Now that the German versions of the FREMO Signal Books for Deutsche Bundesbahn, Deutsche Reichsbahn (GDR), and Deutsche Bahn AG have been finalised, I’ve translated them into English for the benefit of a non-German-speaking audience.

This project has been both challenging and interesting for me. Firstly, I’ve learned much more about the German railway signalling systems and how they are applied in real life as well as at FREMO meets. I began with the current DB InfraGo Directive 301 Signal Book, which incorporates signalling practices from both the Bundesbahn and Reichsbahn eras, along with several newer systems introduced since 1994.

Secondly, a FREMO member suggested splitting the material into two booklets — Bundesbahn/DBAG and Reichsbahn —since DBAG adopted many Bundesbahn practices. However, after studying the original signal books from 1959 and 1971, I found that some practices differed between the state railway companies during those periods. Because of this, I decided to create three separate booklets instead. This approach allows each FREMO meet to apply the signalling system appropriate to its chosen era and railway company.

Thirdly, the nitty-gritty of each era’s signalling practices is genuinely fascinating, especially during the period when the German railway networks were operated separately in West and East Germany. The real complexity lay in the Colour Light Main (Home) and Distant (Approach) Signals (Hl) used by the Reichsbahn—imagine seventeen aspects!

I hope these booklets will be useful to you. Download:

• FREMO Signal Book 301 Deutsche Bundesbahn Booklet Ver 1.0 / Nov. 2025
• FREMO Signal Book 301 Deutsche Reichsbahn GDR Booklet Ver. 1.0 / Nov. 2025
• FREMO Signal Book 301 Deutsche Bahn AG Booklet Ver. 1.0 / Nov. 2025