The following is from an article in the Weekly Register-Call, Volume XXVI, Number 16, September 30, 1887. This article describes the signals used by the Gilpin Tramway. You can find the original article at this link.
RAILWAY SIGNALS Which Are to be Adopted by the Gilpin Tramway company.
For the general information of the public, and especially those who are eternally asking questions, as to what this or that signal means, we publish the rules under which trains will be run, meaning of the various flags, whistles, bell-cord and lantern signals. Cut this out and preserve it: Red signifies danger and is a signal to stop. Green signifies caution and is a signal to go slowly. White signifies safety and is a signal to go on. Blue is a signal to be used by car inspectors.
An explosive cap or torpedo clamped to the top of the rail is a signal to be used in addition to the regular signals, when from fog or other cause the regular signals cannot be clearly seen or relied upon. The explosion of one cap is a signal to stop immediately; the explosion of two caps is a signal to reduce speed immediately and look out for a danger signal. A fuse is an extra danger signal, to be lighted and placed on the track at night in case of accident or emergency. A train finding a fuse burning on the track must come to a stop and not proceed until it is burned out.
A flag or lamp swung across the track, a hat or any object waved violently by any person on the track signifies danger and is a signal to stop.
TRAIN SIGNALS
Each train while running must display two green flags by day and two green lights by night, one on each side of the rear of the train,as markers,to indicate the rear of the train. Each train running after sunset, or when obscured by or other cause, must display the headlight in front and two red lights in the rear. A blue flag by day and a blue light by night denote that car inspectors are at work under the car or train. A car or train thus protected must not be moved or coupled until tbe blue signal is removed by the inspector.
WHISTLE SIGNALS
One long blast of the whistle is a signal for approaching stations, railroad crossings and junctions. One short blast of the whistle is a signal to apply the brakes—stop. Two long blasts of tbe whistle is a signal to throw off the brakes. Two short blasts of the whistle is an answer to the conductor’s signal to stop at the next station. Three long blasts of the whistle is a signal that the train has parted. Three short blasts of the whistle when the train is standing is a signal that the train will back. Four long blasts of the whistle is a signal to call in the flagmen. Two long followed by two short blasts of the whistle is a signal for approaching road-crossings at a grade. A succession of short blasts of the whistle is an alarm for persons or cattle on the track and calls the attention of trainmen to danger ahead.
Finally…
This post describes the signals used by the Gilpin Tramway. Please look at the other Gilpin related posts on my blog… Gilpin Gold Tram