Signal at Tunbridge Wells

[Regeff]

The signal at the south end of [the traditional down] platform 2 at Tunbridge Wells [Central] has long struck me as unusual.

There are two routes available at this signal:

1. Into the turnback siding just beyond the station

2. On to the single-line track towards Hastings (when the "feather" above the signal illuminates).

There can't be many signals with a "feather" leading on to a single-line; normally the feather (when illuminated) would indicate a route diverging from another through route.

Presumably the "feather" is to confirm to drivers that they are not being routed into the siding (which is just out of sight from the end of the platform) and to prepare to "veer right".

Is this an unusual piece of signalling?

 

[MadMac]

The signal at the south end of [the traditional down] platform 2 at Tunbridge Wells [Central] has long struck me as unusual.

There are two routes available at this signal:

1. Into the turnback siding just beyond the station

2. On to the single-line track towards Hastings (when the "feather" above the signal illuminates).

There can't be many signals with a "feather" leading on to a single-line; normally the feather (when illuminated) would indicate a route diverging from another through route.

Presumably the "feather" is to confirm to drivers that they are not being routed into the siding (which is just out of sight from the end of the platform) and to prepare to "veer right".

Is this an unusual piece of signalling?

Not unheard of. This report gives some background on the reasons for doing this.

 

[pompeyfan]

I can think of 3 signals where the ONLY route available is with a junction indicator. They’re at the end of signalled but wrong line running.

 

[30907]

In this case the feathered route is the only main-aspect one, and the turnback has a subsidiary?

 

[mister-sparky]

Could it be a leftover from when grove junction to west station was still open?

 

[Efini92]

Not unheard of. This report gives some background on the reasons for doing this.

Interesting read. There is still places where this kind of signalling still exists, and very occasionally this mistake is still made.

 

[Regeff]

Could it be a leftover from when grove junction to west station was still open?

Don't think so. During the period from Grove Junction going and the siding being installed (several years) there was no feather.

Not unheard of. This report gives some background on the reasons for doing this.

Thanks - interesting read.

As an aside, I can't imagine the unaffected carriages of a train involved in a major derailment would be allowed to carry on to Bristol (and with passengers) nowadays.

 

[steamybrian]

Could it be a leftover from when grove junction to west station was still open?

Since closure of the line to Tunbridge Wells West the lines around Tunbridge Wells Central were resignalled in 1986. It is ironic that the same feather indication was for trains to TW West.