Unlike modern railways today, trains back then only have a single track. How does the directions work, like how do they know if there’s an incoming train and what would they do? Does head on collisions happen?
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Railways back then had double, triple, or even quadruple track mainlines, too. Even on single tracked sections or branchlines, there were passing loops either at stations, or not too far from a station, or even in some cases, only one locomotive/train running over the entire stretch at any time. There were signals as far back as the first steam engines were running, too. Head on collisions did happen, but usually due to error on the part of the engineer or signalman.
There were double tracks back then as well and even now there are lots of single track still in use. But the history of rail signaling is quite interesting. The first signal systems were using a baton. Rail stations used to have police men that were in charge of the safety. These were equipped with batons even though they normally had no use of them. So to remind themselves of which track were in use they would hand the baton to the conductor of the train. When the train arrived at the next station the conductor would give the baton to the police officer stationed there. This would indicate to him that the track was clear and he could send a train down the track with the baton. This system was actually quite safe and is still in use some places today.
However it did lack efficiency as it would often be the case that a train had to wait at a station even though the track ahead was clear because the baton happened to be at the other station. So when the telegraph were invented this was installed along railways to allow the signal men to communicate with each other to coordinate traffic. And even though this was a far more efficient system it was easy for accident to happen.
Timing, timing, timing. The first portable watches were made to be carried by train conductors so that they could accurately measure time while en route even when not in contact with their dispatch. Timetables were built and meticulously maintained so that multiple trains could utilize the same track going in different direction.
All over a railroad system you have sidings, which are basically turn-offs for trains where they can leave the main rail to allow another train to pass by.
Careful, coordinated use of sidings, parallel rails lines, and rail yards ensured relatively safe and efficient use of the railroad network. Today with GPS and radio, the system is a lot simpler.
Nonetheless, accidents can and do still happen. Normally caused by equipment failure that prevents a train from meeting its time slot and occupying the rail at the same time another train is.
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