Practice question

Signal Indication is defined as which of the following?

  1. The appearance of a fixed signal as viewed from the direction of an approaching train.
  2. The speed shown by the sign.
  3. The information conveyed by the aspect of a signal.
  4. The track circuit status.

Answer: C — The information conveyed by the aspect of a signal.

Signal indication is the information conveyed by the aspect of a signal. In railroad signaling, the aspect—the visible color or light pattern—tells the train crew what action is allowed: stop, proceed, or proceed with caution (often with speed restrictions ahead). It’s not just how the signal looks physically, nor is it the speed sign itself, nor the track circuit status. The appearance of the signal is just the medium, while the indication is the actionable instruction you glean from that appearance.

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