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GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Fenny Compton: gwrfc2284

Copy of the notice issued by the GWR in 1927 advising staff of the changes to Distant Signal arms and coloured lens

In 1927, the Great Western Railway changed the signal arms and coloured spectacle lens associated with Distant Signals in the Birmingham Area. They issued notices to their staff to advise of the changes in each section as they occurred. The following year separate notices were sent regarding the use of yellow lamps and flags by Fogmen, when positioned in a section with the modified Distant Signals. One of each notice has been reproduced above.

The Board of Trade had regulated in 1917 that all distant signals should have a V shaped notch in the end of the signal arm to help differentiate a Distant signal from a Stop signal, but because it was believed that Red was always the easiest colour to see, the signal arms of both types remained red and the spectacle lens of both continued to indicate; red for danger and green for all-clear. The use of yellow lights (replacing the green) on Distant signals was first introduced on the Great Central Railway. This was soon adopted by several other companies, including the Great Northern Railway who in addition, started painting their Distant signal arms yellow with a black band. These changes had the advantage of allowing footplate staff to differentiate between the two types of signals at a greater distance, which allowed faster train speeds. In April 1925, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) issued the ‘Requirements for Passenger Lines and recommendations for Goods Lines of the Ministry of Transport in regard to the Railway Construction and Operation’ and this included a recommendation that all Railway Companies should adopt the yellow arm with a black V band (corresponding with the end-notch) and the red / yellow light arrangement for their Distant signals. It was also recommended that the Distant signal should typically be placed 1,000 yards in front of the first Stop signal, to allow sufficient braking distance and sited to ensure the locomotive driver had a good view.

Robert Ferris

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