Semaphore signals

[edwin_m]

Not on the arm, on the wires. Signal operation had been disrupted for quite a while before the actual accident.

The Chinley incident I linked to earlier was ice on the wires rather than the arm or pivot too.
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Do you know if this is still the case now? I recall being at Brough one evning towards the end of last year and the semaphore was held 'on' until about a minute before the train reached the station, and therefore the signal.

There are various reasons why the signal might be held at danger until the train is close to it.

Obviously the signaller might only just have been able to clear it due to a previous train going out of section, level crossing closing, or whatever. Also if there are several stop signals on the same line controlled by the same box, and the last one can't be cleared yet, the rules require each of the previous ones to be cleared only when the train is close and the signaller can tell it is slowing down properly. This helps to ensure that the train is properly under control and reminds the driver that there is possibly another signal at danger a short distance ahead.