1930s LMS Film (Sentinels of Safety) - Absolute Block and Semaphore Signalling - Part 1

[@JimTLonW6]

These LMS training films (not vids I think, they hadn't invented them yet!) are pretty impressive. The one on firing is really good and helps non drivers understand what's going on. I'm always amazed how signalmen in busy boxes managed to keep aware of which trains were where.

[@kitsuneproductions2624]

@interception7 The Starting Signal will be electrically locked. The electric lock will release when the Bobby at Box B accepts the train and moves the needle to "Line Clear". The Bobby at Box A can then clear his Starter. As the train passes Box A, he will send Train Entering Section. That is the que for Box B to put their needle to "Train On Line". Once the rear of the train has passed the Starter the Signalman at A can return it to danger.

[@kitsuneproductions2624]

@interception7 The Home will only be mechanically locked by any points in front of it when they are set correctly, or electrically locked by track circuits in front of it. The Distant will be mechanically locked by the Home and Starter, and can only be cleared when the Home and Starter are showing clear. Then the Signalman can return the Distant to Caution, then the Home, then the Starter, as the rear of the train passes each signal complete with tail lamp.

[@robertbilling6266]

The side effect of this is that the home and starter are back locked when the distant is off.

[@starstruckone]

I worked as a signalman in an old lms box in the sixties and remember that when) 2 bells) train on line was sent you didnt have to call attention first( one bell)and it was replied and nothing was electronically locked, if a box refused your train you placed a metal collar over the signal lever so you couldnt pull it if you forgot.

[@juk-hw5lv]

starstruckone Operating procedures varied first between each company and then between each BR region, as BR kept operating procedures, equipment and personnel from the companies it absorbed. So LMS did it different than GWR and GWR did it different than SR etc.

[@chascarpenter5006]

Yes, i too was expecting two bells reply.

[@spottydog4477]

i travelled the jungle line in Malaysia a couple of years back from K/L in the south to KB in the north. All BR standard line and still using semaphore signals on a single line. Anyhow we stopped for an hour at one point and when I ventured up to the engine driver (the trip was 10 hrs and i'd curried up a friendship over the hrs)..- it turned out they had 'forgot' the token key at the last stop and had sent a kid on a bike back to get it - lol....

[@peng63]

this video gives the impression that us signallers are quite intelligent,more of this illusion please

[@prof.hectorholbrook4692]

Ha ha! Love it!!

[@Femmenition]

This is really good. Thanks for uploading!

[@pelado74]

- Muy buen material... Excelente.

[@blissy1]

Glad I didn’t have a job in a a signal box , I sure as hell would of f***ed it up

[@beeble2003]

Those signalmen sound like Daleks when they announce the meaning of the bell signal they've just sent!

[@-yeme-]

Thank you Mr Cholmondely-Warner Not at all Grayson

[@albert3801]

The lack of occupational health and safety for those men climbing the poles and signal gantries!!

[@prof.hectorholbrook4692]

Agree!

[@interception7]

I have a question: Are the levers for the semaphores (starting, home, distant) locked and can only be pulled when the next signal box move the needle to Line Clear? Similarly to when he is putting the semaphores back into Danger position, once the signal box moves its needle to Train on Line, he can then push back the levers to return the Signals to Danger position?

[@ProfessorPesca]

Not sure about in those days but nowadays on absolute block lines the section signal (referred to here as starting signal) is locked until you get a line clear from the box in advance. The home signal is yours to pull off as much as you want though.

[@PalomboDylan]

those signal box parts must be knackard if they never get a break

[@billpugh58]

Hang on, B pulled of his home and starting before clearing with C? Is that right?

[@waldenhouse]

@albert3801 H&S ! yes, imagine doing that these days!! - However, the job got done and done well without the interference of H&S - LOL

[@OldsVistaCruiser]

The States were doing that fully automatically for decades before that!

[@kitsuneproductions2624]

Thats a sackable offence in this country...