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GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton
Moor Street Station: gwrms1801
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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