Railway General Knowledge.

[Whistler40145]

86429

 

[D6130]

86429

Correct. Your turn.

 

[Whistler40145]

Open floor

 

[petergb]

What was* unusual about MF45?

*and possibly still is, although I suspect it's not there any more by now.

 

[D6130]

Was it the only colour light signal on the national network with all six positions of junction route indicators?

 

[petergb]

D6130 said:
Was it the only colour light signal on the national network with all six positions of junction route indicators?

Good idea! ...but sorry, that's not what I'm after.

Actually to be strictly accurate I should probably have said "they aren't there anymore", as I believe there were two parts of MF45, rather than just one.

 

[petergb]

Well now - I didn't think this little poser would have stumped you all!

However, considering the small number of replies so far, maybe I should try to provide a clue - although it's hard to think of a clue which doesn't simply give the game away...

Perhaps the word "London" might help?

 

[xotGD]

The last remaining semaphore signal in London?

 

[Whistler40145]

First ever multi-frequency signal?

 

[petergb]

The last remaining semaphore signal in London?

First ever multi-frequency signal?

Two more good guesses - but unfortunately neither is the right answer.

I think maybe I should give a bit more help.
Whistler40145, xotGD and D6130 above have all surmised this is something to do with signalling. That is correct.
I've now done some more checking up, and discovered that the location in question has since been extensively re-signalled, and even the trackwork itself has been modified - so MF45 is definitely a thing of the past.
Having said that, when MF45 was still a reality, it was certainly unusual enough to make it noteworthy. I can also suggest that it was seen by / passed by a large number of railway staff every day (though not by members of the public, unless under special circumstances). Bit of a clue there!
Good Luck!

 

[Whistler40145]

Signal Lever number?

 

[petergb]

Signal Lever number?

I'm sure that MF45 would have had a lever, but alas that's not what we're after here.

There was something fundamentally different about MF45 which made it very unusual, perhaps even unique for the line in question. What was that difference?

 

[Whistler40145]

Not a clue

 

[Peter Mugridge]

MF was the Neasden signalbox code wasn't it?

Was it a BR signal controlling access to the Underground network at Neasden?


It wasn't this one ( in my photo archives ) was it?

 

[petergb]

MF was the Neasden signalbox code wasn't it?

Yes! Now we are getting warmer. MF was indeed the (then) London Transport Neasden South box (and MH was Neasden North)

But MF45 is not the signal in your excellent photo (which I suspect shows NJ19, see Adrian the Rock's pages here (scroll down a bit) and also here )

The line from Marylebone had its own box (big levers), but this was completely separate from the LT signalling.

so...
1) London
2) a place where railway staff go every day, but the public seldom visits
3) The letters "MF"

...where are we?

 

[Whistler40145]

MF (Neasden South) was a Metropolitan Signal Box until closure in 1987

 

[Whistler40145]

Is it a London Underground track signal number MF45?

 

[petergb]

You are very, very close.

Is it a London Underground track signal number MF45?

Please read carefully: Only one word is wrong in what you have written here.

If all of the words which you wrote had been correct, then there would not be anything "unusual" about MF45.

But there is something unusual about MF45; and that's why one of the words which you wrote is wrong.

Find the incorrect word and you will have the answer to this little puzzle.

 

[Whistler40145]

Was MF45 a ground signal at Neasden London Underground Depot?

 

[petergb]

Was MF45 a ground signal at Neasden London Underground Depot?

According to my go-to reference (Harsig) MF45 was a 2 aspect (red / green) colour light signal (actually a pair of them, co-acting). I don't think you could really describe it as a ground signal.

Certainly, there is another descriptive word for this type of signal (it's quite a common word, though you may need to think laterally here!). That word will reveal what's unusual about MF45.

 

[Peterthegreat]

Was it a road signal interlocked with the rail line (a sort of level crossing)?

 

[Whistler40145]

Was it a motor operated signal?

 

[petergb]

Congratulations!

Was it a road signal interlocked with the rail line (a sort of level crossing)?

..."Road Signal" is the right answer. Well Done.

Although it was controlled from a lever in Neasden South Box (LT), MF45 wasn't a signal for trains at all. It was to control the traffic travelling along the access road to the south end of the depot.

The access road leading to the south end of Neasden depot has to cross the railway tracks which led from the depot roads to the north end of Neasden station. This is accomplished with a level crossing. MF45 signals (co-acting) were situated at both sides of this crossing to stop the road traffic.

As far as I can tell, in the modern layout MF45 seems to have been replaced by "normal" wig-wags and barriers.

Over to you!

(edited for clarity)

 

[Whistler40145]

That was impossible to answer

 

[Peterthegreat]

Thank you.
Which former TOC MD was the son and grandson of locomotive engineers?

 

[D6130]

Adrian Shooter?

 

[Peterthegreat]

Adrian Shooter?

Nope.

 

[Whistler40145]

Presumably a UK family?

 

[Peterthegreat]

V

Presumably a UK family?

Very much so.

 

[Whistler40145]

Sir Nigel Gresley?