French lineside markers

[peteb]

Does anyone know the purpose of the markers found alongside French branch lines? They are a simple metal pole about 1500mm high with a metal cut out triangle on top. They're easily seen in drivers eye videos, particularly in eastern France.

 

[hexagon789]

Does anyone know the purpose of the markers found alongside French branch lines? They are a simple metal pole about 1500mm high with a metal cut out triangle on top. They're easily seen in drivers eye videos, particularly in eastern France.

Snowplough ploughing indicators? These are upward pointing for 'raise plough', downward pointing for 'lower plough'.

 

[peteb]

Aha, very interesting, so that's why you dont see them often on lines in the south west! Many thanks.

I see that Faller do a HO scale lineside signs kit which includes them but have had trouble obtaining an image off the internet other than from the youtube videos, so sorry I cannot illustrate this query!

 

[hexagon789]

Aha, very interesting, so that's why you dont see them often on lines in the south west! Many thanks.

I see that Faller do a HO scale lineside signs kit which includes them but have had trouble obtaining an image off the internet other than from the youtube videos, so sorry I cannot illustrate this query!

They feature in one of the Video125 driver's eye views - Milan to Chambéry. There are quite a few of the triangle signs on the Ligne de Maurienne

 

[Peter Kelford]

Does anyone know the purpose of the markers found alongside French branch lines? They are a simple metal pole about 1500mm high with a metal cut out triangle on top. They're easily seen in drivers eye videos, particularly in eastern France.

They do sound like the snowplough markers - it's to avoid ploughs ploughing into things like crocodiles (basically the same as AWS magnets), KVB balises etc.

 

[peteb]

Thanks for clarification: I could see them near level crossings etc, so probably to avoid demolishing the half barrier equipment!

 

[hexagon789]

Thanks for clarification: I could see them near level crossings etc, so probably to avoid demolishing the half barrier equipment!

Given its a manual process, I wonder how often snowlough operators have forgotten to lift the ploughs with unfortunate consequences!

 

[peteb]

Well some of the up and down triangles seem very closely spaced so maybe the plough stops to raise and lower, or destruction of lineside equipment would be inevitable!

 

[30907]

I found this while trying to find an image.
https://geillon.pagesperso-orange.fr/trains/signaux/
The section "pancartes" doesn't actually include the plough signs as far as I can see - ah well!

However, the signs the OP describes correspond exactly to the German Ne7 signals - which given they are presumably in Alsace-Lorraine makes sense.

 

[peteb]

I found this while trying to find an image.
https://geillon.pagesperso-orange.fr/trains/signaux/
The section "pancartes" doesn't actually include the plough signs as far as I can see - ah well!

However, the signs the OP describes correspond exactly to the German Ne7 signals - which given they are presumably in Alsace-Lorraine makes sense.

"Ne7 Schneepflugsignal
Schneepflugsignal = Snowplough signal

Gives information to snowplough crews. A yellow or white 'V' shape indicates 'lower snowplough', an inverted yellow or white 'V' indicates 'raise snowplough'. These are placed to warn the crew to raise the snowplough so as to avoid hitting any obstructions at rail level, such as level crossings/grade crossings."

Thanks for that reference I think what I saw on the video was indeed the SNCF version of the DB Ne7, as described above.