BAOR - British Army of the Rhine BAOR DEPOT INFORMATION FILE © Martyn Witt 2004
STANDARD MILITARY RAILWAY DRAWING
AND DEPOT DIAGRAM SYMBOLS
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The symbols displayed below were not confined to formal draughtsman's drawings.  Based on a  simplified and modified subset of British Standard 376 "Railway Signalling Symbols" (originally published in 1930), they would be used by military railway officers and NCOs undertaking a "railway recce" - one of the essential skills to be mastered.  For non-British prototypes, some local modifications were made by local convention, and for BAOR, these frequently included using the designations described in the "Signalbuch", such as for stop boards, derailers etc. 
OBJECT SYMBOL REMARKS
Distant signal Diagrammatic symbol Include lever frame number
Home or starting signal Diagrammatic symbol Include lever frame number
Two arm signal Diagrammatic symbol Include lever frame number
Two arm bracket signal Diagrammatic symbol Include lever frame number
Subsidiary signal Diagrammatic symbol Include lever frame number;
e.g. C  - Call on
       S  - Shunt ahead
       W - Warning
Ground signal Diagrammatic symbol Include lever frame number
Colour light signal Diagrammatic symbol 1. Colours indicated thus:
Diagrammatic symbol
2. Include signal number
Junction indiciator for use with coloured light Diagrammatic symbol  
Track circuit Diagrammatic symbol  
Signal of any type, NOT in use Diagrammatic symbol  
Flag board Diagrammatic symbol Improvised military signalling
Station limit board Diagrammatic symbol Improvised military signalling
Warning board (emergency signalling fixed distant signal) Diagrammatic symbol Improvised military signalling (e.g. 5 bar gate)
Permanent speed restriction board Diagrammatic symbol Indicate speed
Signal box (Block Post) Diagrammatic symbol Dot indicates position of operator
Ground frame Diagrammatic symbol 1. Dot indicates position of operator
2. Number of strokes indicates number of levers in frame
Double lines Diagrammatic symbol Arrows show direction of travel
Single line Diagrammatic symbol  
Level crossing Diagrammatic symbol Show method of protection - wickets and main gates
Lifting barriers Diagrammatic symbol  
Gate or door Diagrammatic symbol Give dimension of available opening;  if locked, drawing should indicate key number and where keys held
Rails set flush Diagrammatic symbol Give details of material into which rails are set
Signal box - worked points * Diagrammatic symbol Include lever frame number
Handworked points * Diagrammatic symbol  
* Local convention - BAOR depot drawing - all turnouts Diagrammatic symbol The format shown here was used to represent any turnout on BAOR drawings.   The number of the turnout is shown
Trap point Diagrammatic symbol  
Scotch block Diagrammatic symbol (Hemmschuh)
Derailer Diagrammatic symbol Arrow shows direction of derailment; if locked, drawing should indicate key number and where keys held
Rerailing ramp Diagrammatic symbol Normally located clear of the track
Cutting Diagrammatic symbol  
Embankment Diagrammatic symbol  
Retaining wall Diagrammatic symbol Give length and height
Tunnel Diagrammatic symbol Give length (and construction details if possible)
Under bridge Diagrammatic symbol  
Over bridge Diagrammatic symbol  
Footbridge Diagrammatic symbol  
Subway Diagrammatic symbol  
Turntable Diagrammatic symbol Give useable diameter
Water tank Diagrammatic symbol  
Water column or crane Diagrammatic symbol  
Station platforms Diagrammatic symbol Give platform width, length and height above rail level
Platform ramp Diagrammatic symbol Give width if not already indicated
End-loading ramp/dock Diagrammatic symbol Give width and height above rail level
Sideloading ramp/dock Diagrammatic symbol Give width and height above rail level
Building Diagrammatic symbol Give outside dimensions.  In depot drawings, building detail was usually restricted to indicating the general outline of relevant structures only
Loading gauge Diagrammatic symbol  
Fixed crane Diagrammatic symbol Give radius (R) and capacity
Travelling crane Diagrammatic symbol Give radius (R), length of travel (L) and capacity
Shunting capstan Diagrammatic symbol  
Buffer stop Diagrammatic symbol In depot diagrams, may have number, eg BS2.
Sand drag Diagrammatic symbol Give length
Notice board Diagrammatic symbol Give wording (more for recce than depot diagrams)
Telephone Diagrammatic symbol  
Telegraph/telephone post Diagrammatic symbol For depots worked by regulator system, Telephone Post number would be indicated
Telegraph/telephone line Diagrammatic symbol Show owner under (more for recce than depot diagrams)
Lamp post Diagrammatic symbol (More for recce than depot diagrams)
Hydrant Diagrammatic symbol (More for recce than depot diagrams)
Mile post Diagrammatic symbol Show mileage beside post
Gradient post Diagrammatic symbol Show gradient on appropriate arm
Train Diagrammatic symbol Point shows front of train.  (More for recce than depot diagrams, although some depots did have static wagons for various purposes - such as the old coach used by the RAF Wildenrath Go-Karting Club!)

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