As a kid most railway stations had a working signal box. As the train was approaching they would open up both ends of the station with the semaphore signals. It used to fascinate me. 6 or 7 people worked there selling tickets , parcels etc, closed up now. Forgot when I was very young a guy would close the railway gates too.
I worked on that track for many years, 1969 to 2011, Bill Lewis (Crazy Horse) was the ganger then. I was in that gang number 88 from 1971 to 1975. In 1979 I was based at Manchester Piccadilly in the NDT. Worked in all those signal boxes.
Great Vid mate. I was a Signalman on the Blackpool Nth and Sth Lines; and Wyre Dock Branch 1978-88. I had to retire early after injuries. Most of the time I was based at Poulton No 3 as a G/P Rlf; covering Vacancies, Sickness and holidays.
I was a box lad at crewe south in 75 for 2 years, when I reached 18 I had to do a man's job, there were only 3 going at crewe at the time, signalman, guard, porter, didn't fancy signalman after 2 years at crewe south made me allergic to bells, buzzers and phones ringing, and definitely didn't fancy the others so I transferred to saltley DD to get on the footplate and do my traction training and eventually became a driver so I went from "bloody fucking drivers don't know where their going" to "bloody fucking signalmen don't know where we're going" 😅
I was the signalman in the clip. Although I remember Brookfold Lane (I even have a photo of the box) I never worked there or anywhere on that area. Sorry.
You guys across the pond call these tower operators signalmen. I was a signalman and we worked trackside building crossings , cantilevers signals wayside detectors track circuits, crossing houses. I did briefly work at a box tower like this, but not throwing switches or levers, in the relay room downstairs. 2 different jobs completely. These switch Throwers are called tower operators here in the states
1:23 - look at that donkey bounce!! Excellent video; Unfortunately, I'm too young to be part of the mechanical signal box era otherwise I would try for a job at one of the boxes still in operation on the Blackpool line or the Manchester-Wigan line!
Good evening, it is not yet entirely clear to me whether those old electric block systems (Absolute block system, if I am not mistaken) with a wooden case were or were not influenced by the passage of trains for the purpose of occupying and freeing the section (block) towards to which and from which the train was respectively headed or from which the train came. Furthermore, it is not clear whether there is an electrical connection between the lever that controls the opening (switching from Danger to Clear) of the starting signal and the apparatus with wooden case. In other words, was it possible to pull the lever that activated the starting signal towards you without first having received electrical consent from the next station? However, it is common ground that where there is a token block it is possible to activate the lever that opens the starting signal even before having handed over the token to the driver, unless there is an error on my part. Thank you very much for your availability and collaboration
Fascinating video! I am most curious as to what occurs at 3:20 From what I understand, a standard passenger train has been accepted from the box in rear, the train has entered the section, the train has been offered to the box in advance, yet when asking is line clear, he gets a warbled response. The signalman here seems confused, and calls attention(?) again. I am not aware of that bell being used to essentially “ask to repeat last code”, but that’s what seems to be happening. The box in advance then responds with 5 beats, which I don’t know the meaning of. The signalman here then passes that on to the box in rear. Why?
I wonder if you know the answer now 8 months later? You've got to remember these were professionals, they sent these bell signals day in day out every single day, and they generally knew what they were expecting to hear. You get used to your bell codes and can rattle them out very fast when you're in a hurry. Our signalman in the video indeed sent 3-1 (is line clear for a class 2 train (ordinary passenger train)?). The response that comes back is 3-1. It's fast, but there's no doubt about it, it's 3-1. Line is clear for a class 2 (ordinary passenger train). As you say call attention is then sent: New message. Our signalman acknowledges. 5 is indeed sent. 5 means is line clear for a class 6 train? (today that's freight with a maximum speed of 60 mph and I think it would have been by 1990 as well, but train classifications have changed over time, once upon a time 5 beats on the bell was is line clear for a class 5, D headcode train (express freight, livestock, perishable or ballast train, partly fitted, with the automatic brake operative on not less than one third of the vehicles), but that's going back a lot further than 1990, it's just to give you the idea that some of the meanings have changed over time). There is no way to ask for a bell code to be repeated. The rules simply say that you must not consider a signal to have been understood until it has been correctly acknowledged by repetition. Usual procedure if you're not sure is to wait for the bell code to be sent again, although you can usually work it out because as I say you know what you're expecting. If you acknowledge a code wrongly it will simply be sent again until you acknowledge it correctly. There is 'last train incorrectly described' but that's for when you have sent the wrong description and need to correct it.
@M53494 . "One Bells" were quite commonplace once upon a time. In some places I believe they can still be found although for many reasons, the species is in danger of becoming extinct.
I don't remember a cat being at Brewery. Miles Platting had a cat. I don't know who would have had a guitar that worked there, maybe it was after my time. I left the area in 1992.
i think those 31s were having a struggle there !. was that heavy crude oil in there by any chance john ?. nice clips mate as always, very much enjoyed. TOM
Did you do your training at Man Vic ? I did mine in 88 there then worked as relief on the S&C ... Cant remember the name of our instructor but we stayed in the station hotel at whalley Bridge
Branch Ordinary passenger train. If the train was going down the Main line, it would be signalled as a normal Ordinary passenger train with bell code 3-1. If the train was going down the Branch line, it would be offered as bell code 1-3 to let the signalman know that it needed the route set for the Branch. It is a routing code.
the signalman , resembles some one who used to be at Brookfold Box,Godley in the seventies, i was on the footplate at the time with the class 76,s, would love to find out where he ended up,any info please.,Brill video too.
The lever handles and release latches are brass typically so it was to keep finger prints off the levers and oil from your hands from causing corrosion
As a kid most railway stations had a working signal box. As the train was approaching they would open up both ends of the station with the semaphore signals. It used to fascinate me. 6 or 7 people worked there selling tickets , parcels etc, closed up now. Forgot when I was very young a guy would close the railway gates too.
Some great shots of British Rail Transportation 20 years ago and a brief glimpse of the life and area of responsibility of a signalman - Thank You.
Fascinating to see a signalman in a fairly busy smaller box. I'm always amazed that these guys could keep the trains running!
I worked on that track for many years, 1969 to 2011, Bill Lewis (Crazy Horse) was the ganger then. I was in that gang number 88 from 1971 to 1975. In 1979 I was based at Manchester Piccadilly in the NDT. Worked in all those signal boxes.
Great Vid mate. I was a Signalman on the Blackpool Nth and Sth Lines; and Wyre Dock Branch 1978-88. I had to retire early after injuries. Most of the time I was based at Poulton No 3 as a G/P Rlf; covering Vacancies, Sickness and holidays.
Thank you for putting that up. Very interesting to watch.
Thanks for quick reply, Brilliant clips ,was all part of my stomping groundwhile based at Guide Bridge.
I was a box lad at crewe south in 75 for 2 years, when I reached 18 I had to do a man's job, there were only 3 going at crewe at the time, signalman, guard, porter, didn't fancy signalman after 2 years at crewe south made me allergic to bells, buzzers and phones ringing, and definitely didn't fancy the others so I transferred to saltley DD to get on the footplate and do my traction training and eventually became a driver so I went from "bloody fucking drivers don't know where their going" to "bloody fucking signalmen don't know where we're going" 😅
Excellent stuff........used to drink a fair amount of Wilsons Bitter......10 old pence a pint
I used to work a strong arm lever Signal Tower like this on the T.R.R.A. in E. St. Louis, Illinois.
being a signalman must be a really hard job!
I was the signalman in the clip. Although I remember Brookfold Lane (I even have a photo of the box) I never worked there or anywhere on that area. Sorry.
John C. Earwicker you forgot the lever cloth
You guys across the pond call these tower operators signalmen. I was a signalman and we worked trackside building crossings , cantilevers signals wayside detectors track circuits, crossing houses. I did briefly work at a box tower like this, but not throwing switches or levers, in the relay room downstairs. 2 different jobs completely. These switch Throwers are called tower operators here in the states
1:23 - look at that donkey bounce!! Excellent video; Unfortunately, I'm too young to be part of the mechanical signal box era otherwise I would try for a job at one of the boxes still in operation on the Blackpool line or the Manchester-Wigan line!
You’re never too young to work mechanical boxes, there’s still quite a few around for some time yet!
Sad to see these boxes and Tokens going into history.
Funny, this signalman looks like the same guy in the Chicago 75th St. tower. I'm sure a hefty build helps hauling on these levers all day. Nice video!
I believe these sorts of levers are known as "Armstrong" (strong arms) levers in the US
Good evening, it is not yet entirely clear to me whether those old electric block systems (Absolute block system, if I am not mistaken) with a wooden case were or were not influenced by the passage of trains for the purpose of occupying and freeing the section (block) towards to which and from which the train was respectively headed or from which the train came. Furthermore, it is not clear whether there is an electrical connection between the lever that controls the opening (switching from Danger to Clear) of the starting signal and the apparatus with wooden case. In other words, was it possible to pull the lever that activated the starting signal towards you without first having received electrical consent from the next station? However, it is common ground that where there is a token block it is possible to activate the lever that opens the starting signal even before having handed over the token to the driver, unless there is an error on my part. Thank you very much for your availability and collaboration
Blimey, that Justin Lee Collins gets everywhere!
Fascinating video!
I am most curious as to what occurs at 3:20 From what I understand, a standard passenger train has been accepted from the box in rear, the train has entered the section, the train has been offered to the box in advance, yet when asking is line clear, he gets a warbled response. The signalman here seems confused, and calls attention(?) again. I am not aware of that bell being used to essentially “ask to repeat last code”, but that’s what seems to be happening.
The box in advance then responds with 5 beats, which I don’t know the meaning of. The signalman here then passes that on to the box in rear. Why?
I wonder if you know the answer now 8 months later? You've got to remember these were professionals, they sent these bell signals day in day out every single day, and they generally knew what they were expecting to hear. You get used to your bell codes and can rattle them out very fast when you're in a hurry. Our signalman in the video indeed sent 3-1 (is line clear for a class 2 train (ordinary passenger train)?). The response that comes back is 3-1. It's fast, but there's no doubt about it, it's 3-1. Line is clear for a class 2 (ordinary passenger train). As you say call attention is then sent: New message. Our signalman acknowledges. 5 is indeed sent. 5 means is line clear for a class 6 train? (today that's freight with a maximum speed of 60 mph and I think it would have been by 1990 as well, but train classifications have changed over time, once upon a time 5 beats on the bell was is line clear for a class 5, D headcode train (express freight, livestock, perishable or ballast train, partly fitted, with the automatic brake operative on not less than one third of the vehicles), but that's going back a lot further than 1990, it's just to give you the idea that some of the meanings have changed over time). There is no way to ask for a bell code to be repeated. The rules simply say that you must not consider a signal to have been understood until it has been correctly acknowledged by repetition. Usual procedure if you're not sure is to wait for the bell code to be sent again, although you can usually work it out because as I say you know what you're expecting. If you acknowledge a code wrongly it will simply be sent again until you acknowledge it correctly. There is 'last train incorrectly described' but that's for when you have sent the wrong description and need to correct it.
Loving his Queen t shirt
@M53494 . "One Bells" were quite commonplace once upon a time. In some places I believe they can still be found although for many reasons, the species is in danger of becoming extinct.
What happend to the peak cap and pocket watch?
I don't remember a cat being at Brewery. Miles Platting had a cat. I don't know who would have had a guitar that worked there, maybe it was after my time. I left the area in 1992.
i think those 31s were having a struggle there !. was that heavy crude oil in there by any chance john ?. nice clips mate as always, very much enjoyed.
TOM
Very interesting.
Did you do your training at Man Vic ? I did mine in 88 there then worked as relief on the S&C ... Cant remember the name of our instructor but we stayed in the station hotel at whalley Bridge
Was it Derek Hart?
@@davidmills8641 that’s him , I think he lived Whaley bridge way also 👍
Brilliant John, modern life is so boring
So what's the excuse for not using a cloth when pulling the levers?
Cool vid, how the hell does the signalman remember the bells,and wheres his duster?
@Panarail Justin Lee Collins, unknown British comedian, made some clips of domolishing old buildings and similar things. Maybe it was that.
Not yet, but there's still a very good chance.
What does the "1-3" bell code at 2:06 mean?
Branch Ordinary passenger train. If the train was going down the Main line, it would be signalled as a normal Ordinary passenger train with bell code 3-1. If the train was going down the Branch line, it would be offered as bell code 1-3 to let the signalman know that it needed the route set for the Branch. It is a routing code.
1-3 routed via oldham branch at thorpes Bridge junction
Nice:-)
the signalman , resembles some one who used to be at Brookfold Box,Godley in the seventies, i was on the footplate at the time with the class 76,s, would love to find out where he ended up,any info please.,Brill video too.
Who loves a brewery
I wish I knew who Justin Lee Collins was, then I might get it. Sorry railway channel.
why would you need clothe for pulling the levers, in the usa block operators & lever men never used cloth they used thier bare hands.
The lever handles and release latches are brass typically so it was to keep finger prints off the levers and oil from your hands from causing corrosion
@@railwayfan751 Nonsense! The lever handles aren't brass, they're mild steel. The catch handles were only made of brass on the BR LMR standard frames
Someone in the clip was in need of a haircut, a diet and some descent clothing for work.
Somebody needs to stop talking like a prat!