Rangiersignale

Rangiersignale are a class of railway signals used to regulate shunting movements within marshalling yards, sidings and industrial tracks. They are separate from mainline signals and provide instructions specifically for movements that involve coupling, uncoupling, and rearranging railcars rather than running trains through a block.

Rangiersignale may be mechanical signals with semaphore arms or electric light signals. Typical aspects include stop (Halt) and proceed (Fahrt), with possible additional indications such as proceeding with caution or authority to move onto a specific track. Signals are often placed close to switches and track boundaries to guide locomotives and rakes through interlocking points and to protect shunting operations.

They are commonly controlled by yard interlockings or by local signal boxes, and their clearance is coordinated with protecting signals on the mainline to prevent conflicting movements. In many railway systems, Rangiersignale are integrated into the overall signaling concept, using standardized interlocking logic that ensures safe sequencing of shunting moves. In modern networks, electronic interlocking and computer-based control have replaced many mechanical systems, but traditional Rangiersignale remain in use in numerous yards and heritage lines.

Historically, the development of Rangiersignale accompanied the expansion of freight and passenger services requiring flexible yard operations, and standardization occurred over time in various European countries. Today, they continue to play a role in places where yard operations demand localized signaling to manage car movements, while many networks increasingly rely on centralized or cab-based systems.