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GWR Route: Hatton to Bearley and Alcester Branch
Great Alne Station: gwrga4028
At the end of the First World War, the citizens of Alcester
partitioned the Great Western Railway to reopen the Branch Line from Bearley to
Alcester. After several years the track was eventually relaid and the line was
opened in two stages. The first section to reopen on Monday 18th December 1922
was between Bearley Junction and Great Alne. This included the new halt at
Aston Cantlow. The attached Signalling Notice was issued to inform staff of the
new signals and operational procedures, which were to be tested and brought in
to operation at the end of the previous week.
At Bearley North Junction a new bracket Starting Signal was
installed on the existing post to control access to the branch line from the
main line. This signal was controlled by lever No 9 in Bearley North Junction
Signal Box. Also controlled from the same Signal Box were two new Home signals
installed beside the branch line. These Home Signals were there to protected
the junction and control access from the branch to the main line; the Inner
Home Signal adjacent to the junction was controlled by lever No 29 and the Home
Signal on the other side of the aqueduct was controlled by lever No 33. A
lineside telephone was provided at this Home signal. A fixed Distant Signal was
also installed 795 yards further out from this Home Signal. All these three new
branch signals were installed on concrete posts.
At Spensers Crossing a three lever Ground Frame
controlled the locking and release of the bolts on the level crossing gates as
well as Distant Signals on either side of the level crossing. An Indicator was
provided to notify the gate-keeper when trains were on the line and a telephone
was also installed here.
Robert Ferris
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