GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Henley in Arden - New Station: sig-diag-henley

A low resolution version of the Signalling Diagram for Henley-in-Arden Signal Box dated 1954 produced courtesy of the Signalling Record Society (S.R.S.). Details of how to purchase their full resolution content is available here. Henley-in-Arden Signal Box opened on 9th December 1907. The Signal Box was a standard Great Western Railway brick built design with a hipped roof and stovepipe chimney (type 7D). The operating floor was 38 feet long and 13 feet wide with the characteristic three up two down window panes. It housed fifty-seven levers in a horizontal tappet, three bar locking frame. Henley-in-Arden Signal Box weekday opening hours for a selection of years are given:

The Signal Box here controlled the block sections on the main double line and the token apparatus for the single track branch line to Rowington (later only Henley Goods). The Signalman sent messages to the preceding Signal Box to give permission for trains to enter the block section on their line and used signals to indicate to train drivers when they were allowed to proceed. Distant Signals, distinguished by their forked tails and yellow colour (post September 1927) gave train drivers advance warning of the status of the next ‘Stop’ Signal. The branch line was operated using token apparatus. Only one token could be released at any one time and this was given to the locomotive driver when he entered the section and surrendered when he left. This way no more than one train or engine could occupy the single line.

The Signal Box also controlled train movements associated with the branch line, bay platform line, station yard and sidings. The Signalman could set a route with the point switch levers. These were interlocked with various types of signals (including ground signals and route indicators), operation of which informed the locomotive driver of the selected route and when to proceed. This interlocking with signals ensured that these indicated to other trains, when they could no longer proceed safely and had to stop. Visibility was important in the days before track circuits and the Signal Box was positioned where it could oversee the most complex trackwork.

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