Historical Signalling Question, Morecambe Promenade, 1960s/1970s?

[Chrius56000]

. . .I have a copy of the I R.S.E.'s booklet on "Route Indicators", and in it the recommendation was given:–

. . ."In general, if consideration is given to equipping a signal with a multiple–lamp route indicator then it is strongly recommended to also renew the associated signal in colour–light form".

. . .This was done at Heysham Harbour when the three –platform modernised station was brought into use in 1970, but for some strange reason Morecambe Promenade was not modernised likewise – the last home signal admitting trains to the platforms remained as a semaphore with a "calling–on" arm underneath, with a multiple–lamp platform indicator right up to closure and resiting of the station by Railtrack in 1994!

. . .Can anyone suggest why Morecambe Promenade's Home signal was not modernised in colour–light form to the I.R.S.E. recommendation when the route indicator was added?

 

[TheHovisKid]

Wasn't there powers for a curve leading Heysham-Bare, but not acted on? Local lore said there was, but then local lore....
Might have been on hold pending that, if there was?

 

[John Webb]

An IRSE recommendation is purely that, not a standard that the railways are compelled to follow, even if it is a 'strong recommendation'!

I don't know the history of the two stations you mention, but if Haysham Harbour was a complete rebuild in 1970 with changes to track layout, then it probably required resignalling anyway.
Morecombe's Home signal may previously had a mechanical indicator which, due to wear and tear, needed replacing. So the simple choice of a multi-lamp indicator was a quick-fix and cheaper than replacing the whole signal, perhaps?

 

[MarkyT]

An IRSE recommendation is purely that, not a standard that the railways are compelled to follow, even if it is a 'strong recommendation'!

I don't know the history of the two stations you mention, but if Haysham Harbour was a complete rebuild in 1970 with changes to track layout, then it probably required resignalling anyway.
Morecombe's Home signal may previously had a mechanical indicator which, due to wear and tear, needed replacing. So the simple choice of a multi-lamp indicator was a quick-fix and cheaper than replacing the whole signal, perhaps?

Very likely. Here's the signal box diagram:

MORECAMBE DIAGRAM | Signalling Photos

MORECAMBE DIAGRAM - MORECAMBE DIAGRAM.jpg

photos.signalling.org

and a view along the frame:

MORECAMBE FRAME | Signalling Photos

MORECAMBE FRAME - MORECAMBE FRAME.jpg

photos.signalling.org

Points look all mechanical in which case much of the detection may have been mechanical. That would all need converting to electric detection if a colour light was to be substituted. The platforms seem to be without track-circuits. TCs would usually be provided for colour light conversion. Far too much work to do all that for a box with limited life. Mechanical indicators have been replaced elsewhere with electrical ones. Shrewsbury and Worcester areas have some I think.

 

[John Webb]

Diagram for Heysham Harbour for 1958 at https://old.signalbox.org/diagrams.php?id=1502
and for 1970 at https://old.signalbox.org/diagrams.php?id=843
show that the station was completely resignalled from semaphore to colour lights.

 

[Acathater]

Just a guess, but why spend money on a minor update like that when the whole station fabric was falling apart?
But more importantly in 1970 there was still a lot of redundant trackwork around there relating to the old abandoned Euston Rd and Northumberland St stations. Getting rid would presumably have needed signalling changes on a larger scale than just a route indicator.

 

[Chrius56000]

Very likely. Here's the signal box diagram:

MORECAMBE DIAGRAM | Signalling Photos​

MORECAMBE DIAGRAM - MORECAMBE DIAGRAM.jpg
photos.signalling.org
and a view along the frame:

. . . Unfortunately the signal and point numbers, T.C. numbers, etc., on that diagram of Morecambe Signal Box are all to blurry/furry for me to read I'm afraid!

 

[MarkyT]

. . . Unfortunately the signal and point numbers, T.C. numbers, etc., on that diagram of Morecambe Signal Box are all to blurry/furry for me to read I'm afraid!

Very blurry, I agree. I think the Home main arm is lever #54. That fits in with the sequence from previous signal #53 coming from Bare Lane. The call-on might be 23, or 25. I deduced no TCs in the platform by the solid black colouring and lack of round track circuit indicator lamps. Facing points all seem to have 2 numbers adjacent to them, so that implies separate facing point lock levers. The black levers in the frame picture are all full-height, indicating mechanical operation rather than electric or pneumatic point machines.

 

[TheHovisKid]

Just a guess, but why spend money on a minor update like that when the whole station fabric was falling apart?
But more importantly in 1970 there was still a lot of redundant trackwork around there relating to the old abandoned Euston Rd and Northumberland St stations. Getting rid would presumably have needed signalling changes on a larger scale than just a route indicator.

Some of the trackwork away from the platforms got a little reprieve during the Britannia Bridge replacement.

 

[Acathater]

Some of the trackwork away from the platforms got a little reprieve during the Britannia Bridge replacement.

Some of the old Northumberland St sidings were still in use for parking summer saturday specials in 1977

 

[Gloster]

Some of the old Northumberland St sidings were still in use for parking summer saturday specials in 1977

Parking cars or stabling trains?

 

[Acathater]

Parking cars or stabling trains?

trains

 

[Belperpete]

An IRSE recommendation is purely that, not a standard that the railways are compelled to follow, even if it is a 'strong recommendation'!

Also, the content of the IRSE booklets were basically the opinion of the author of each particular booklet, not official IRSE policy.

 

[CN12]

The main home signal was No:54 with a calling on arm No:55. In 1986 there was a 4 way theatre type route indicator, 1 to platform 1 etc. There was a ground signal No:56 which was to all sidings.