A
light emitting diode (LED) shielding and
monitoring system includes multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) (12, 14, 82, 92), multiple
optical detectors (20, 84, 94) for detecting a light output of the plurality of LEDs (12, 14, 82, 92), and a LED shield (30, 110) with multiple compartments (38, 114) for receiving the multiple
optical detectors (20, 84, 94). The LED shield (30, 110) is configured such that each compartment (38, 114) receives an
optical detector (20, 84, 94), and wherein each compartment (38, 114) is configured such that the
optical detector (20, 84, 94) within the compartment (38, 114) detects the light output of a LED (12, 14, 82, 92) of the multiple LEDs (12, 14, 82, 92) without detecting light output other than the light output of the LED (12, 14, 82, 92). Further, wayside LED signals including a LED shielding and
monitoring system are provided.