Trivia-How many working distant semaphores left ? .

BS56 · 24 Apr 2019

Over the years the number of working distant semaphore signals on our network has shrunk considerably . But how many are there out there ? . If you know where there are or is a working distant Semaphore signal ( Excluding Heritage / preserved lines ) get in touch.
The task is not so hard when you consider that there is only one left in Scotland ! & the last GWR lower quadrant signal is just outside Shrewsbury. They must be close to extinction on the Southern so this just leaves the ER ( Excluding Norfolk ) & LMR as the main areas to find them - good luck with your search.

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Eccles1983 · 24 Apr 2019

Chapel lane - distant for parbold.

Tomnick · 24 Apr 2019

Just a few off the top of my head...

Wainfleet (both directions)
Bellwater Junction (up)
Hubberts Bridge (both)
Heckington (both?)
Norwood Crossing (down, motor-worked)
Elmton & Creswell (up IB outer and inner distants)
Melton Station (up, motor-worked)
Oakham (up, motor-worked, co-located with Langham’s Up Home)
Tutbury (both directions?)
Scropton (both directions)
Uttoxeter (both directions, motor-worked)

sw1ller · 24 Apr 2019

Do fixed distant semaphore signals count? As in ones that are painted onto a white background?

I don’t know all routes into Shrewsbury, but from the Wrexham/Gobowen end, that’s a fixed distant.

We just lost our last one on the wales & borders line too.

Fixed distant in & out of Wrexham central. (Painted onto a white background)

Fixed distant into Llandudno (again, painted)

Deganwy on the up (from Llandudno)

Ty Croes down line. (To Holyhead)

evoluzione · 24 Apr 2019

Chapel Crossing on the Down Southport.

Semaphore Distant and Home on one post before Parbold.

TBSchenker · 24 Apr 2019

Fixed distant on a board on the Weaste line at Eccles, also one on the Down Goods at Floriston just north of Kingmoor Yard.

martin2345uk · 24 Apr 2019

Fixed distant on the Runcorn Folly Lane freight branch

Islineclear3_1 · 24 Apr 2019

I don't think there are any working semaphore distants left on the former Southern Region; the last one I remember was at Bexhill (and removed early 2015)

dilbertphil · 24 Apr 2019

Kirkham Abbey in both directions on the Scarborough line.

Dr_Paul · 24 Apr 2019

A couple of years back I was surprised to see from a northbound Watford service a semaphore signal in the yard at Stonebridge Park. I don't know if it's still there.

LowLevel · 24 Apr 2019

Tomnick said:
Just a few off the top of my head...

Wainfleet (both directions)
Bellwater Junction (up)
Hubberts Bridge (both)
Heckington (both?)
Norwood Crossing (down, motor-worked)
Elmton & Creswell (up IB outer and inner distants)
Melton Station (up, motor-worked)
Oakham (up, motor-worked, co-located with Langham’s Up Home)
Tutbury (both directions?)
Scropton (both directions)
Uttoxeter (both directions, motor-worked)

You can add Ancaster both ways (motor worked on the up and wire worked on the down) to that - the up being particularly interesting as the semaphore distant relates to a semaphore home and colour light starter.

Also Foley Crossing on the down (motor worked).

Tutbury Crossing and Heckington are both semaphore distants in both directions to confirm.

BS56 · 24 Apr 2019

I think it best to stay with working distants as the fixed ones on a white board are really outside the scope of what we are trying to find out. However former working distants on their original tall post that have been disconnected can be included I guess.
So it looks like they are extinct on the Southern , the West country , Wessex, South wales & borders line ?.
I think we are dealing with only double figures here do not forget remote level crossings with ground frames.
Are there any around the Barrow-in- Furness area or Buxton ?

Burgerstahl · 24 Apr 2019

Deleted.

lammergeier · 24 Apr 2019

Has Norton on Tess been resignalled? I don't sign the area but I remember a SPAD a while back which involved absolute block with working distant boards. There seem to be a couple in the area according to the RAIB report, but it was from 2013.

Ploughman · 24 Apr 2019

Any Splitting Distants?
Used to be one on the Down approach to Apperley Jcn on the Leeds - Shipley line.
Removed 1993.

dk1 · 24 Apr 2019

Still got nine on the Wherry lines but not for long.

hexagon789 · 24 Apr 2019

BS56 said:
Over the years the number of working distant semaphore signals on our network has shrunk considerably . But how many are there out there ? . If you know where there are or is a working distant Semaphore signal ( Excluding Heritage / preserved lines ) get in touch.
The task is not so hard when you consider that there is only one left in Scotland ! & the last GWR lower quadrant signal is just outside Shrewsbury. They must be close to extinction on the Southern so this just leaves the ER ( Excluding Norfolk ) & LMR as the main areas to find them - good luck with your search.

Not UK I appreciate, but I think there are some left in the Republic of Ireland.

I don't think Northern Ireland has any semaphores anymore since Castlerock was resignalled.

Colin1501 · 24 Apr 2019

Furness Vale on the Buxton line, possibly both directions? I think there may be some on the Cumbrian Coast as well

High Dyke · 24 Apr 2019

LowLevel said:
You can add Ancaster both ways (motor worked on the up and wire worked on the down) to that - the up being particularly interesting as the semaphore distant relates to a semaphore home and colour light starter.

Also Foley Crossing on the down (motor worked).

Tutbury Crossing and Heckington are both semaphore distants in both directions to confirm.

When I first started the Up Distant at Ancaster was also a wire pull - a mile from the signal box. It got changed when the wire snapped, the signalman on duty suffering a broken collarbone. Heckington in the Down direction is in the same format as Ancaster (Up direction) with semaphore Home & Distant pegs, but a colour light starter.

King Lazy · 24 Apr 2019

Regarding the Cumbrian Coast.

Fairly sure these are still the same. I signed the line until a few years ago and these were the distant signals. As requested I haven't included fixed distants even if they are for working Semaphore stop signals and have marked those that are fixed at Caution.

Silecroft to Millom has the highest concentration with 6 in approximately 4 miles.
There are 2 signalboxes, Silecroft and Millom and 2 non block post level crossings (with ground frames) at Limestone Hall and Kirksanton.

In order encountered from Carlisle to Carnforth.

Wigton SB Down distant.

Workington No3 SB. Up distant (Fixed at Caution)

Workington No2 SB Up distant (Fixed at Caution). On same post as Workington No 3 SB Home signal.

Workington No2 SB, reception siding- Up direction. On same post as reception siding section signal. Distant indication is for Up intermediate block signal.

Silecroft SB Down distant. Located at Limestone Hall LC on same post as Limestone Hall Down stop signal.

Kirksanton LC Up distant. Located at Limestone Hall LC on same post as Limestone Hall Up stop signal.

Limestone Hall LC Down distant. Located at Kirksanton LC on same post as Kirksanton Down stop signal.

Kirksanton LC Down distant.

Millom SB Up distant.

Millom SB Down distant. (Due to local method of signalling is only worked for trains not booked to call at Millom. All timetabled passenger services are booked to call).

Foxfield SB Up distant.

Foxfield SB Down distant.

Park South SB Down distant (Down Branch 'Dalton Loop'). On same post as Dalton Junction SB Down section signal (Down Branch 'Dalton Loop').

Arnside SB Up distant. (Due to local method of signalling is only worked for trains not booked to call at Arnside. All timetabled passenger services are booked to call).

Arnside is the only semaphore distant between Barrow and Carnforth.

Islineclear3_1 · 24 Apr 2019

I seem to remember one on the York - Harrogate line, but can't remember where exactly. I think it was on a bracket beneath a semaphore

John Webb · 24 Apr 2019

Interesting topic - the working semaphore distants for St Albans City were converted to colour light distants by the LMS way back in 1938 as part of their policy of converting 'remote distants' to colour lights for greater safety in fog, eliminating the need for fogmen, less maintenance costs and greater flexibility in siting signals when the line speed was altered.

dazzler · 24 Apr 2019

robert7111a said:
I seem to remember one on the York - Harrogate line, but can't remember where exactly. I think it was on a bracket beneath a semaphore

Are you thinking of the starter at Cattal Station? According to Google maps there is a distant arm underneath the starting signal for Harrogate bound trains. I'm pretty sure that it is motor worked as well, but it is a couple of months since I have been to Cattal so it may have changed (unlikely, but it is possible!) - I shall have to have a trip up there some time soon and have a look!

Colin1501 · 24 Apr 2019

robert7111a said:
I seem to remember one on the York - Harrogate line, but can't remember where exactly. I think it was on a bracket beneath a semaphore

Most of the distants on the York to Harrogate line are semaphores, although I think all but one of the working ones are motor operated.

MadMac · 24 Apr 2019

I believe, but stand open to correction, that the only worked semaphore distant remaining in Scotland is the motor-operated one at Glenwhilly.

MadMac · 24 Apr 2019

hexagon789 said:
I don't think Northern Ireland has any semaphores anymore since Castlerock was resignalled.

Didn't someone recently mention one location (terminus, not normally manned) in NI that still had its semaphores?

hexagon789 · 24 Apr 2019

MadMac said:
I believe, but stand open to correction, that the only worked semaphore distant remaining in Scotland is the motor-operated one at Glenwhilly.

Yes, I forget where the second-last one was.

hexagon789 · 24 Apr 2019

MadMac said:
Didn't someone recently mention one location (terminus, not normally manned) in NI that still had its semaphores?

Blast, I forgot about Portrush! I believe the station is staffed though, it's only the box that normally isn't.

MadMac · 24 Apr 2019

hexagon789 said:
Blast, I forgot about Portrush! I believe the station is staffed though, it's only the box that normally isn't.

I think the signalling arrangement is similar to Stranraer where the box can be opened but it normally works on a "one in - one out" basis.

MadMac · 24 Apr 2019

hexagon789 said:
Yes, I forget where the second-last one was.

I suspect the ones around the Carmuirs Triangle might have been the second last to go.

Trivia-How many working distant semaphores left ? .

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