GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Bordesley Viaduct: gwrbg1707

Looking towards Bordesley along the widened Bordesley Viaduct from the Moor Street Signal Box in December 1913. There were five railway lines on the viaduct, the pair on the left are the up and down main lines and on the right is the up goods line. The pair of lines between them are the up and down relief lines. Unlike Snow Hill, where the signalling and switches were powered by electric motors, Moor Street signal box had mechanical signalling and here the series of parallel square bar rodding for the point switches can be clearly seen progressing up the viaduct through a series of right angled crossings of the track. On the left in the parapet wall are two recesses and in the first is a speed restriction warning board. These distinctively arrow shaped boards were painted green and had one green and one white light at night. They were placed at least half a mile before the place to be protected and were used where it was necessary for trains to continue to travel at a reduced speed for a lengthened period (rule 253[e]). They were used instead of Flagmen and detonator, but there was a requirement for their intended positions to be advised in the weekly notices.

Robert Ferris

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