Re: Question about semaphores

Wouldn't have lasted long if the signals weren't failsafe, Doug.

AB class Pacific leaving Woodville in '65 with a ballast train. This was a junction controlled by a Signalbox at either end, see the right-most Starting signal, the lower blade set for Clear to indicate to the Enginedriver that he is cleared to depart into the Section(after picking up the Tablet) taking the diverging route to the Hawke's Bay line. If the upper blade was off then the route would have been straight to the Wairarapa line.
Also visible on that Starter is the lowest indicator, the round Shunting disc signal that is used to control shunting movement ie not to depart the Station out on to the Mainline beyond a certain point. Note on the ground this side of the Starter is a two-light Ground Indicator of the Colourlight variety, an upgrade from a ground Shunting disc. These are all two-position signals here, no track circuits and the pointwork lever operated by rodding.
The other two Starting signals visible control the Crossing loop (Centre) and Mainline(Left). Those also have double blades for direction indication and Shunting Disc indicators. Visible just to the left of the Locomotive, the Home Signal control wires are seen on their mounts.

Another oddity, especially to me was the Signalbox at this Eastern end of the yard was known as the South Box, the opposite North Box controlling the other. Originally the line was built West then North hence this designation. In the late 60's all this antiquation was removed, 3-position coloulight signals and a CTC panel installed in a new Station along with a Balloon Loop to forsake turning trains here for the North-South line movements.





Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/17/2017 05:55PM by Chris Walker.