Signalling the Caledonian Railway
Jim Summers
328 pages. 275x215mm. Printed on gloss art paper, casebound with printed board covers.
ISBN13 : 9781899889914
£30.00
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................. 7
Chapter 1: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES........................................................................ 9
Chapter 2: CONTROLLING THE PASSAGE OF TRAINS............................................... 21
2.1: The Block System...................................................................................... 21
2.2: Single Lines................................................................................................ 37
The Callander & Oban Line.......................................................................................40
The Caledonian Tablet Catcher.................................................................................47
How the Single Line Signalling Evolved Around Newtyle................................51
Ingenuity with Train Staff and Ticket......................................................................52
Chapter 3: ORGANISING....................................................................................................... 53
3.1: Signalling, Telegraphing and Traffic Working.................................... 53
3.2: Company Men and Contractors.............................................................. 67
Engineering Men..........................................................................................................68
Signal Engineer and Author: Leonard Pinnegar Lewis........................................70
Traffic Men: T.W. Pettigrew and Robert Killin......................................................71
Robert Currer, District Traffic Superintendent.......................................................72
The Life, Times and Tragic Death of a Caledonian Signalman...........................75
Stevens & Sons.............................................................................................................77
Tyer & Co. Ltd...............................................................................................................80
3.3: Mutual Support.......................................................................................... 84
Chapter 4: READING THE SIGNALS.................................................................................. 85
4.1: The Meanings............................................................................................. 85
4.2: A Closer Look............................................................................................. 97
Chapter 5: LIFE IN THE SIGNAL BOX................................................................................ 119
Chapter 6: RODS, POLES AND WIRES............................................................................... 135
6.1: Working Points and Signals.................................................................... 135
6.2: Ground Frames.......................................................................................... 145
6.3: Covering Up............................................................................................... 149
6.4: Level Crossings.......................................................................................... 151
6.5: Tablet Exchange......................................................................................... 155
6.6: Poles and Routes........................................................................................ 157
Chapter 7: SIGNALLING SCHEMES................................................................................... 165
Chapter 8: THE CALEDONIAN SIGNAL BOX INSIDE AND OUT............................. 195
8.1: A First Look Round................................................................................... 195
8.2: The Architectural Language of the Caledonian Signal box.............. 209
Chapter 9: EARLY DAYS.......................................................................................................... 245
Chapter 10: THE MORE RARE AND UNUSUAL................................................................ 263
Signalling Ships...........................................................................................................266
Stone Signals.................................................................................................................268
Movable Bridges...........................................................................................................273
Stobcross East Junction...............................................................................................277
Down Below the City..................................................................................................279
One Box – Two Frames................................................................................................281
The Connel Ferry Bridge.............................................................................................285
Precaution Signals........................................................................................................286
Endless Variety..............................................................................................................288
Chapter 11: MODELLING CALEDONIAN SIGNALS....................................................... 289
APPENDICES......................................................................................................... 300
1: Sources...............................................................................................................................299
2: Lever Collars......................................................................................................................300
3: The Caledonian Block Instrument................................................................................300
4: A Showdown at Hilton Junction...................................................................................301
5: List of Station and other Signal Boxes for Passenger Lines 1899............................304
6: Caledonian Railway Train Staffs...................................................................................305
7: Drawings of Caledonian Signals..................................................................................307
8: Locations of Caledonian Signal Boxes.........................................................................310
9: Extant Caledonian Signal Boxes....................................................................................316
10: Signalling Symbols........................................................................................................317
11: A Selection of Track Diagrams and Box Plans..........................................................319
12: Engine Head Lights and Discs.....................................................................................323
13: Detonator Placing Machines........................................................................................324
INDEX...................................................................................................................... 325
INDEX
Aberdeen, Denburn Sth Jun 116, 117, 118
Accidents
Germiston Junction 32
Glasgow Cross 279
Glasgow Central LL 279
Grangemouth Junction 24
Greenhill Junction 59
Port Glasgow 246
Quintinshill 61, 66, 124, 126
Stirling Motorail 33
Alton Heights 174
Alyth 165f
Appendix 13, 251
Arms, semaphore
angle 10, 102
back-to-back 264ff
dimensions 98, 100
distant 86
dwarf 25, 26
home 86, 100, 105
last Caledonian 6, 8
miniature 121
repeater 138, 162
stacked 17, 18, 26
wood 98
Backlights 86
Balance levers 87, 100, 103
Balhousie 319
Balquidder 8, 37, 140
Balerno Junction 126
Banking staff 45
Bannockburn 167
Barnhill 162, 209
Barnton 289
Bars, locking, fouling, balance 139, 141,
Beattock 85
Bells and gongs 23, 126
Bell signals 28, 122f, 251ff
Bell signalling for modellers 36
Benderloch 46
Bervie 247
Block instruments 198, 300
Block switch 126, 127
Block System
absolute 9, 21
indicators 121f, 198
progress 9
sections 7, 62
working 28f
Blocking back 126f
Board of Trade 128
Bogston 284
Brackets 106f
Brechin 109
Bridge of Dun 106
Bridges,
Alloa 273ff
Connel Ferry 285
movable 273ff
signal 106, 113, 116
Broughty Ferry 16, 88
Buchanan Street 26, 45, 65, 287
Buckingham Junction 281f
Cabin boys 64, 124f, 128, 130
Callander 103
Callander & Oban Railway 9, 38ff, 41ff
Camperdown Junction 6
Carlisle 9
Carnwath 97
Carstairs 107, 115
Catch points see Points
Cathcart 162
Cathcart Junction 284
Cathcart West Junction 171
Codes
bell 251, 253
telegraphic 56
Connel Ferry 46, 49, 51, 283
Coatbridge 135
Colours
Arms, lights 86f, 96, 99, 248f
boxes 207
posts 99, 107
spectacles 9
Contractors 67
Control Office 124
Cornton 154
Costs 203
Coupar Angus 164
Covering, timber 148ff
Craigo 246
Crawford 66
Crianlarich 39, 44
Crieff, East and West 1, 16, 146
Detection 139
Detonators 35, 324
Discs, classification 120
Display, night 89
Dropflap – see Signals, dropflap
Droop, angle of 102, 103
Drumlithie 319
Dunblane 27, 35, 143
Dundee West 265, 319
Edzell 236ff
Eglinton Street 95, 113f, 322, 324
Electric tablet – see Tablet
Engineers operations 35
Engine headlights and discs 323
Emergencies 123
Eyesight testing 19
Failures 120f
Finials
signal 101
signal box 213
telegraph post 160
Fitters, signal 74, 84
Fogsignalmen 58, 120
Fog and falling snow 58, 120, 324
Forfar 53
Forgandenny 76
Forteviot 154
Forth Bridge 155
Frames
C&O Railway 43
ground 138, 113f, 145ff
Saxby & Farmer 44, 54
Stevens 196
Germiston Junction 32, 283
Giffnock 10
Glasgow Central box 58, 67, 187, 190f
Glasgow Central High Level 185ff
Glasgow Central Railway 66
Glencruitten 45
Gleneagles 109
Glenlochy 45, 49
GPO (General Post Office) 157f
Grangemouth 17, 18, 117, 146,
169
Granton Gasworks 144
Greenfoot 151
Greenhill 59, 52, 111, 119
Green Road 154
Guthrie Junction 163
Guys 106, 159,
Handlamp 126
Haughhead Junction 170
Hilton Junction 256, 301
Horwich Works 67
Innovation 64
Inspecting Officer 128, 255, 279f
Insulators, telegraph 158f
Cordeaux 159
spindle 159
shackle 160
Interlaced loop 43, 146, 156
Interlocking 43, 198, 199
Junctions 25, 27
Kilbowie 53, 54
Kilsyth & Bonnybridge 259ff
Killin Junction East 15, 43, 47, 144,
156
Killin Junction West 47
Kinnaber Junction 27, 175f
Kirklee 288
Kirkpatrick 122
Ladders 97f
Lamps 9, 103, 104, 105,
106, 120
Lampmen 103, 105
Larbert 15, 53, 85, 90, 102
Last vehicle indicator 123
Law Junction 327
Lead-out, lead-away 137
Leith North 17
Level crossings 150f
gates 152, 154
Requirements 153, 150
Lever collar 122, 125, 126,
200, 201, 300
Levers
colour 196f
point 147
Light repeater 138
Lines worked in both directions 122
Lincoln 164
Lock and Block 81, 83, 122
Lockbars – see Bars
Locking, lever and latch 135
Loch Tay 8
Luncarty 328
Margining 120, 124
Mode of signalling 123, 133
Models 29, 30,
Moncrieffe Tunnel 35
Monikie 143
Nameboards 195, 201
Newtyle 39, 51
Notices, printed 20, 35
Nomenclature 59, 195
Oban 45
Oban Goods Jun 7, 92, 94, 127, 155
Opening of signal boxes, trend 55
Organisation
charts 60
Engineering 53
Signal engineering 55
Signalmen 53
Telegraph engineering 56
Traffic 59ff
Peebles 172f
People
Alexander, Forbes 4, 8
Barr, Thomas 69
Currer, Robert 65, 72f, 122
Dunn, A. 65, 68
Hunter, William 75
Kempt, Irvine 251, 178, 256
Killin, Robert 59, 61, 71
Lewis. L.P. 70
Matheson, Donald 65
Nicol, Ed 4, 8
Murray, Hugh 58
Paton, D. 61
Pettigrew, T. 71
Sawyers, Tom 122
Steven, John 65, 68
Stevenson, W. 68
Tyer, Edward 80
Webb, F. 139
Permanent Way staff 58, 84
Perth 102, 112, 177ff,
256, 325
Pilotman 33f, 36
Pinnacles 101
Points
catch, runaway 143, 33, 33f, 43
interlaced loop 43, 146, 156
facing point lock 139, 140
trap 23, 24, 33, 143
Poles
telegraph 157
routes 157
Postmaster General 57
Posts
signal 87
lattice 97, 98
wooden 243, 258
Princes Dock 36
Principles 9
Protection 21
Quadrants 85
Railway Clearing House
Supts’ Committee 12, 250
Refuge sidings 91
Regulation of Rlys. Act 1889 9, 51, 121
Regulation of train running 124
Requirements and Regulations 12, 13, 14, 37,
137, 150
Repeaters, arm and light 138, 162
Rockcliffe 2f
Rodding 135, 137ff, 148
Routing 124, 129
Rule Book 12, 76, 251
Modifications 12
Rule 55 18
Runaway catch points – see Points
Sealed undertaking 37
Sectional Councils 58
Shipping 266ff
Signals
advanced starting 120
backing, wrong line 14, 92f
calling-on 14, 90
co-acting 116
distant 16, 22ff, 88
dropflap 10, 24, 94, 112
dwarf 88
early 248f
fixed 85, 88
ground 24, 92
home (stop) 22ff, 86
home, outer and inner 124
precaution 286f
running 86
shunting 88
shunt ahead 91
splitting 171
starting 22ff
Stone 268
subsidiary 90
tunnel 279
Signal boxes
architecture 207ff
arm/Light Repeater 200
classification 64, 211
construction 53
diagrams 31
direction board 198, 201
domestic 130, 132, 198
frames 198f
grading 120
furniture 198
instruments 198, 300
lamproom 206
lever collars 122, 125, 126, 200,
201, 300
lighting 198
locking tray 199
location maps 310ff
nomenclature 12f, 194
number of 7
privacy 127f
special instructions 31
standard box, L&A 209
switching in/out 46, 138
stairs 204
toilets 198
windows 202f
wire regulator 19
Signal boxes, locations
Aberdeen Centre 238
Aberdeen West 197, 221
Alton Heights 157, 174f
Alyth Junction 18, 111, 230
Appin 228
Ardrossan No. 1 226
Ardrossan North No. 2 226
Arkleston Junction 227
Auchlochan 146, 156
Auchterarder 131, 200, 231
Awe Crossing 241
Ballachulish 20
Balquhidder East 225
Balquhidder West 225
Barnhill N1 219
Barnhill N2 219
Bellside Junction 215
Benderloch 228
Berryards 216
Blackwood 130
Blantyre 229
Bo’ness 200
Bonnybridge Junction 202
Bonnymuir 234
Bowling 276, 322
Braidhurst 226
Braidwood 213
Bridge of Dun 230
Bridge Street 188, 217
Bridgeton Cross Junction 237
Bridgeton Cross Station 242
Broughty Ferry 218
Broughty Ferry Junction 221
Buchanan Street 222
Buchanan St Tunnel 1887 235
Buchanan St Tunnel 1909 235
Buckingham Junction 200f, 279f
Burrelton 218
Busby 229
Busby Junction 204
Callander East 219
Callander West 219
Cambuslang Goods 222
Cambusnethan 320
Camperdown Junction 6, 233
Carnwath 97
Carmyle Junction 226
Carstairs No. 1 214
Carstairs No. 2 115
Carstairs No. 3 223
Castlecary 234
Cathcart 244
Clocksbriggs 218
Coatbridge 135
Coltbridge Junction 226
Comrie 233
Connel Ferry West 234
Cook Street 202
Coupar Angus 231
Cove Bay 218
Craigenhill 195
Craigleith 215
Crawford 66, 245
Crianlarich West 237
Crieff 1, 230
Crieff West 146
Crossmyloof 223
Dalchonzie 240
Dalmally 233
Dalmarnock 237
Dalry Junction 226
Dalmarnock Junction 229
Doune West 224
Drumvaich 240
Dundee West 232
Dundyvan 31
Dunning 244
Ecclefechan 214
Edinburgh Princes St. 224
Eglinton St. Junction 238
Elliot Junction 231
Elvanfoot 223
Ferryhill Junction 243
Flemington 202
Floriston 223, 229
Forgandenny 218
Forfar North Junction 220
Forteviot 218
Fort Matilda 239
Friarton 212, 256
Garriongill Junction 241
Gartsherrie South Junction 234
Georgetown 214
Germiston Junction 32, 283
Giffnock 229
Glasgow Central 67, 217, 238
Glasgow Cent. LL West 236
Glasgow Green 236
Glasterlaw 218
Glencruitten 240
Glen Lochy 49, 240
Glenoglehead 220
Grangemouth No.1 232
Grangemouth No.2 202
Greenfoot 151
Greenhill South 236
Greenloaning 231
Greenock West 239
Greskine 213
Gretna Junction 223
Happendon 214
Haughhead Junction 170, 226
Hilton Junction 218
Ibrox 228
Kelvinbridge 224
Kentallen 228
Kilbirnie 204
Kilbowie 53, 54
Kinnaber Junction 176, 239
Kinbuck 234
Kingsknowe 215
Kirkbuddo 233
Kirtlebridge 229
Lamington 213
Lanark Junction 243
Lanark Racecourse 201
Langbank 214
Larbert South 230
Larkhall 237
Law Junction 241
Law Junction South 204
Laurencekirk 230
Leggatfoot 228
Lesmahagow 237
Lesmahagow Junction 236
Liff 231
Loch Awe 233
Lochearnhead 225
Lochee 233
Loch Tay 220
London Road Junction 236
Maryhill Junction 244
Midcalder 213
Milnwood Junction 223
Milton Junction 235
Monikie 143, 201
Motherwell South 222
Neilston Low 213, 241
Ninewells Junction 231, 326
Oban 207
Oban Goods Junction 155, 243
Orchardhall 204, 232, 276
Paisley Goods 227
Paisley St. James 223
Partick Central 222
Partick East Junction 224
Partick West Junction 227
Perth Down Centre 184
Perth Dovecotland Jun 184
Perth Princes Street 220
Perth Signalling Centre 244
Perth St. Leonard’s Jun 184
Perth Up Centre 184
Pollokshaws East 215
Pollokshields East 215
Port Glasgow 238