Best spots for semaphore signalling in 2016

[Tim R-T-C]

Hi all,

With Barnetby going colour-light in 2016, I was just wondering which stations will now provide the best viewing points for semaphore signals and how long they have before they too get modernised.

I can contribute Hellifield which still has wooden post signals and a classic station building and roof, although it is lightly served and freight traffic is inconsistent. No plans to modernise at present as far as I know.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

Worcester Shrub Hill for former GWR Lower Quadrant stuff.

 

[ac6000cw]

East of Norwich (towards Yarmouth and Lowestoft) - Brundall in particular has semaphores and a crossing keeper as well for the hand swung gates.

Also Ely North Junction (exclusive) to Peterborough (exclusive) e.g. Manea, March x 2, Whittlesey (or Whittlesea)

 

[bramling]

Hi all,

With Barnetby going colour-light in 2016, I was just wondering which stations will now provide the best viewing points for semaphore signals and how long they have before they too get modernised.

I can contribute Hellifield which still has wooden post signals and a classic station building and roof, although it is lightly served and freight traffic is inconsistent. No plans to modernise at present as far as I know.

Cornwall - probably the best remaining
Gilberdyke-Hull
North Wales Coast (mostly colour-light, but some fine signal boxes)
Carnforth-Barrow-Maryport
Peterborough-Melton Mowbray
Grantham-Skegness
Newport-Hereford-Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Worcester
Yeovil Pen Mill
Newcastle-Carlisle
Ayr-Stranraer
Cupar-Aberdeen-Inverness
Harrogate-Poppleton
Hellifield-Carlisle
Blackpool North line

 

[Cheshire Rover]

Helsby. Signal box on the station and plenty of semaphore.

 

[LowLevel]

Bit remote but Grindleford, Earles Sidings and Edale on the Hope Valley line are all very busy boxes and mostly all semaphore signals.

 

[najaB]

Are there many stretches of track with three or more running lines that are still semaphore signalled?

 

[kevconnor]

I was at Whitehaven last week and was surprised by the set up there. on the single through line in the down direction there is a light signal (can be seen here), But in the up direction there is a semaphore signal (can be seen here

Is this unique to have both types of signal in one location?

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Is this unique to have both types of signal in one location?

Carnforth:

 

[Nippy]

I was at Whitehaven last week and was surprised by the set up there. on the single through line in the down direction there is a light signal (can be seen here), But in the up direction there is a semaphore signal (can be seen here

Is this unique to have both types of signal in one location?

No it's not unique matey.

 

[scott118]

East of Norwich (towards Yarmouth and Lowestoft) - Brundall in particular has semaphores and a crossing keeper as well for the hand swung gates.

Also Ely North Junction (exclusive) to Peterborough (exclusive) e.g. Manea, March x 2, Whittlesey (or Whittlesea)

beware of the dalek's at Reedham, should you venture out that far...

 

[380101]

All the signals between Dumfries and Hurlford (closed) are semaphore apart from the distant signals which are colour light signals, and the intermediate block signal between Hurlford and Mossgiel tunnel which is LED colour light.

I was at Whitehaven last week and was surprised by the set up there. on the single through line in the down direction there is a light signal (can be seen here), But in the up direction there is a semaphore signal (can be seen here

Is this unique to have both types of signal in one location?

The combined home/section signal at Mauchline signal box on the Up line is colour light with all the other signals in that area being semaphore.

 

[Railsigns]

All the signals between Dumfries and Hurlford (closed) are semaphore apart from the distant signals which are colour light signals, and the intermediate block signal between Hurlford and Mossgiel tunnel which is LED colour light.

The combined home/section signal at Mauchline signal box on the Up line is colour light with all the other signals in that area being semaphore.

There are also a few colour light stop signals at New Cumnock (as well as semaphores).

Hurlford signal box is still officially open but is normally switched out and unmanned.

 

[Crossover]

I was at Whitehaven last week and was surprised by the set up there. on the single through line in the down direction there is a light signal (can be seen here), But in the up direction there is a semaphore signal (can be seen here

Is this unique to have both types of signal in one location?

Nope Harrogate has semaphores at the York end of the platform and colour light towards Leeds

 

[380101]

There are also a few colour light stop signals at New Cumnock (as well as semaphores).

Hurlford signal box is still officially open but is normally switched out and unmanned.

I forgot about those New Cumnock ones(bad, as I sign that route ). Very rarely at Red nowadays on the up/down lines as the coal traffic from Greenburn opencast mine is almost non existent.

Hurlford box is unlikely to ever be open again I think. Would take a big effort to open it for use as the windows are all boarded over. The junction there that went into some sort of goods depot has been lifted so no real reason for the box to be in use now.

 

[40129]

IIRC the gantry at the north end of Shrewsbury station has 1 semaphore signal (platform 3) and two color light signals (through road and platform 4B).

Most other signals at Shrewsbury (except platforms 6 and 7) are semaphore including two center pivot examples at platform 7A and a relatively new signal at the south end of platform 3

 

[Lockwood]

Ryde St Johns Road has both signalling types (or did when I was there a few months back)

 

[Freightmaster]

Carnforth:

Just as an aside, the semaphore signal above is actually fixed at danger.

I know it's quite common to have fixed red colour light signals these days
on platforms to enable trains to turn back, but is Carnforth the only example
of a fixed semaphore (non distant) signal on a main running line??


MARK

 

[Esmenfif]

Leuchars is a good spot. Has a box and semaphores. One can hear the strings pulling the signals from the platform.

 

[ac6000cw]

One can hear the strings pulling the signals from the platform.

Wires, actually (Made from thin steel strands twisted together, to keep it flexible enough to go round the pulleys along the way)

 

[blotred]

I'm not sure if it has been modernised yet, but the Dudding Hill Line as it passes through Gladstone Park still had semaphores last time I checked.

Worth a try next time you are in Suburban North London.

 

[driver_m]

Just as an aside, the semaphore signal above is actually fixed at danger.

I know it's quite common to have fixed red colour light signals these days
on platforms to enable trains to turn back, but is Carnforth the only example
of a fixed semaphore (non distant) signal on a main running line??


MARK

Holyhead platform 3. There's a fixed semaphore there.

 

[Lockwood]

How does a fixed signal allow a train to turn back?

 

[Railsigns]

How does a fixed signal allow a train to turn back?

It acts as a stopping marker for the incoming movement, which is running against the normal flow of traffic.

 

[Lockwood]

Can't they just use a stop board?
Is there a functional difference between them?
Edit again... I mean a red circle stop board, not an X Car Stop one.,

 

[SodTheDrummer]

Poulton-le-Fylde still has semaphore. Think Blackpool North still does too.

 

[Crossover]

It acts as a stopping marker for the incoming movement, which is running against the normal flow of traffic.

Can't they just use a stop board?
Is there a functional difference between them?
Edit again... I mean a red circle stop board, not an X Car Stop one.,

/why the need to have a green lens on it? Is it just a case of standardised parts?

Also, are these fixed danger semaphores connected to the box or not (presume not)

 

[Railsigns]

/why the need to have a green lens on it? Is it just a case of standardised parts?

Usually, there's no green lens fitted, like the fixed signal that used to be at Hednesford station (photograph here).

Also, are these fixed danger semaphores connected to the box or not (presume not)

There is no connection to the box other than a lamp repeater circuit, where provided.

 

[craigybagel]

IIRC the gantry at the north end of Shrewsbury station has 1 semaphore signal (platform 3) and two color light signals (through road and platform 4B).

Most other signals at Shrewsbury (except platforms 6 and 7) are semaphore including two center pivot examples at platform 7A and a relatively new signal at the south end of platform 3

For some reason the Bay Platforms (5&6) are colour light, but the through platforms (4&7) are semaphore for movements in the same direction.

Holyhead platform 3. There's a fixed semaphore there.

How does a fixed signal allow a train to turn back?

It acts as a stopping marker for the incoming movement, which is running against the normal flow of traffic.

I do wonder if Holyhead is unique in being a fixed semaphore stop signal with a working subsidiary signal, which controls access to the run around loop.

 

[Railsigns]

I do wonder if Holyhead is unique in being a fixed semaphore stop signal with a working subsidiary signal

Fouldubs Junction has one of those.