LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Lichfield

Four Oaks Station: lnwrfo52a

Close up of image 'lnwrfo52' showing the ex-LNWR signal cabin complete with cat walk to access the windows and racks for lamps and fire buckets. The windows of all signal cabins/boxes must be kept clean so that in all weathers and lighting conditions, the Bobby was able to see all movements under his control. The LNWR described their signal boxes as cabins whereas most other railway companies described theirs as boxes. The description Bobby applied to signalmen originates from the very early days of railways when the control of the movement of trains was under the authority of railway police. Initially train departures were controlled by policemen at set time intervals using flags. This was then upgraded by the introduction of stand alone signals controlled by policemen walking from one signal to another. Finally signals began to be controlled from central positions - the cabin or the box. Initially policemen were called either Bobbies or Peelers after Robert Peel who is credited (wrongly) with inventing the modern police force and this was also applied to railway police.

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