Wayside signals and signs: how's and why's?

Hey everyone. I hope this is the right place to post this, but where can i find imformation regarding all the different types of signals, or any signage that you would see next to railway tracks. Im rather new so I need the basics and everything.

Here's a link to a page that covers some basics...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Amer ... ad_signals

Here are two more sites that are devoted entirely to railroad signalling and traffic control;

http://mysite.du.edu/~jcalvert/railway/railhom.htm

http://www.lundsten.dk/us_signaling/

The first is an internationally-oriented site that has a lot of historical background....interesting just for the reading. The second focuses more on the dynamics of the various systems that evolved.

Signals alone don't cover the fine art of rail dispatching, and it's worth noting that the railroads voluntarily developed a uniform set of rules to increase safety. Signal indications likely played a part in a recent Amtrak accident in Chicago, and there was a lively discussion carried in a thread on the Amtrak forum.

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=45916