Editing Signalling control (section)

== Naming ==
In any [[Node (networking)|node]]-based control system, proper identification is critical to ensuring that messages are properly received by their intended recipients. As such, signaling control points are provided with names or identifiers that minimize the likelihood of confusion during communications. Popular naming techniques include using nearby geographic references, line milepost numbers, sequence numbers, and identification codes. Geographic names can refer to a municipality or neighborhood, a nearby road or geographic feature, local landmarks, and industry that may provide the railway with traffic or railway features like yards, sidings, or junctions.

On systems where [[Morse code]] was in use it was common to assign control locations short identification codes to aid in efficient communication, although wherever signalling control locations are more numerous than mileposts, sequence numbers and codes are more likely to be employed. Entire rail systems or political areas may adopt a common naming convention. In Central Europe, for example, signalling control points were all issued regionally unique location codes based roughly on the point's location and function,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stellwerke.de/liste/index.html|title=www.stellwerke.de – Liste Deutscher Stellwerke|website=www.stellwerke.de|access-date=26 March 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001113430/http://www.stellwerke.de/liste/index.html|archive-date=1 October 2017}}</ref> while the American state of [[Texas]] sequentially numbered all interlockings for regulatory purposes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.towers.txrrhistory.com/history/history.htm |title=Txrrhistory.com – History of Interlocking Towers in Texas |access-date=30 March 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125234653/http://www.towers.txrrhistory.com/history/history.htm |archive-date=25 January 2012 }}</ref>

As signaling control centers are consolidated it can become necessary to differentiate between older style boxes and newer train control centers, where signalmen may have different duties and responsibilities. Moreover, the name of the signaling center itself may not be employed operationally in preference to the name of individual signaling workstations. This is especially true when signaling centers control large amounts of territory spanning many diverse lines and geographical regions.

In most cases where the control locations are still in the field adjacent to railway tracks, the name or code of the control point is plainly labeled on the side of the signal box structure as an extra visual reminder to the train operators where they are. Moreover, wayside signals may also be equipped with identification plates that directly or indirectly indicate who controls that signal and that stretch of the line.