Spurhalteleuchten

Spurhalteleuchten are signaling devices used in railway environments to indicate the status of spur tracks, sidings, or turnout-access points. The term combines spur (the branch track), halte (stop or halt), and leuchten (lights), and it is typically applied to lights installed adjacent to or at the entrance of a spur to convey movement instructions to train crews and shunters.

Their primary function is to control access to a spur or siding and to support safe shunting operations in yards, industrial facilities, or freight depots. Spurhalteleuchten may be positioned at the mouth of a spur, at cross-overs, or near points to provide clear, localized signals independent of main-line signals. In many installations, the color and arrangement of the lights follow local signaling conventions, with red indicating a prohibition or stop and green indicating clearance to proceed. In some modern systems, these lights are integrated with a central interlocking or yard automation, allowing status information to be shared with other signaling elements and control consoles.

Design and technology have evolved from early electric lamps to more energy-efficient LEDs, with improvements in visibility under varying weather and lighting conditions. Spurhalteleuchten can be standalone devices or part of a broader signaling layout that includes point machines, track circuits, and interlocking logic. They continue to be used in locations where explicit, localized guidance is necessary for safe yard operations, even as some networks modernize with computerized signaling.

See also: railway signaling, interlocking, yard operations, track circuits.