Table
In a railway, the term control table is used to describe the operating device of a track diagram interlocking . Control tables are only found in relay interlockings, also known as "pushbutton interlockings" or "Dr interlockings" for short. Small DR signal boxes use a box set up vertically on the work table instead of the table, while large signal boxes also have a vertically arranged display panel , which is also called a panorama panel . Electronic interlockings , which also belong to the track diagram interlockings , on the other hand, are operated from an operator station with monitors via an input keyboard with a mouse or (older ESTW) via a graphics tablet with an electronic button.
On the user interface of the control table, the control box or the control panel, the track systems with their points, signals and other devices are shown schematically according to the topography and equipped with signal lamps, so-called "detectors", which continuously display the current status of the outdoor systems. Red glowing indicators indicate that the assigned track or switch section is occupied by a rail vehicle, yellow or white glowing indicators indicate that it is free. These displays are controlled, among other things, by the track vacancy detection system , which registers the occupancy status with the help of track circuits or axle counting circuits . The detectors assigned to the signals light up red according to the signal image when it shows stop, green or white light detectors indicate that the signal is in the driving position. In addition, a large number of other detectors in the table monitor the diverse functions of the entire interlocking system and indicate irregularities and faults.
The table is composed of individual parts, so-called "table fields", in the form of a modular system . The table fields are equipped with the detectors and the operating elements, the pushbuttons. The modular system allows subsequent changes without any problems (see also relay interlocking ).