Signalling Question

[NickMoore]

I apologise if this isn't allowed, as to do with model railways....


I am modelling a section of UK mainline set in LMS 1950s.

In my model there are 3 mainlines, 1st is travelling North, 2nd South and 3rd North.

My question is:-

I need to add a semaphore signal on the southern line (middle line of the 3), do I

Place a straight pole signal to the left of the middle line https://www.dapol.co.uk/products/4l...aphore-signal-lms-home?variant=43341299646687

or

Use a gantry and have 1 signal on it

or

Place a pole with a right hand angle at top, which then will position the actual signal arm over the centre of track 2. https://www.dapol.co.uk/products/4l...ight-hand-with-one-arm?variant=44481125712095

or

???

What would be the correct way to signal this line.

 

[John Webb]

Welcome to the Forum.

If you have three lines and they are all the standard "6ft" spacing from each other, then you can't erect a signal post between the lines as they are too close. That's why it is usual to have pairs of lines at the 6ft spacing and an adjacent line or pair of lines is then spaced 10ft apart from the first pair to allow for signals etc. Where lines are all at the 6ft spacing to each other a bracket signal or gantry would have to be used.

So probably in your case the bracket signal may be more appropriate. But note that in the time period you are modelling, BR had standardised on placing signals left of the line so they could be seen by drivers on the left-hand side of the locomotive as most by then were LH drive locos. A signal over the centre-line of the track would be obscured by the loco boiler as the loco approached it, which might cause problems.

You may find "Railway Signalling and Track Plans" by Bob Essery (Ian Allan, 2007, ISBN 978 07110 032156) a useful reference regarding prototype practice and its translation into model form.

PS: Under the Rail Hobbies section of the Forum there is a sub-Forum for model railway postings.

 

[edwin_m]

Welcome to the Forum.

If you have three lines and they are all the standard "6ft" spacing from each other, then you can't erect a signal post between the lines as they are too close. That's why it is usual to have pairs of lines at the 6ft spacing and an adjacent line or pair of lines is then spaced 10ft apart from the first pair to allow for signals etc. Where lines are all at the 6ft spacing to each other a bracket signal or gantry would have to be used.

So probably in your case the bracket signal may be more appropriate. But note that in the time period you are modelling, BR had standardised on placing signals left of the line so they could be seen by drivers on the left-hand side of the locomotive as most by then were LH drive locos. A signal over the centre-line of the track would be obscured by the loco boiler as the loco approached it, which might cause problems.

You may find "Railway Signalling and Track Plans" by Bob Essery (Ian Allan, 2007, ISBN 978 07110 032156) a useful reference regarding prototype practice and its translation into model form.

PS: Under the Rail Hobbies section of the Forum there is a sub-Forum for model railway postings.

Even in the 1950s there would probably be a wider gap on one side of the track, generally to the left for trains using the middle track, so drivers could climb down in relative safety. It's known as a ten-foot but the actual dimension varies (and note it's measured between nearest rails not centrelines of tracks). But a gantry or bracket might still be used even if this was so.

 

[SCH117X]

A bracket signal was often used with an elongated bracket so that the signals for the fast line was situated above and just to the right of the slow line. Photo of such at Carnforth on page 91 of 'London Midland Steam in Colour' Hugh Ballantyne, Janes Publishing 1984