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GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line
Earlswood Lakes Station: gwrel2866
A low resolution version of the Signalling Diagram for
Earlswood Lakes Signal Box produced courtesy of the Signalling Record Society
(S.R.S.). Details of how to purchase their full resolution content is available
here. Earlswood Lakes
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 29 feet long and 12 feet wide with the
characteristic three up two down window panes. It housed thirty-one levers in a
horizontal tappet, three bar locking frame. Earlswood Lakes Signal Box weekday
opening hours for a selection of years are given:
Service Time Table |
Signal Box Opened |
Signal Box Closed |
Summer 1916 |
Open continuously |
Summer 1929 |
Open continuously |
Winter 1930 |
Open continuously |
Summer 1939 |
Open continuously |
Winter 1945 |
Open continuously |
The Signal Box here controlled the block sections on the
main double line. 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 Signal Box also controlled train movements
associated with the 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.
Robert Ferris
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