Irish Diesel Locos: 055 Ballina Branch Passenger - 1985 (Part1)

In 1985 passengers to / from Ballina connected with Westport/Dubljn Heuston services at Claremorris.
The junction at Manulla Junction was controlled by the blockpost at Balla.
Foxford station on the Ballina branch remained closed however would reopen to passenger services in November 1988. At the same time in 1988 Manulla Junction reopened as the branch interchange while Balla closed as a blockpost.
On this cold January 1985 Saturday, Claremorris signalman Tommy Whelan is seen delivering the Balla section ‘staff’ to driver Hughie Dawson prior to heading onwards to Ballina with the first ‘down’ passenger service of the day.
The loco is CIE 1955 Metropolitan Vickers built 001 class locomotive 055. 055 was withdrawn from service by Irish Rail in 1995 and subsequently purchased by Sean Browne as the pride of please attraction at his Castlerea Railway Museum.
www.hellskitch...

[@AndreA-ke2id]

It must be a bit worrying for drivers on the single line when they see the signal is pulled off for the opposite direction as @ 2.45. Also, I always wondered, how do these lower quadrant signals fail to safety. For example, if the cable or linkage broke the signal would drop down thereby allowing a train through even it the line ahead isn't clear