mouth, at least somewhere The whistle is just as iconic, at least in my recollection…
Then again, these pictures are probably even too old for our age who knows how important the whistle was back than.
