So You Want To Work in the Signal & Telegraph Department
I never knew why, but signal boxes have always fascinated me. When I was young I would cycle the 7 miles to Glazebrook where there was a triangular junction and a signalbox close to a road overbridge from which I could see into the box, listen to the bells and admire the coloured levers and polished instruments. I didn't understand them, but they fascinated me. Then, academic work intervened: 'O' levels, 'A' levels, a first degree, then a higher degree.
When I emerged from this, I saw to my horror that these quaint bits of railway paraphernalia were fast disappearing. On the main lines the old semaphore signals were being replaced by colour light signals, and many of the signal boxes familiar from my childhood had disappeared. Attempts were being made to preserve the steam engine heritage, but nobody seemed to be interested in preserving signalboxes. So I joined the fledging Kent & East Sussex Railway, and built a signalbox; not single handed, I should add.
Above: Some of the S & T department stand outside their cabin beside Glyndyfrdwy box.
Those years at the K & ESR brought me into contact with real bits of signalling equipment for the first time, and then I realised why I had been fascinated by signals. If you enjoy the old Heath Robinson and Emett railway drawings you will know what I mean. Signalling gadgets are contraptions, ingenious mechanical and electrical contraptions that are quite as bizarre in real life as the cartoons suggest. They are often beautifully engineered, particularly the electrical devices such as bells and signalling instruments, but they are contraptions none the less, and they are fascinating. In many respects they represent the best of Victorian and Edwardian engineering ingenuity, based on fundamental principles of mechanics and electromagnetism that in the modern era of digital electronics are frequently overlooked.
So ingenious and so well made was much of it that many items, both electrical and mechanical, have been in continuous use for 100 years. Not much else in engineering can equal a record like that. Most of the people I know involved in S & T work on heritage railways share this enthusiasm for the equipment, which is just as intense as many of our colleagues have for steam engines. But so much of the signalling equipment is hidden and inconspicuous, and it needs your help if it is not to disappear without trace.
At Llangollen we have more signalling installations than most, four already in regular operation, one under construction and another in the planning stages. The S & T Dept members are all volunteers and we all extend an invitation to anyone who shares our enthusiasm for signalling to come and join us at weekends at Llangollen. We have so much to do that we could triple the size of the department and still keep everyone occupied for the next five years.
Above: Testing out a new LED signal.
Skills
Above: Painting signals at Llangollen. (Eric Keen)
The skills needed in the S & T work are many and varied. One day you might be fitting stretcher bars to a set of points, another day you could be designing the interlocking for a new lever frame. The next day might see you jointing a cable or repairing the pointer on an indicator in a token instrument, or wiring a set of relays. You might be called upon to build and install a voltage regulator, put up a signal, replace a telephone dial, or dig a hole for a concrete base for a crank. Or perhaps you could paint a signal box, veneer the wooden case of a tablet instrument, build a platform for a ground frame, weld a collar on a new stovepipe, rebuild a retaining wall, draw a circuit diagram on a computer or install a telephone concentrator. The list is endless, and real. S & T members have done all these things, and more.
Above: Installing new gates for the level crossing at Glyndyfrdwy. (Keith Langston)
Although anyone with relevant skills is especially welcome, you only need to share our enthusiasm for signalling apparatus, and a moderate ability at DIY to become involved. Age is not important, although for safety reasons we have to impose some limits on what our younger members can do. There is one other requirement. S & T equipment is critical to the safe operation of the Railway, and we have to take great care that it is installed properly and maintained to the highest standards. We need careful workers.
Above: Replacing the planks along the walkway outside Glyndyfrdwy signalbox. (Dave Farrer)
Finally, if any members have any items of signalling equipment that they would like
to find a good home for, do let us know. We need all sorts of items, from lever frame
parts, point rodding, signalling cable, instruments, signal and light repeaters,
signalling relays, bells, and even items such as a 500VA 240 volt isolating transformer.
Is there really nobody out there who has a locking tray type A13 for a GWR 3-
Original article by Dave Yorke, published in Steam at Llangollen Winter 1997.
Transferred 29th June 2007 by John Rutter -