signaalpeadest

Signaalpeadest is the Estonian term for the visible part of a railway signal, the component that communicates with train drivers by displaying an aspect of the signal. The signaalpeadest is typically mounted on a signal post beside the track and is designed to be legible at speed and in varied weather conditions. Its primary purpose is to indicate whether the train may proceed, must slow or stop, or proceed with caution, according to the operating rules of the network. Display methods vary by system; the most common are color-light heads using red, yellow, and green lenses, sometimes with additional colors or multi-aspect configurations. Another form is semaphore heads, where a mechanically operated arm or blade shows the aspect by its position.

Modern signaalpeadest often uses LEDs within standardized housings to improve reliability and visibility. The housing usually includes a hood or mask to focus the light and reduce glare, and a backplate to ensure sufficient contrast against the sky. The signaalpeadest is part of the signaling system’s infrastructure and is connected to interlocking or centralized traffic control. The interlocking determines the appropriate aspect for each signal head based on track layout, route status, and safety constraints, ensuring that conflicting movements are prevented.

Maintenance involves regular cleaning of lenses, replacement of lamps or LEDs, alignment checks, and periodic testing of visibility and operation, especially for semaphore heads that rely on mechanical movement. Terminology-wise, signaalpeadest literally means “signal head” in Estonian and can refer to either color-light or semaphore heads within railway signaling.