Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2010 11:13:23 GMT
Don't know whether this belongs here or "Northern Line" (please move if necessary) or whether it has been aired before (had a quick scan but couldn't find it), but:
There is (or certainly used to be) a semaphore "signal" over the top of Hendon tunnel portals, approached travelling south from Colindale.
It is a signal that was used by the medical department for drivers' eyesight testing, and was maintained by LTs signal department. I would imagine it has either been removed or is buried in the undergrowth above the tunnel portals (it was still there in the 1980s).
Behind the signal is the Midland main line from St. Pancras, but I'm not sure if even that is visible now.
Can any Northern Line driver (or anyone!) help with this one, please?
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North End
Beneath Newington Causeway
Posts: 1,769
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Post by North End on Jul 25, 2010 11:48:02 GMT
Don't know whether this belongs here or "Northern Line" (please move if necessary) or whether it has been aired before (had a quick scan but couldn't find it), but: There is (or certainly used to be) a semaphore "signal" over the top of Hendon tunnel portals, approached travelling south from Colindale. It is a signal that was used by the medical department for drivers' eyesight testing, and was maintained by LTs signal department. I would imagine it has either been removed or is buried in the undergrowth above the tunnel portals (it was still there in the 1980s). Behind the signal is the Midland main line from St. Pancras, but I'm not sure if even that is visible now. Can any Northern Line driver (or anyone!) help with this one, please? It was definitely still there last year, no reason to believe it has been removed. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2010 14:30:37 GMT
Great. Thank you.
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mrfs42
71E25683904T 172E6538094T
Big Hair Day
Posts: 5,922
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Post by mrfs42 on Jul 25, 2010 16:22:17 GMT
I've seen copies of the drawings for it - it was maintained by Earls Court even though it had as much connection with signalling as a tap-dancing platypus.
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Oracle
In memoriam
RIP 2012
Writing is such sweet sorrow: like heck it is!
Posts: 3,234
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Post by Oracle on Jul 25, 2010 19:33:04 GMT
I once wrote a letter that was published in Underground News in the early 1980s saying that the removal of the 'semaphore' (actually shunting discs) one weekend [actually postponed by a week] saw the last semaphore signals used by LT trains: www.roscalen.com/signals/London/CWJ.htm#HarrowWealdstoneapart from the 'signal' mentioned which was supposedly used by drivers appealing about their eyesight. The prior removal in 1980 or 1981 [can't recall which] of the signals on the Richmond-Gunnersbury section, which I photographed on the Saturday of the weekend possession, saw the end of the last semaphore proper used by LT trains. Regrettably I had gotten there too late..I think that it was Easter weekend and the day before the arms had been taken down and when I saw them were laying on the ballast. The last LT semaphores were of course the gantry for the loop at North Weald, which was presented to the LT museum I was told. A colleague of mine in the LURS worked in signalling I seem to recall and he said that he had climbed up and moved it to the 'on' position, i.e. horizontal, and that it was all rusty etc. as might be expected. However, a reply was published a month or so later from a manager or THE manager saying that he was surprised that reference had been made to the 'signal' and that it was still there as he had issued instructions already for it to be removed! I never worked out whether it had been forgotten-about until it was mentioned in Underground News or whether it was sheer coincidence. As an aside, there is of course the semaphores on the Willesden Carriage Sidings lines, operated by Willesden Carriage Sidings North and South boxes. One is visible I gather from the Bakerloo northbound. I have seen shots of the signals and in their locations are anachronisms. Lovely! |
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