GWR Route: Alcester to Hatton Junction

GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Bearley Junction: gwrbj444a

In this close up of image 'gwrbj444' Bearley North Junction signal box can be seen. Robert Ferris writes "The Bearley North Curve junction is immediately beyond the Bearley North Signal Box (which incidentally was a GW Type27c timber design containing 35 levers, opened in 1907 to control these two junctions [Bearley North Curve and Alcester Line]. It finally closed in January 1961 following Alcester Junction taken out of use in August 1960 and Bearley North Curve Junction taken out of use November 1960). I have the distance from the Alcester junction to the Signal Box as 7 chains."

In this view thirteen signals can be seen mounted on six posts. The nearest post on the left has four arms thought to be made up of two pairs, each pair being made of one top and one bottom arm. On the up route a further signal with four arms can be seen although all four are employed for different purposes. Finally in the distance a single signal arm can be seen. On the down line there are two single signal posts and one post with two arms, one controlling access to the Alcester branch the other the line to Stratford upon Avon.

The reason for two arms was due to sighting issues for drivers because the lower arms were obscured by the aqueduct. Express locomotives travelled at speed and drivers needed to see the signal as soon as possible to maintain speed otherwise they would have to slow and accelerate at each signal. However the ability to see tall signals could be effected by fog or inclement weather and there a 'repeater' signal placed lower down the post would resolve the sighting problem, albeit with the train travelling at a slower pace. C1934

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