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GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton
Olton Station: gwro4024
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After Solihull Signal Box had closed on 1st September 1969,
the eight foot long illuminated diagram was bought from British Railways for
2s/6d per foot by Martin Crane (who has kindly sent us a photograph). The
diagram shows the lines with track circuits in solid white. These have lights
in the diagram that illuminate when the track circuits detect the presence of a
train. All the various switches and signals are marked with their frame lever
number and notes on operation. The signal box location (red rectangle) and
signal types are also depicted. Various modifications have been made to the
diagram over time to reflect the changes that have occurred on site. Note the
two aspect colour light signals on the extreme right. The original diagram was
provided in 1933 by the General Railway Signal Company Ltd of
Rochester, New York, USA. In 1926, a new company was formed called
Metropolitan-Vickers-GRS Ltd to market and sell the American
company's power signalling designs in Great Britain. The equipment was
manufactured at the Metropolitan-Vickers Trafford Park Works in
Manchester. During the 1930s the company provided power signalling for the
Great Western Railway at Paddington, Bristol, Acocks Green and Solihull. They
had also provided the point motors at Solihull for the north end Main line
crossover and associated Slip connection from the goods yard to the Down Main
line. It is thought that the high level signal motors (seen in 'gwro4008') were also their design.
Robert Ferris
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