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Hampton Court Junction
Our signal box takes its name from the adjacent British Railways signal box which was located nearby.
The signal box will house our 60 lever Westinghouse miniature power lever frame. 36 levers came from North Kent East, near London Bridge. 12 levers came from Acton and 12 levers from White City all in London.
All the external signaling system is complete and work is progressing on completing the the signal box
The signal plans are located here. |
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Coloured light signal with white route indicator displaying a right hand route.
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Signal box diagram - Double click on diagram above get a detailed zoom able diagram in a new window.
The site is fully track circuited which is used to control the signaling, and the points are electrically air operated |
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This show the first two segments, giving 24 levers out of the total of 60 levers. during a trial installation, for example we have found that the frame needs lifting approx 1" all round so the casing will fit properly. i.e. the frame as to be level with the floor.
If one looks carefully two levers have been attached to the lever frame, these are located at the top right of the picture. This is so we can trial fit the air switches to work the points without altering the mechanics of the lever frame.
Pictured 16th March 2008
Click on picture for larger format picture |
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On the left we see the new track diagram hanging from the ceiling to give some idea of the final size of the drawing
The lever frame levers can just be seen at the bottom of the picture
Pictured 16th March 2008
Click on picture for larger format picture
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North Kent East signal box was installed in 1929. This pictures shows the frame in the early years. The track diagram is clearly seen behind the lever frame. Behind the miniature levers are the point and signal indications and above them are the Walkers rotary train describers for each route. The sending units are on top of the frame the receiving units are located each side of the track diagram. At this time the signals lenses from the bottom up, were originally Y, R, YY, G.
Picture from the Railway Engineer, reproduced by kind permission of Middleton Press, from their London Bridge to Addiscome book in the London suburban railways series published in 1993 ISBN 1873793200 |
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North Kent East A more detailed view of the lever frame obviously taken in later years, maybe around the 1960's of North Kent East when the more modern electric light style train describers have replaced the majority of the walkers rotary train describers above the levers. The illuminated 'N' and 'R' indicate the points as either being Normal or Reverse, the 4 glass roundels showed the signal aspect, being Red, Yellow, Green & 2nd Yellow. The train describers are fitted on top of the frame box, with the Sykes Block instrument and its bell plungers followed by the Walkers Rotary Train describer to Bricklayers Arms Junction. |
| Emergency bell plungers are provided next to adjacent signal boxes, followed by yet more train describers. |
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Gloucester Road Junction A lovely colour picture from high lever number section of the lever frame, again taken around the early 1960's period, courtesy of Westinghouse Brake and Signal Company. This shows the typical intermediate period installation with one lever per function, electro mechanical interlocking and signal indications behind the levers. Emergency block bell plungers are provided to adjacent signal boxes mounted on the block shelf. The top indicator behind the signal lever is the "F" light and this became lit when the lever was normal, all points in the route correctly detected and all relevant track circuits clear. |
| You could pull the lever at any time provided that the locking was correct but the signal would not clear unless the "F" light was lit before the lever was pulled. The illuminated 'N' and 'R' indicate the points as either being Normal or Reverse, the 4 glass roundels showed the signal aspect, being Red, Yellow, Green & 2nd Yellow reading from bottom to top. More historical information is available at Westinghouse miniature lever frames web site |
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Outer Home Signal gantry
This fist signal gantry in the Hampton Court Junction Signaling system contains two 4 aspect coloured light signals. Each signal is fitted with two junction indicators containing white route lights, therefore each signals is capable of showing 3 separate routes, If the main route was selected only the coloured light aspects would clear without the white route lights. If a diverging route is set the main aspect would clear with the respective junction indicators lights illuminated
The left hand signal is the Up Local line outer home signal.
The right hand signal is the Up Main line outer home signal. At this point two track become three tracks towards the next signals shown below.
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Home Signal gantry
These signals are located at the most complicated part of the railway. There are three 4 aspect coloured light signals on this gantry and all are fitted with 5 light white route indicators. The left two signals have three sets of white junction indicator lamps, whilst the right hand signal has only one set of white junction indicator lamps
The Up Local Loop home signal is on the far left, trains can be routed in 4 directions at this signal.
The middle signal is the Up Local home signal, again trains can be routed in 4 directions.
Lastly on the far right is the Up Main home signal, trains can only be routed in two direction.
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Up Main Line - Tunnel signal gantry
This signal gantry protects the Up Main Loop exit points, and access to the tunnel.
The Up Main Signal is the left hand signal.
The Up Main Loop line signal is on the right.
both signals are showing a red aspect.
The Up Main becomes the Up Local line in the middle of the tunnel at the lowest point..
The next signal is Angel Road Up Local Outer Home signal No.10 which is located inside the tunnel.. |
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Up Local Line signal - Alps line
This is located towards the top of the Alps incline where the Up Local and Up Local Loop line tracks coverage.
This signal is the Up Local Alps Junction signal showing a clear aspect..
The Up Local line becomes the Up Main line at the summit.
The next signal is Angel Road Up Main Outer home signal No10. |
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Locomotive shed shunt signals
These are the two exit shunt signals from the locomotive sheds area.
The left hand signal enables access to to the Up Local and Up Local loop lines, this is at danger
The right hand shunt signal allows access to the Up Local, Up Main and Up Loop lines, this has been cleared to allow an engine to proceed. |
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Main Line Shunts
Looking back towards the carriage shed at Hampton Court Junctions with Hampton Court Junction signal box on top of the sheds.
The left hand shunt signal is cleared for the carriage shed road via the Up Main Loop line.
The Up Main line shunt is at danger. |
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Tunnel junction shunt
Looking from inside the tunnel mouth the position light shunt signal can be see showing a danger do not proceed aspect.
This signal protects the Up Main Loop exit points |
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Local Line shunts
Looking back towards the carriage sheds which are in the far background with H\Hampton Court Junction signal box on top of the sheds.
These shunt signals allow access to the Locomotive Roundhouse on the right hand side and the Up Local Line and Up Local Loop line. |
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Alps Line Shunt signal
At the top of the ALPS incline is a position light shunt signal this time showing a clear or proceed aspect.. |
| To learn more about UK Railway Signaling, I would strongly recommend the following site The Signal Box |
Comments, feedback and corrections are welcome. Please use the 'Contact us' link above..
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