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I remember a steady blue signal(?) at Westerfield from about 2008ish. What could it have been?

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owidoe

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It looked about the same as any other single-aspect signal, except it displayed a steady blue light. I can't find anything about this online, but I very clearly remember it (though it's disappeared now, or at least wasn't on when I last went to Westerfield). Does anyone have any idea what it could have been for?
 
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RightAwayGuy

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Could it have been an isolation limit marker? Wouldn't have been on a normal sigal head though, usually in the 4 foot. I can't recall any other blue lights/signals I have seen.
 
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Tomnick

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My best guess is that it was a "lineside status indicator", indicating the state of the retro-fitted TPWS working in conjunction with the RETB (Radio Electronic Token Block) signalling that was used north of Westerfield until it was resignalled a few years ago.

Some more details here...

 

hexagon789

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RETB section signal?

The East Suffolk used RETB until about 10 years ago, so I think that's a fair shout.
 

RightAwayGuy

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RETB section signal?

The East Suffolk used RETB until about 10 years ago, so I think that's a fair shout.
I had forgotten about RETB.. I have seen one of those on the WHL. My excuse is we don't do RETB on my patch .
 

hexagon789

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I had forgotten about RETB.. I have seen one of those on the WHL. My excuse is we don't do RETB on my patch .
I've seen them on the WHL which of course uses RETB and they look pretty much like a single lens colour light which shows a blue aspect (often incorporated into a sign/notice board), couple that with the fact that Westerfield would've been the start point for an RETB route like seems the likely case here, that it's an RETB LSI (Line Status Indicator).

EDIT: In fact here's a shot of Westerfield Junction in 2011 off Wikimedia Commons:

800px-Westerfield_Junction_-_National_Express_153309.jpg
Perhaps this is the very indicator?
 

owidoe

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RETB section signal?

The East Suffolk used RETB until about 10 years ago, so I think that's a fair shout.
I've seen them on the WHL which of course uses RETB and they look pretty much like a single lens colour light which shows a blue aspect (often incorporated into a sign/notice board), couple that with the fact that Westerfield would've been the start point for an RETB route like seems the likely case here, that it's an RETB LSI (Line Status Indicator).

EDIT: In fact here's a shot of Westerfield Junction in 2011 off Wikimedia Commons:

View attachment 103617
Perhaps this is the very indicator?
That's exactly how I remember it! Thank you for solving this mystery that's plagued me for over a decade now!
 

dk1

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Yes it was related to the TPWS at the stop board. Steady blue until token received when it flashed & TPWS was then suppressed. All removed around 2011/12 when the East Suffolk was resignalled.
 
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