1930's LMS Absolute Block Semaphore Signalling- Part 1

LMS instructional Railway video "Sentinels of Safety" outlining the Absolute Block Signalling principle. Recorded some time in the 1930's. Features lots of LMS signal boxes and the staff that used to work them. A fantastic piece of railway history.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• LMS
• Absolute Block
• Signalling
• Railway
• Semaphore Signal
• Signal Box
• Train
• Euston
• P-Way
• Main line

[beeble2003]

Those signalmen sound like Daleks when they announce the meaning of the bell signal they've just sent!

[spottydog4477]

i travelled the jungle line in Malaysia a couple of years back from K/L in the south to KB in the north. All BR standard line and still using semaphore signals on a single line. Anyhow we stopped for an hour at one point and when I ventured up to the engine driver (the trip was 10 hrs and i'd curried up a friendship over the hrs)..- it turned out they had 'forgot' the token key at the last stop and had sent a kid on a bike back to get it - lol....

[starstruckone]

I worked as a signalman in an old lms box in the sixties and remember that when) 2 bells) train on line was sent you didnt have to call attention first( one bell)and it was replied and nothing was electronically locked, if a box refused your train you placed a metal collar over the signal lever so you couldnt pull it if you forgot.

[peng63]

this video gives the impression that us signallers are quite intelligent,more of this illusion please

[KitsuneProductions]

@interception7 The Home will only be mechanically locked by any points in front of it when they are set correctly, or electrically locked by track circuits in front of it. The Distant will be mechanically locked by the Home and Starter, and can only be cleared when the Home and Starter are showing clear. Then the Signalman can return the Distant to Caution, then the Home, then the Starter, as the rear of the train passes each signal complete with tail lamp.

[KitsuneProductions]

@interception7 The Starting Signal will be electrically locked. The electric lock will release when the Bobby at Box B accepts the train and moves the needle to "Line Clear". The Bobby at Box A can then clear his Starter. As the train passes Box A, he will send Train Entering Section. That is the que for Box B to put their needle to "Train On Line". Once the rear of the train has passed the Starter the Signalman at A can return it to danger.

[interception7]

I have a question: Are the levers for the semaphores (starting, home, distant) locked and can only be pulled when the next signal box move the needle to Line Clear?

Similarly to when he is putting the semaphores back into Danger position, once the signal box moves its needle to Train on Line, he can then push back the levers to return the Signals to Danger position?

[GreatSongwriters]

@fgh456pc It's like that everywhere I guess.... Banks; ralroads; record companies... All consolidating or something... Sigh...

[fgh456pc]

@GreatSongwriters No they ceased to exist when the uk railways were nationalised (became state owned) in 1948.

[GreatSongwriters]

Does the LMS still operate today?