A COMPILATION OF RAIL SIGNS AND THEIR MEANINGS:
Compiled by me thanks to years of railfanning experience after reffering to many people and online material, I would quote an example with every sign to aid in understanding to the best extent possible:
The first thing we are concerned about when we are talking about movement of trains is anything which makes the train to de-accelerate, they can be in the following instances.
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PERMANENT SPEED RESTRICTION-A restriction of speed in a particular section (which otherwise is a faster speed permitted one) of a permanent nature, usually placed before steep curves, weak P.Way etc. This is apart from obvious restriction zones like that of loops at a station.
Ex: Permanent speed restriction of 80 KMPH at sirnapalli forest gradient between Uppalvai and sirnapalli stations in SC-NED-MMR line, similar can be found in many sections.
A TEMPORARY SPEED RESTRICTION-A restriction of speed which is imposed temporarily due to varied reasons like P.Way work or other reasons. A typical instance is imposition of speed restrictions before many unmanned LC’s of HYB division of SCR between DHNE-KRNT-KCG-NZB-MUE(Probably to allow better control to LP in case of a confused soul deciding to cross an LC with his road vehicle at the last moment)
Ex: Speed restrictions at Makalidurga ghat between YNK-DMM for up gradation of P.Way.
THE SIGN(for both of the above restrictions): The sign board indicating the speed to be followed would be a Triangular yellow board with speed mentioned in black, usually of reflective material to be visible to LP at night. The train needs to be at the designated speed mentioned on the board by the time it passes the board even though it is typically placed some 100mts before the actual caution abled section. Apart from the board, these cautions would already be mentioned in the Caution order given to the LP before moving the train in a particular section. Again, the crew running a train in a particular section would already e having Road learning without which they are not authorized to pilot a train. So this leaves us with the crew already knowing the restriction, we can travel rest assured as far as risks involved with overspeeding at restricted zones are concerned.
RESCTRICTION TERMINTAION: A restriction in place obviously means it would have to end somewhere, be it permanent or temporary, a large circular yellow board with a black T(again of reflective material) would be placed indicating the termination of restriction. In specific cases of Passenger and goods trains, T/P and T/G boards are placed(T/G usually after T/P as goods rakes tend to be longer) indicating termination of speed restriction of passenger and goods trains.
Railfanning Note: After a restriction is terminated while train is on a curve, one can find the display of flags by Guard and ALP, it’s amazing to see this sight especially in diesel locos accompanied by the chugging/buzzing(For Alcos and EMD’s respectively) and vigorous waving of flags.
I understand many of you must have seen this earlier, if not please try to watch the strict compliance of speed at restrictions and terminations, not to forget the display of flags/Lights.
I hope this has been useful, please keep adding while I add some more too, For a knowledgeful and safe railfanning Experience.
Cheers.

A small write-up, hope you all like it:
RAILWAY STATIONS-WHY,HOW AND WHEN?
When we talk about railways in any part of the world, we obviously also have in mind railway stations for they are not only a part of the railway network but an important place from where our journey’s start or end(they can probably be termed as divine places for us railfans as they interest us more than anything for pics, knowledge, chat with crew etc).The very fact is unbeatable that they have been standing in all glory and many are probably...
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older by thrice our age, must have witnessed the passage of millions of people and bustling with activity from decades.
Secunderabad Railway station as many might have already known was constructed by the nizam of Hyderabad to act as the hub for the nizam’s guaranteed state railways and the Nizam’s Godavari River valley railway. This station had a mix of BG and MG tracks while the other two major stations had been only BG(Hyderabad Deccan-Nampally) and only MG(Kacheguda). During my childhood this has been just another station for me or a place which provides shelter right after I disembark a train or about to board one from sun and rain.
This particular station in Andhra Pradesh is a unique mix of Telugu,Kannada and Marathi speaking people thanks to the State of Nizam which extended in all these three states.One can find a typical Hyderabadi Irani chai/Biryani joint(Alpha) right opposite this station which hosts almost every old Marathi person to a cup of tea after their journey and a couple of Udipi kannada style hotels right down while walkng towards clock tower/patny/paradise.
After years of railfanning however I look at this station with the utmost reverence as it has been standing proudly serving passengers with a smile from decades, witnessing people bid farewell to loved ones, hugging friends/family once they reach back home, abandoned kids, cheats trying to milk money from people speaking their language.Over the years this station has upgraded itself into a unique,clean,lovable and pleasant station and I can almost hear a “Hey, am good,wassup! Where are you headed to this time?” everytime I pass this station when I initially imaginarily enqire”Hello SC,How u doing today?”. This station has always been unique for me and always will, one of the best places in Hyderabad for railfanning.
However there is another element to stations in IR, there are hundreds of stations in IR which had once been very busy(Pre-Independence) and either witness a relatively low traffic today or no traffic at all(totally ruined) like hussainsagar in the heart of Hyderabad for instance. Stations like Chamarajanagara,Chikballapur,Kolar etc seem to be lost in a world of their own waiting to be revived and dwelt by passengers again.
This blog is dedicated to the erstwhile NG line of Kolar-Chikballapur hoping to see it in BG soon.
Cheers to Indian Railways!!