Signals separated from the tracks

[blimmo]

I was recently visiting the Harz railway in Wernigerode and noticed this signal completely separated from the railway by a public road.
Presumably the land the signal is on is also owned by the railway but it seems somewhat risky for sighting: a tall van could obstruct the signal.

Are there other examples of this, especially on non-heritage railways?

 

[The exile]

Looks as if a tall van would have a job getting past (or maybe even down there). Presumably the Germans work on the principle that if a signal is obscured it is to be considered as being at danger. This is the HSB, rather than an HSL!

 

[blimmo]

True I wasn't really suggesting it was dangerous more an interesting situation that I hadn't seen before and wondering how common it was

 

[John Webb]

The line at that point seems to be curving, so I suspect the signal is placed there for better sighting from the train.

 

[zwk500]

For context, the signal is here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zYneuEZaikUS1dZT8

The road in view is a one-way road for vehicles (cycles are allowed to contraflow), with access from behind the signal on Salzburgstrasse, and is entirely covered by a 'no-parking and no stopping' restriction (the Blue Disc with Red Cross). Additionally the signal looks taller than an average Ford transit or Mercedes sprinter type van. I think when you consider what vehicles could access the road, the fact that they would be driving away from the signal, and the no-stopping restriction, the potential for being obscured is minimal.
Further mitigation is then provided by the 20kph speed limit in that section (or being given advance warning for, I'm not 100% on the german speed signs).

 

[Annetts key]

Can I think of any current examples like the first post, no. But there are modern colour light signals where they are mounted away from the line or are on a bracket with the head mounted away from the line.

In all cases, this being done so that the required sighting distance can be achieved.

The first up line signal after Patchway Tunnel has a signal on a bracket with the head mounted further away from the line than normal, so that it can be seen at the required distance from inside the tunnel.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Perhaps not quite the same but the line between Farnham and Alton in Hampshire is single track (with a passing loop at Bentley). On the approach to Alton, the station's Home signal (and associated Distant) are both positioned next to the former down line with the former up line now being the single line is use, so they are further over. I suspect this is probably quite common on other single lines? The YouTube video below shows the Distant signal at 42m57s and the Home signal at 44m15s.