Signals for Speed Restrictions
Langsamfahrsignale

I will use the following abbreviations here: PSR for permant speed restrictions and TSR for temporary speed restrictions.

• In West Germany there are different speed signals for main and branch lines. The speed is shown in units of 10 km/h (i.e. the number "8" means 80 km/h).
• In East Germany the speed for PSR is shown in km/h (i.e. for 80 km/h "80" appears in the board.) for TSR as in West Germany.
• As speed numbers (i.e. 10m km/h units), the indications 1 through 15 are used, the Lf 1, Lf 1/2, Lf 4(DB) may also show 0,5 (i.e. 5 km/h)

Speed in points area may be restricted also by the proceed aspects of main signals, or with Zs 3, which you will find in the section "Subsidiary Signals". When the triangles are mounted as dwarfs they may also point upwards.

Please read also the next page to understand the meaning of the signals and to learn why there are so many of them.

ID	aspect	description
Lf 1		Langsamfahrscheibe / temporary speed limit warning board: Announcement of TSR (3=30 km/h). The triangle may also point upwards. At night, two yellow lights are mounted at the board's post, or, if space is limited, up to 15 m in front of the post. If the board is retroreflective, the lights may be omitted.
Lf 1/2		Langsamfahrbeginnscheibe / TSR commencement board. This board is used in DR area when a speed reduction does not need to be announced by a Lf 1.
Lf 2		Anfangscheibe / TSR commencement board: Speed announced by Lf 1 must be met from here. (A: "Anfang"-Begin)
Lf 3		Endscheibe / TSR Termination Board: TSR ends here timetable speed applies. (E: "Ende"-End)
Lf 4 (DB)		(only used on secondary lines, being replaced by Lf 6) Geschwindigkeitstafel / On branch lines: permanent speed limit warning board
Lf 5 (DB)		(only used on secondary lines, being replaced by Lf 7) Anfangtafel / On branch lines: PSR commencement board
Lf 4 (DR)		[obsolete: being replaced by Lf 6] Geschwindigkeitstafel / PSR warning board May show a "0" speed limit if posted before an unsecured level crossing where train has to stop before proceeding. In this case the Lf 5 shows the place where train has to stop.
Lf 5 (DR)		[obsolete: being replaced by Lf 7] Eckentafel("Corner Board") / PSR commencement Board
Lf 6		Geschwindigkeits-Ankündesignal / mainline PSR warning board
Lf 7		Geschwindigkeitssignal / PSR commencement board If there is a board with the letters "BÜ" (Bahnübergang) below, the line speed can be resumes as soon as the first car (or loco) has reached the centre of the level crossing.
Zs 3		Speed indicator: Displayed speed limit applies in points zone after indicator. (This is not a "Speed Signal" but a Subsidiary Signal which is mounted to a colour light or semaphore signal).

home	additional signals	email
subsidiary signals		speed signals page 2