Steam era signals

[ngauger]

I have watched switching operations for the last 20 years and the brakeman uses a radio to communicate with the engineer. But what about in steam era? I only know of one practice of how an engineer knew when he was clear a crossing on a main line. He knew how many cars he had and knew land marks for train length. But what about in a yard or spotting a car in a curved track? Someone had to say stop some way when vision is blocked.

The Strasburg Railroad uses hand signals all the time when coupling and uncoupling the engines to the passenger cars during tourist runs. It's great to see.