GWR Route: Alcester to Hatton Junction

GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Bearley Junction: sig-diag-bearley-east1942

A low resolution version of the Signalling Diagram for Bearley East Junction Signal Box dated 1942 produced courtesy of the Signalling Record Society (S.R.S.). Details of how to purchase their full resolution content is available here. With the doubling of the line to Hatton in 1939 and additional sidings for military traffic, the signalling arrangements at Bearley East Junction changed again and the 1907 thirty-one lever frame was replaced with a new thirty-seven lever, vertical tappet, three bar locking frame on 30th November 1938. The opening hours of ‘Bearley East Junction Signal Box’ for a selection of years are given:

The Signal Box here controlled the block sections on the double lines towards Bearley West Junction and the new signal box at Claverdon, plus the token apparatus for the north curve single line to Bearley North Junction. 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 single line was operated using a sets of token apparatus. Only one token could be released from the set at any one time and this was given to the locomotive driver when he entered the single line section and surrendered when he left. This way no more than one train or engine could occupy the single lines.

The Signal Box also controlled train movements associated with the station yard and sidings in addition to the north curve single line. 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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