Northumberland Line New Signalling?

[Chrius56000]

. . .Is it my imagination, or do the new signal heads on the Northumberland Line look more like they might be filament–bulb type rather than the modern larger diameter LED heads?

. . .Are they made similar to the newer signal heads on SNCF?

. . .If you look at this video :–

. . .you'll see what I mean!

 

[Benjwri]

Is there a timestamp you are referring to? I had a brief flick through and couldn't see any that looked like anything but LED.

 

[Annetts key]

Network Rail only install LED signals now. So all new or replacement signals/heads will be LED type.

Even some existing signal heads originally designed for filament–bulb type lamps (called SL35 lamps) are having LED "light engines" fitted in place of the filament lamp. See this topic . Also this:-

LED signal conversion kit
By Railway Gazette International18 October 2011

UK: Following successful trials, UK infrastructure manager Network Rail has granted full approval for the SL35 LED Light Engine which has been introduced by Howells Railway Products as a direct replacement for signal filament lamps.

The Light Engine is compatible with existing electrical and lamp proving systems, offering the reliability and long life of LEDs without the need to change the existing signal head. The existing lamp holder is used, but to further reduce failures the Light Engine is hard-wired into the signal. This means it does not use lamp holder contact springs to provide electrical connections.

According to Howells, a four-aspect signal can be converted in less than 15 min.

The Howells web site is here.

There are many advantages of the LED type compared to the filament type, not least that the cost of SL35 lamps is high (these are focused double filament lamps, Unipart cat number 0086/023000) and cost over £7 each over ten years ago plus need changing regularly.

Attached is a datasheet showing the technical details of one make of long life (8000 hours for the main filament only) SL35 lamp.

 

[dave1]

Lots of cancelled trains today because of signal problems

 

[zwk500]

Lots of cancelled trains today because of signal problems

1tph Cancelled due to diverting via Morpeth, by the look of RTT. Services began running via Newsham again shortly after 2pm and normal service restored from the 1518 onwards.

Realtime Trains | Departures from Newsham all day on 13/08/2025

Train information at Newsham all day on 13/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Was briefly mentioned on it's own thread as well.

 

[MarkyT]

There are many advantages of the LED type compared to the filament type, not least that the cost of SL35 lamps is high (these are focused double filament lamps, Unipart cat number 0086/023000) and cost over £7 each over ten years ago plus need changing regularly.

Attached is a datasheet showing the technical details of one make of long life (8000 hours for the main filament only) SL35 lamp.

They seem quite readily available from general industrial lighting suppliers, here for example, categorised with airfield runway navigation lamps. Look at the price though - £39.50!

12V 24/24W BA22D-3 SL35 8000Hr Signal Lamp - UK LIGHT STORE

Voltage: 12 volt Wattage: 24W 24W Double Filament Clear Glass | Ba22d-3 | Signal Navigation Use. Length: 78mm | Width: 50mm

www.uklightstore.co.uk