GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Spring Road Platform: gwrsr292

Looking towards Birmingham with the short fixed Distance Signal probably deliberately constructed at this height for the signal arm to 'stand out' against the bridge abutment. Distant Signals had yellow arms with a ‘swallow tail’ notch at the end and a black chevron strip. They were used to indicate the position of a stop signal ahead, but fixed Distant Signals (where the arm was permanently fixed in the horizontal caution position and with only a single yellow lamp) were employed where caution was always required.

The Great Western Railway Appendix to the Rule Book identifies two specific cases where fixed Distant Signals are to be used. These are at places: where a permanent reduction of speed to 15 mph or less is required between a Distant and the Home, Starting or Advanced Starting Signal; and secondly where the speed over one or both diverging lines at a facing junction is less than 40 mph, the Distant Signal applicable to that line shall be fixed at caution.

The Appendix also identifies that it may be desirable to employ fixed Distant Signals at other places for the purpose of reducing the speed of trains over certain points on the road and fixed Distant Signals were also commonly used: where a line terminated in a bay platform; or where the line ahead merged with another track through a curve so sharp as to require a speed restriction of 40 mph or less. This later case is the reason for the fixed Distant Signal at Spring Road, since beyond the bridge the line curved to join the main Birmingham line at Tyseley South Junction in approximately ¾ mile. Here there were speed restrictions of 20 mph onto the Down Main Line and 15 mph onto the Down Relief line.

Robert Ferris

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