Whats the signal?

[Ken H]

Yes, I know its a tram, but I am interested in the colour light signal on the rail bridge
Looks like an LNER one but I am unsure
Pic is lower end of Briggate and the bridge is the western approach to what is now Leeds station.
I am not sure of the signalling arrangments at Leeds before the 1960's powerbox. But there was a signal box behind the building on the right
Pic is 1950's I think.

 

[Gloster]

If it is Briggate, then it is at the east end of Leeds station on the joint LMS-LNER section of line. The tram is turning out of Sovereign Street; Leeds trams ended in 1959 and the Austin A40 (I think that is what it is) was built from 1947.

 

[Ken H]

If it is Briggate, then it is at the east end of Leeds station on the joint LMS-LNER section of line. The tram is turning out of Sovereign Street; Leeds trams ended in 1959 and the Austin A40 (I think that is what it is) was built from 1947.

You are right. EAST end of Leeds station. Sorry.

 

[Gloster]

A bit of Googling found a diagram and a photo on Flickr. The arrangements at Leeds dated from 1937 and were by Westinghouse Brake & Signal Co. (Try Leeds east signal box on a Flickr search.)

 

[John Webb]

There was a new Leeds West Box with all-power working installed as part of the 1936/7 works - it replaced 3 manual boxes. The East Box was modified with 25 levers in a mechanical frame for the points and switches for the colour light signals (CLS) mounted on a diagram. (Information from "An Illustrated History of Signalling" by Michael A. Vanns, Ian Allan, 1997) That book contains several photos of the two boxes.

The lengthy hoods on the signal probably date from WW2 works when most CLS were modified with the longer hoods to make them less visible to enemy aircraft.

 

[Rescars]

If it is Briggate, then it is at the east end of Leeds station on the joint LMS-LNER section of line. The tram is turning out of Sovereign Street; Leeds trams ended in 1959 and the Austin A40 (I think that is what it is) was built from 1947.

As Gloster says, the car is an Austin A40 Devon. The last ones were built in 1952 when the model was replaced by the A40 Somerset. 274,000 were built, but the majority went for export. For several years, the A40 Devon was Europe's best selling family car! Now, back to the signal....!

 

[midland1]

There was a new Leeds West Box with all-power working installed as part of the 1936/7 works - it replaced 3 manual boxes. The East Box was modified with 25 levers in a mechanical frame for the points and switches for the colour light signals (CLS) mounted on a diagram. (Information from "An Illustrated History of Signalling" by Michael A. Vanns, Ian Allan, 1997) That book contains several photos of the two boxes.

The lengthy hoods on the signal probably date from WW2 works when most CLS were modified with the longer hoods to make them less visible to enemy aircraft.

The 1937 Westinghouse booklet on the resignalling shows pics. with the signals with short hoods so as you say the longer hoods were put on during ww2 to help with the blackout. Some ww2 resignalling the colour lights had dimmer switches to use at night to help with the blackout.

 

[Rescars]

The 1937 Westinghouse booklet on the resignalling shows pics. with the signals with short hoods so as you say the longer hoods were put on during ww2 to help with the blackout. Some ww2 resignalling the colour lights had dimmer switches to use at night to help with the blackout.

I remember going on a visit organised by my dad's work to Waterloo power box c1965 and being shown the dimmer switch in the interlocking room. IIRC our guide said he wouldn't demonstrate it because, if he did, "the drivers would complain". Hardly surprising, seeing it was a nice afternoon!