Dundee signalling

[jadmor]

Can someone explain why the signalling on the approach to Dundee Tay Bridge looks like this? I expect the theatre style boxes will show a platform number or route, but what do the white panels underneath these display? And why not use standard multiple aspect signals with feathers? I haven't seen any other line signalled in this way.
(Not my photo)

 

[mcmad]

It would have given staff working on the track warning of the route the trains were taking, you're looking at the rear of the signals. Similar exists (or did) around other large stations resignalled at the time such as Edinburgh Waverly.

 

[Railsigns]

The indicators on the rear of the signals are provided for drivers of trains that stand out beyond the signal while at the station. They're not meant for staff working on the track.

 

[najaB]

The indicators on the rear of the signals are provided for drivers of trains that stand out beyond the signal while at the station.

That includes the Royal Scotsman when it berths in P3 overnight, the Sleeper when it uses P1 South and am I'm pretty that they're useful to drivers of LNERs 800s as well.

 

[chuff chuff]

I have never seen not saying never been done a train starting from beyond the signal at Dundee.I have done it a few times with the sleeper off of Inverness.

 

[najaB]

I have never seen not saying never been done a train starting from beyond the signal at Dundee.I have done it a few times with the sleeper off of Inverness.

I have once - there was a 170 in Platform 1 North so the sleeper departed from 1 South. And, as noted above, the loco on the Royal Scotsman is beyond the signal when it's berthed in Platform 3 (pretty sure it's 3 rather than 2). That said, it's not overnighted at Dundee in the last couple of years so that may be a thing of the past.

 

[chuff chuff]

Ah yeah thinking about it your right about the royal scotsman,and it is still a regular visitor to platform 3.

 

[najaB]

Ah yeah thinking about it your right about the royal scotsman, and it is still a regular visitor to platform 3.

That's good to know. I've obviously not been in time to see it recently.

 

[John Webb]

Can someone explain why the signalling on the approach to Dundee Tay Bridge looks like this? I expect the theatre style boxes will show a platform number or route, but what do the white panels underneath these display? And why not use standard multiple aspect signals with feathers? I haven't seen any other line signalled in this way.
(Not my photo)

'Feathers' would take up more room and be more expensive both to install and maintain. But because trains are moving slowly in the station area theatre indicators are allowed to be used.

 

[MadMac]

Remarkably, Dundee SC will be 40 years old next year! There was a lot more in the way of loco-hauled service then and as such, the layout was signalled to make provision for that. There’s much more in the way of “fixed formation“ working now and these features are rarely used.

 

[Dougman]

As other have said, these repeat the main signal indications for drivers of trains that are beyond the signal, the the theatre would show for a main routes and the smaller boxes would repeat shunt indications (generally). They all would have been amber when new, which I vaguely remember from my childhood, but the lower ones are faded with age and sunlight.

 

[Railsigns]

the theatre would show for a main routes and the smaller boxes would repeat shunt indications (generally).

The small stencil indicators display "Off", "Main", "Sub" and "R".

"Main"+"Off" is displayed when the main signal head shows a proceed aspect.
"Sub"+"Off" is displayed when the position light head is off.
"R" is displayed when the "right away" plunger has been operated.

The theatre indicator displays an indication for any main or shunt route.

 

[Dougman]

The small stencil indicators display "Off", "Main", "Sub" and "R".

"Main"+"Off" is displayed when the main signal head shows a proceed aspect.
"Sub"+"Off" is displayed when the position light head is off.
"R" is displayed when the "right away" plunger has been operated.

The theatre indicator displays an indication for any main or shunt route.

Nice. Thanks for the details.

 

[jadmor]

Thanks to everyone for their replies. The one other thing that struck me as a bit unusual was the positioning of the signals approaching the station so far back. Presumably, line capacity is not adversely affected by this?

 

[najaB]

Thanks to everyone for their replies. The one other thing that struck me as a bit unusual was the positioning of the signals approaching the station so far back. Presumably, line capacity is not adversely affected by this?

Very few (no?) passenger services pass without calling so it won't have much of an impact.

 

[chuff chuff]

The signals off the bridge and from the west are positioned to protect the central junction.