Post Plates

Post plates determine the rules that apply when a signal has failed.
Most signals carry a post plate mounted on the signals post below the signal head.

Main Signal Post Plates
	Train movements may pass a signal at danger (i.e. when extinct, unclear or indicating stop) only if aspect Zs 1, Zs 7, or Zs 8 is displayed, or signalman hands over (or dictates) a written permission to do so. If Zs 12 is displayed, a verbal permission by signalman is also ok. Shunting movements may pass it by a verbal permission. Used for entrance, exit, and protection signals, or automatic block signals covering level crossings or sidings.
	Same procedure as post plate white-red-white. Otherwise, train must stop and communicate with signalman. If the driver is unable to communicate with signalman, train may pass the signal and may proceed on sight until next main signal. Used for automatic block signals.
	Used only on Berlin and Hamburg urban railway lines for (semi-) automatic block signals. After stopping, train may proceed without permission when at danger or defective. Proceeding on sight applies until next main signal. The signal also functions as a distant signal.
	Used in Berlin S-Bahn only: Urban railway lines for some entrance or exit signals on lines with automatic block equipment. Same procedure as post plate white-red-white, but after train has obtained signalman's permission to pass the signal (or after aspect Zs 1 was cleared) train must proceed on sight until next main signal. Shunting movements may pass it by a verbal permission when at danger or defective. On the Augsburg-Donauwörth line only: Identifies a Sk main signal.
	Train movements may pass the protecting signal at danger only if signalman hands over or dictates a written permission. An extinct signal or a signal displaying Ra 12 is not valid for train movements.
	This is not regarded a post plate, but is the subsidiary signal Zs 12. See "M Board" at the subsidiary signals page.
Distant Signal Post Plates
	Supplemental signal Ne 2. Identifies a distant signal. When used with Hp Hl or Ks signals identifies a distant-only signal.
	Used only with semaphore distant signals in West Germany (DB): main signal is at reduced distance.
	Used only with distant signals in East Germany (DR) (semaphore and Hl as well): main signal is at reduced distance.
	East Germany (DR) only: Identifies an Hl distant signal repeater.
Other Post Plates
	[Obsolete] Formerly used in DR area (East Germany) to identify a Ks main signal. Now, the white-red-white plate is used instead.
	Used below a white-red-white plate to identify a Ks or Hl combined signal. Was previously also used alone to identify a Ks distant-only signal. Now, in such cases the distant signal plate is used.
	Identifies a signal protecting level crossings.
	This is an Sk distant signal (Augsburg-Donauwörth line only).
	This is a Sk combined signal (Augsburg-Donauwörth line only).
	(This is not a post plate, but DR's subsidiary signal Zs 103, see there)