I remember during the January storms, there was no electricity in most of Cumbria, so Signals and crossings etc were all out with drivers having to SPAD (with authority) nearly every signal.
This applied even for the semaphore signals becuase of the interlocking system - the gates are proved locked with an electric detector and the signals are not released until the gates are proved locked. As there was no power, the gates could not be proved locked and therefore the signals could not be cleared.. I remember the interesting journey going to school...
Bootle: No Power, no lights on station (driver had to know where he was
) signalman (it was a man so I am being PC) closes gates but cannot clear signals so comes and waits on the platform for the train. Authorises driver to SPAD the Home and Starter signals.
Ravenglass: station lights were on, no signals installed
Drigg: We come to a near stand close to the home signal (DG10) then start up again and stop at the signal box (I asume the signaller showed a yellow light (at bootle I observed the use of yellow lights/flags for trains going in the other direction)) and then we start up again over the crossing to the station (again with no lights)
Seascale: village had power, no signals installed
Sellafield: had power, signals clear
Braystones, Nethertown: no power, no signals installed
St bees: Barrier crossings were down but signals not cleared. after being in school that day aswell, i descovered that the village was on low voltage.. about 50V I was told until thankfuly at about 14.30 the beeping for the fire alarm panel stopped and power was restored.
I also understand that trains were terminating at Dalston as they couldn't get into Carlisle.. not sureprising, Carlilse had no power till about the Wednesday
