No Danger aspect at New Milton

[TGV]

Sitting at New Milton station (Hampshire) the other day, a train passed through and the signal at the end of the platform changed to a single caution aspect as the train passed it. No red. Straight to yellow. Next train - same result.

I'm not familiar with that line, it's way out of my usual area - is that normal practice there or was there some other reason? I've never seen that before.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Was this the platform going towards Hinton Admiral?

If so, the signal at the end of that platform (BC131) is a repeater signal, and has no red aspect. It will display a green if the next signal (BC133) is displaying a proceed aspect. If it isn't then BC131 will display a single yellow. It is evidently fitted with wheel replacement, so it will revert to its most cautionary aspect after a train has passed.

 

[BestWestern]

Sitting at New Milton station (Hampshire) the other day, a train passed through and the signal at the end of the platform changed to a single caution aspect as the train passed it. No red. Straight to yellow. Next train - same result.

I'm not familiar with that line, it's way out of my usual area - is that normal practice there or was there some other reason? I've never seen that before.

Probably a distant signal, which would have only green and yellow aspects, simply giving an advance warning of the aspect being displayed by the associated stop signal further up (or down!) the line.

 

[TGV]

Excellent answers gents. Thank you. It was in both directions, one towards Hinton (class 444), the other to Sway (Voyager).

I think I was just expecting it to drop to danger as most signals I'm familiar with do!

I need to brush up on my UK signalling theory. Spent too much time with TVM430.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Interesting, I haven't got the starter at NM towards Sway down as a distant. I have it as BH373, a 3 aspect automatic.
I should also amend my first post to say it's a distant, not a repeater, as it's BC131, not BC131R.

 

[TGV]

What I did notice was that the UP signal (BH373 indeed, as I remember) remained yellow for a very long time after the XC train passed towards Brockenhurst and this didn't tie in with the train's speed or the fact it wasn't due to stop until Brockenhurst), and I didn't see a danger before it. As I don't know the route, I presumed it was protecting a level crossing that hadn't been cleared some point up the line. At that point the 444 passed towards Bournemouth and again, I noted the distant caution and lack of red, which was what prompted the question.

I assumed they were normal automatic signals you see.

 

[OxtedL]

Yes, they have these on the East Grinstead branch as well. Freaked me out a bit when I first saw one, the train passed and it was at least 2 minutes before it changed from green to yellow. But found out it was literally just indicating what the next signal was showing...

 

[swt_passenger]

I assumed they were normal automatic signals you see.

I think, assuming it is a similar setup to the Netley line, that the signals do normally operate automatically, but because it's an area with long block sections it only needs two aspect stop and distant signals.

I know that on the Netley line the stop signals are not all at stations, the sections are pretty random, and headways are about 6 mins.

A driver told me a few years ago that the Netley line signals that are alongside platforms are more coincidental than planned...

 

[driver9000]

An automatic signal can be identified by a horizonatal black and white stripe on the top of the ID plate. An intermediate block signal would be identified by a vertical black and white stripe.

The signal the OP describes will be a Distant with trains being protected by the stop signal in rear. If the signal didn't change to green once the train has supposedly cleared the overlap/clearing point of it's associated stop signal in advance then the stop signal may be worked as a controlled signal (I'm not familiar with the area concerned) rather than an Automatic.