Trivia: maximum number of consecutive 4-aspect signals viewable from a location

[trevwilliams]

Having spent an hour at Bletchley (BLY), I was watching the southbound pendolinos fly through and was enjoying seeing the 4-aspect signals changing as the train passed each one. From BLY it's possible to see 4 signals. Can anyone tell me whether there is a stretch of track where it's possible to see more?

 

[jopsuk]

Not sure how many are in sight, but from Ponders end must be a good bet- big long straight there with 4-aspect auto signals, lots of services non-stop

 

[Donny Dave]

Surely London Bridge is a contender?

 

[David Dunning]

Having spent an hour at Bletchley (BLY), I was watching the southbound pendolinos fly through and was enjoying seeing the 4-aspect signals changing as the train passed each one. From BLY it's possible to see 4 signals. Can anyone tell me whether there is a stretch of track where it's possible to see more?

When I lived in a house by the R/G light crossing known as Beningbrough 7.1 miles north of York you could just about see 4 sets in each direction from the crossing at night. However because of the curvature of the earth effect and no doubt my eyesight that was about it. Looking north you'd see one double yellow , one single , and two reds if the route wasn't set thru Tollerton. The double yellow proved to be a great help during morning power cuts as it would give just enough light thru the bathroom window

 

[tsr]

You'll usually see the whole four-aspect sequence very clearly if you stand on Sutton Platform 1 and look towards Cheam. However, there is currently nothing particularly exciting about the signalling of the Sutton area. (Many people would say the same for everything to do with Sutton...)

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Don't know if either is 3 aspect or 4 aspect but Waterloo and Clapham Junction might be contenders

 

[edwin_m]

There's a long straight from just east of Trent Junction almost to the Nottingham ring road, with 4-aspect signals and relatively low speed so they should be closely spaced. I've never tried it but the footbridge at Attenborough or the road bridge at Beeston might be a good bet.

 

[D6975]

Surely London Bridge is a contender?

Beat me to it.
The view down the Deptford line is a double digit signal count. They are very close together.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Don't know if either is 3 aspect or 4 aspect but Waterloo and Clapham Junction might be contenders

Have a job, they're all two aspect!

 

[Railsigns]

Have a job, they're all two aspect!

I think you may be confusing the number of aspects with the number of lenses.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Raynes Park looking west has some quite long visibility.

 

[LowLevel]

Next time I'm on the ECML through Stoke etc I'll have a look - you can see a pretty long way in places.

 

[30907]

Tonbridge to Ashford must have potential, depending on overbridges etc.

 

[driver_m]

If you want to see the full set then the long straight on the down heading towards Weedon on the WCML is your friend. Make sure you're not on a Manchester and the chances are you'll get all 4 aspects. (Sit on the right side to see it)

 

[455driver]

Surely London Bridge is a contender?

That was my thought to.

 

[321446]

Gidea Park on the Down Main. I think you can see 5 or 6 consecutive signals. Definitely can from the cab, imagine you'd have to stand on the Up Electric platform and look down the main.

In a sunny afternoon you can see the tail of the train ahead of the last red too.

 

[leightonbd]

South from Gatwick Airport?

 

[Mag_seven]

Glasgow Central. Crewe looking north down the WCML towards Winsford. Preston looking south.

 

[Bald Rick]

Assuming the OP means consecutive signals, ie on the same line applying to the same track in the same direction...

Looking south from Slipe Lane Level crossing (near Broxbourne) you can see down to Brimsdown, there's about 8 or 9 signals in that sequence.

 

[AmateurRambler]

Signal sections are short in the Knottingley area. When driving from Knottingley towards Pontefract Monkhill, you can see four 4-aspect signals on the straight before Monkhill (after your pass under the A1(M). If you are routed down Cutsyke those signals show double yellow, yellow, red, green (the red clears with a number four junction indicator as you approach Monkhill station, the Green is not yours - it is for trains towards Wakefield). So you get to see all main aspects, but not in the correct order!

 

[trevwilliams]

Thanks for all the replies.

Assuming the OP means consecutive signals, ie on the same line applying to the same track in the same direction...

Looking south from Slipe Lane Level crossing (near Broxbourne) you can see down to Brimsdown, there's about 8 or 9 signals in that sequence.

That is indeed what I mean, so 8 or 9 signals in sequence is much more than I expected and, if correct, will take some beating.

Not sure how many are in sight, but from Ponders end must be a good bet- big long straight there with 4-aspect auto signals, lots of services non-stop

That's two votes for that stretch then.

Next time I'm on the ECML through Stoke etc I'll have a look - you can see a pretty long way in places.

Sounds interesting, I'll look forward to reading about what you find.

Surely London Bridge is a contender?

Beat me to it.
The view down the Deptford line is a double digit signal count. They are very close together.

That was my thought to.

So London Bridge sounds the most promising so far. Can anyone confirm?