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Ed, The Semaphore signals used in Queensland, Australia are based on English practice so I can answer a couple of your questions. 1. The semaphore arm does drop down to a 45 deg. angle to mean no restriction. In case of failure a counterweight which also contains the colored lenses lifts the arm to horizontal. 2. A distant signal provides a warning that the train is approching a station and the next signal the 'home'will be clear or stop. The distant has a yellow arm with a black stripe and a 'fishtail' end. The lens are yellow (caution) or green (procede) 3. The Home signal denotes the limit of a station or yard and controls the movement into the station/yard. The arm is red with a white stripe and the lens show Red (stop) or green (procede). There are at least 8 other signals used with various arm lengths and colors used for communicating with the drivers (engineer) before radios. It must have been confusing sometimes approaching a major station with tracks going everywhere and numerous semaphores on a gantry especially if the weather was bad. Darren
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