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LMS Route: Birmingham West Suburban Railway

Birmingham Central Goods Station: mrcgy696

An elevated view of the Midland Railway's Central Goods Depot signal box as ex-MR 0-6-0 3F No 43675 leaves the yard at the head of a freight train

An elevated view of the Midland Railway's Central Goods Depot signal box as ex-MR 0-6-0 3F No 43675 leaves the yard at the head of a freight train on 3rd July 1954. Unusually for a Midland Railway signal box there was no window cleaning gallery on the outside and under the windows also the entrance to the cabin was from the rear of the box rather than the end. As the site was very tight shunting required the train to be drawn well inside the tunnel making it impossible for shunters to signal to the drivers using traditional hand signals. Consequently the use of electrical bells and even shunting horns were employed. On 21st August 1893 the following prescribed code was published in Appendix No 18. The shunting horns provided for the purpose of signalling to drivers engaged in shunting operations on the Down main line in the tunnel must be used in accordance with the following code:

To Move Forward - 1 Blast
To Move Back - 2 Blasts
To Stop - 3 Blasts

The weekly notices for w/e 12th December 1891 stated 'A new Block Telegraph signal post at the Worcester Wharf end of the tunnel will be opened and named 'Worcester Wharf'. The signals will be: A distant signal on the post the Five Ways Up goods line starting signal, and a home signal on the Up side of the line near the Five Ways end of the tunnel, to regulate the running of trains and engines on the Up goods line. A starting signal on the Down goods line alongside that line. 4 (sic) single arm signals to regulate the running of trains and engines from the Worcester Wharf lines on the Down goods line; the signal on the Down side of the lines will apply to the line next to the signal box, the next signal to the right will apply to the lines between the 2nd and 3rd signals from the signal box, and the signal on the Up side of the lines will apply to trains and engines leaving the lines between the 3rd and 4th signals from the signal box. Drivers approaching Worcester Wharf on the Up goods line must bring their engines to a stand at the signal box, or clear of the cross over road between the Up and Down goods lines in the tunnel if signalled to do so.

The cross over road between the Up and Down goods lines on the Five Ways side of the tunnel, will be worked by guards and shunters from a stage, and bolted from the Worcester Wharf signal box. This signal box will be a day and night post, and closed during the day on Sundays. The whole of the additional signals, and those which superseded existing signals, will show a red light to drivers when at danger, the back light being white, and a green light to drivers when off, the back light being obscured.

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