As far as it is safe and practical to do so - and permitted - simply get out and about on your "patch" and see what is there. If you don't know what anything is - ask - and/or look for it on the net - and - even in books.
What is on the ground in your location will be far more relevant than any book theory. What the natives call it is also significant.
On the railway practical is far more important than theory. Theory can/might get you injured/killed but getting the practical wrong definitely can.
Listen to the "old hands" - those with experience - especially when starting to "manage"... they've been doing the job for years (months at least these days).
If anyone doesn't want to answer your question - there's a significant issue of "why not?" Do they not know? If not - why not? If they don't want to tell - what's their problem?
One great thing about the railway is that what goes around comes around. So - if someone chooses to be ignorant and unhelpful today there's always a tomorrow (once you are well established) when you will be able to make life uncomfortable for them... You can always ask the same question again later. Then you can test whether they know the answer or not against what you have learnt in the meantime.
As a signalman I had a very few drivers that wanted to be awkward... Usually the more difficult they were the more they fell from grace. (Yes - a few signalmen got their comeuppance as well).
This is, of course, advice from the land that time forgot... Like - "don't let a dinosaur step on you" - especially not wile you are focused on texting...
