Signal boxes at large stations

[Rational Man]

Hi,

I wonder if anyone can tell me how multiple signal boxes managed traffic at large stations (say in the 1950's).

On a normal block section a signalman in one box would offer a train to the next box and that signalman would accept it (and so on.....).

Did the same thing happen between two signal boxes at a large station, i.e. did the signalman in the "A" box offer a train to the signalman in the "B" box or did they manage the trains in another way?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Tomnick]

Yes, very much the same - but with the added complications of dealing with shunting and sometimes running movements in the wrong direction, permissive working and plenty more, all with regional and local variations. I'd be interested to read about some of the detail at specific locations if anyone's able to add a bit more!

 

[Rational Man]

Tomnick,

thanks. I was looking at plans for large stations in the 1950's and I realised I did not know how the trains were managed through them.

Many stations appear to have had distinct ends (sets of sidings, loops etc.) with only the platform lines connecting the ends (certainly there are stations that are exceptions to this - probably more than those with distinct ends). I assume this would make it easier for the signalman to pass the trains to each other with the starter signals at the end of the pltforms acting as the boudaries.

 

[Tomnick]

Where there's a box at both ends of a station, the platform line would form the block section between the two boxes (generally, the block section is defined as the line between the section signal at one box and the home signal at the next). The box in advance (in each direction) 'controls' the section in as much as they work the block indicator, but you might find cases where direction or acceptance levers are used on a bi-directional line (which, traditionally, there were far fewer of!). Plenty of stations had mid-platform boxes too, complicating things further!

Tom

 

[John Webb]

"An Entry in the Train Register" by J D Francis, published 2007 by the author, ISBN 978-0-9514636-1-1, describes in some detail the operations at Newton Abbot and the signalling needed between the East and West boxes there. It makes for interesting reading!

 

[Rational Man]

Thanks for the information. I do not seem to be able to buy the book "An Entry in the Train Register" by J D Francis". I will have to use my local library to see if they can get a copy. Thanks again.

 

[CarltonA]

I think this is still the case at Banbury. The bells can be heard from the platform.

 

[John Webb]

Thanks for the information. I do not seem to be able to buy the book "An Entry in the Train Register" by J D Francis". I will have to use my local library to see if they can get a copy. Thanks again.

Unfortunately the author does not include his contact details in his book! I bought my copy from the Nene Valley Railway's shop at Wansford, so trying their website www.nvr.org.uk might be of help. Or possibly the Embsay Station bookshop - see www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk.

 

[Rational Man]

The Nene Valley Railway website has no links to a bookshop and the URL http://nenevalley-railwaybooks.co.uk/ goes to a health and fitness blog .

There is a post on RMWeb in 2010 saying that they were selling everything off at 90% discount. So looks like it is no longer in business.

I shall just have to keep searching.