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Somewhat Ugly Signal Gantries, WCML Milton Keynes–Rugby and Stafford Crewe?

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Chrius56000

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When the latest incarnation of LED signal gantries were erected on the W.C.M.L. between Milton Keynes and Rugby and Stafford to Crewe, I can't help feeling, like the GWR Main Line electrification hardware, that these are somewhat ugly!

Can anyone suggest why these LED signals were underslung from tall gantries with what looks (from a passenger's point of view) like a long ugly black steel bar or joist, when the original 1950s/1960s multi–lens filament bulb M.A.S. were slung directly from the gantry in a much neater fashion?
 
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takno

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Chrius56000 said:
When the latest incarnation of LED signal gantries were erected on the W.C.M.L. between Milton Keynes and Rugby and Stafford to Crewe, I can't help feeling, like the GWR Main Line electrification hardware, that these are somewhat ugly!

Can anyone suggest why these LED signals were underslung from tall gantries with what looks (from a passenger's point of view) like a long ugly black steel bar or joist, when the original 1950s/1960s multi–lens filament bulb M.A.S. were slung directly from the gantry in a much neater fashion?
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Possibly to achieve better clearance from the electrification wires for workers on the gantry
 
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Tram Inn SB

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This ^^^^ however even though the cages are isolated from the OLE an isolation needs to be taken to allow S&T to climb the structure and then enter into the cage!

They also need a special permit and double manning to climb the ladder (fully enclosed to prevent falling) to the structure.
 
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The Planner

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Chrius56000 said:
When the latest incarnation of LED signal gantries were erected on the W.C.M.L. between Milton Keynes and Rugby and Stafford to Crewe, I can't help feeling, like the GWR Main Line electrification hardware, that these are somewhat ugly!

Can anyone suggest why these LED signals were underslung from tall gantries with what looks (from a passenger's point of view) like a long ugly black steel bar or joist, when the original 1950s/1960s multi–lens filament bulb M.A.S. were slung directly from the gantry in a much neater fashion?
Click to expand...
They wouldnt have been LED when installed in the early 2000s.
 
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thecrofter

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I seem to recall there was an expectation for lineside staff to use them as a means of crossing a 4 track main line without having to take line blocks. All went downhill when it was realised that "working at height regulations" came into play to climb them thereby necessitating staff to have the requisite competence. Definitely over engineered for their intended use as a signalling structure.
 
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Chrius56000

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Definitely over engineered for their intended use as a signalling structure.
Click to expand...

Certainly so for those modern single–lens/two–lens for 4 aspect LEDs in the thin grey (backboard) rounded housings used for the most recent LED installations!
 
alxndr

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Tram Inn SB said:
This ^^^^ however even though the cages are isolated from the OLE an isolation needs to be taken to allow S&T to climb the structure and then enter into the cage!

They also need a special permit and double manning to climb the ladder (fully enclosed to prevent falling) to the structure.
Click to expand...
Is this based on the specific gantries discussed here or an assumption of all? I don’t know the gantries referred to but there are a great many gantries across the country which can be climbed live.
 
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Tram Inn SB

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alxndr said:
Is this based on the specific gantries discussed here or an assumption of all? I don’t know the gantries referred to but there are a great many gantries across the country which can be climbed live.
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The very similar ones planted on the GWML during the OLE scheme.
 
QueensCurve

QueensCurve

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Chrius56000 said:
When the latest incarnation of LED signal gantries were erected on the W.C.M.L. between Milton Keynes and Rugby and Stafford to Crewe, I can't help feeling, like the GWR Main Line electrification hardware, that these are somewhat ugly!

Can anyone suggest why these LED signals were underslung from tall gantries with what looks (from a passenger's point of view) like a long ugly black steel bar or joist, when the original 1950s/1960s multi–lens filament bulb M.A.S. were slung directly from the gantry in a much neater fashion?
Click to expand...
Am I incorrrect in believing that the boom could be unfolded to hinge the signal down to ground level for mainenance or repair?
 
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jfollows

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I searched for
WCML signal gantry
and the second result was https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/...ast_Main_Line_-_geograph.org.uk_-_6805857.jpg
Signal_gantry_on_the_West_Coast_Main_Line_-_geograph.org.uk_-_6805857.jpg

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
Attribution:
Signal gantry on the West Coast Main Line by Stephen McKay
English: Signal gantry on the West Coast Main Line Edit this at Structured Data on Commons
Depictsrail infrastructure, railway signal, Amington Edit this on Structured Data on Commons
Date7 April 2021 Edit this at Structured Data on Commons
SourceGeograph Britain and Ireland Edit this at Structured Data on Commons
AuthorStephen McKay Edit this at Structured Data on Commons
Place of creationAmington Edit this at Structured Data on Commons (Amington→Tamworth→Staffordshire→Staffordshire→West Midlands→England→United Kingdom)
 
Last edited:
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thecrofter

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This was the view from our Son's bedroom window during the build of TV4 at Handsacre. Now I love to see trains passing by but this monstrosity...!!

DSC_0021.JPG
DSC_0017.JPG
 
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edwin_m

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jfollows said:
I searched for
WCML signal gantry
and the second result was https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/...ast_Main_Line_-_geograph.org.uk_-_6805857.jpg
Signal_gantry_on_the_West_Coast_Main_Line_-_geograph.org.uk_-_6805857.jpg

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
Attribution:
Signal gantry on the West Coast Main Line by Stephen McKay
English: Signal gantry on the West Coast Main Line Edit this at Structured Data on Commons
Depictsrail infrastructure, railway signal, Amington Edit this on Structured Data on Commons
Date7 April 2021 Edit this at Structured Data on Commons
SourceGeograph Britain and Ireland Edit this at Structured Data on Commons
AuthorStephen McKay Edit this at Structured Data on Commons
Place of creationAmington Edit this at Structured Data on Commons (Amington→Tamworth→Staffordshire→Staffordshire→West Midlands→England→United Kingdom)
Click to expand...
That doesn't even allow people to access the signal heads in situ. I'm wondering if the head, or the entire vertical beam it is attached to, can be cranked up into the cage when needed.
 
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Tram Inn SB

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QueensCurve said:
Am I incorrrect in believing that the boom could be unfolded to hinge the signal down to ground level for mainenance or repair?
Click to expand...

Yes, the idea was they could be wound up for maintenance, with an extend block taking place - just like the fold down LED search light signals…but they actual extended block never happened.
 
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The Planner

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Tram Inn SB said:
Yes, the idea was they could be wound up for maintenance, with an extend block taking place - just like the fold down LED search light signals…but they actual extended block never happened.
Click to expand...
What sort of extended block?
 
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edwin_m

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Tram Inn SB said:
Signal section, that was the original concept for the fold down signal in addition to ease of maintenance, the Siemans module signaling scheme.
Click to expand...
So effectively when the signal was cranked up or folded down the block section became twice as long, from the signal before to the signal after?

I can see a dozen or so serious hazards there without even thinking about it.
 
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The Planner

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Tram Inn SB said:
Signal section, that was the original concept for the fold down signal in addition to ease of maintenance, the Siemans module signaling scheme.
Click to expand...
If its anything like the rubbish between Shrewsbury and Crewe, no wonder it never happened.
 
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