GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Birmingham Snow Hill Station: gwrbsh1770

Official Great Western Railway Drawing of the power operated starting and shunt signals for the up platform No 12 line, dated 23rd September 1937. Below the standard Great Western Railway final, the upper starting semaphore signal has a standard four foot long tapered wooden arm with red/green spectacle frame. This signal is operated by lever 8 from Birmingham South Signal Box. The lower shunt semaphore signal has a shorter three foot long tapered wooden arm and this was operated in conjunction with the route indicator fixed underneath.
There were three alternative route indications available:
1) Fish Siding - illuminated by lever 23 from Birmingham South Signal Box
2) Engine Siding - illuminated by lever 27 from Birmingham South Signal Box
3) Shunt - illuminated by lever 9 from Birmingham South Signal Box

The electric motors and operating rods for the semaphore signals can be seen on the post, while contact boxes were placed on the right. The lights behind the stencilled glass of the route indicator and both signal lamps were lit by electricity.

Robert Ferris

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