Section 10: Special Shunting Signals and Indicators
(Page 3 of 3)
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The Toton signals provided at Eggborough Power Station (North Eastern Region) in September 1966 displayed two aspects. The 'stop' aspect comprised flashing red lights on either side of a steady white pivot light [10.41]. Three steady white lights at 45° (see [10.15]) meant "proceed at slow speed".
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[10.41] Position Light Signal showing flashing horizontal indication (red and white lights).
Area: Eggborough
Usage: Low
Status: Historical
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In July 1967, the Operating Committee agreed on a standard form of indicator for loading/unloading. Three white lights vertically displayed (see [10.16]) means "move slowly in the normal direction for loading or unloading". Three flashing white lights at 45° [10.42] means "move slowly in the opposite direction to that required for loading or unloading". Three steady white lights at 45° (see [10.15]) means "prepare to stop", and three lights (red-white-red) horizontally displayed (see [10.29]) means "stop immediately, irrespective of distance from the indicator". The Toton signals at Eggborough Power Station were altered to display aspects conforming to this new standard in August 1969.
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[10.42] Position Light Signal showing flashing diagonal indication (white lights).
Area: All Areas
Usage: High
Status: Current
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At certain installations on the Scottish Region, the position light loading/unloading indicators did not display a "prepare to stop" aspect, and three steady white lights at 45° (see [10.15]) instead had the meaning "move towards the loading/unloading facility". Three white lights vertically displayed (see [10.16]) meant "move away from the loading/unloading facility".
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A series of position light creep signals was installed at Fiddlers Ferry Power Station (London Midland Region) to control the unloading of coal trains. These displayed a vertical line of five white lights for 'proceed' (see [10.34]) or a horizontal line of five white lights meaning "stop immediately" (see [10.33]). If it was necessary for a train to set back, the white lights were extinguished and a blue letter "X" was displayed [10.43].
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[10.43] 'Set Back' Indication.
Area: Fiddlers Ferry
Usage: Medium
Status: Historical
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At various places on the London Midland, Western and Southern Regions, indicators in the form of a white light [10.44] are used to control movements setting back, typically into sidings. There may be a series of indicators provided at intervals along the line, and they may be double-sided. If the white lights are extinguished, the setting back movement must immediately stop.
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[10.44] Set Back White Light.
Area: Various
Usage: High
Status: Current
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As well as showing three steady white lights horizontally or vertically for the "stop" and "proceed" indications, respectively (see [10.13] and [10.16]), the position light creep signals at Ratcliffe Power Station (London Midland Region) could display a further two aspects by flashing the lights. Three flashing white lights horizontally displayed [10.45] meant "ease back", and three flashing white lights vertically displayed [10.46] meant "ease forward".
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[10.45] Position Light Signal showing flashing horizontal indication (white lights).
Area: Ratcliffe
Usage: Medium
Status: Uncertain
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[10.46] Position Light Signal showing flashing vertical indication (white lights).
Area: Ratcliffe
Usage: Medium
Status: Uncertain
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In June 1971, four double-sided indicators were provided on the single line approaching Greenock Clyde Port Authority Container Terminal (Scottish Region). These indicators, which were all situated inside Union Street Tunnel, were used to control shunting movements during the preparation of an outgoing train. Each indicator was able to display the indications "stop" [10.47], "forward" [10.48] and "back" [10.49].
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[10.47] "Stop" Indication.
Area: Greenock CPA Container Terminal
Usage: Low
Status: Historical
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[10.48] "Forward" Indication.
Area: Greenock CPA Container Terminal
Usage: Low
Status: Historical
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[10.49] "Back" Indication.
Area: Greenock CPA Container Terminal
Usage: Low
Status: Historical
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In c.1971, a signal comprising six white lights was provided at Blaenant Colliery (Western Region) to control the movement of trains through the bunker while they were being loaded with coal. Just one light in the signal was illuminated for the 'stop' indication [10.50], while the illumination of three lights in the shape of an "L" meant 'proceed' [10.51]. A diagonal pattern consisting of four lights formed the 'set back' indication [10.52].
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[10.50] Loading Signal showing 'Stop'.
Area: Blaenant Colliery
Usage: Low
Status: Historical
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[10.51] Loading Signal showing 'Proceed'.
Area: Blaenant Colliery
Usage: Low
Status: Historical
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[10.52] Loading Signal showing 'Set Back'.
Area: Blaenant Colliery
Usage: Low
Status: Historical
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Some 'set back' indicators provided on the London Midland Region in the 1970s displayed the letters "SB" when illuminated [10.53], instead of the words "set back" (see [10.39]).
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[10.53] "SB" Indication.
Area: London Midland Region
Usage: Low
Status: Historical
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At certain locations on the Scottish Region, an indication "P" may be shown for propelled movements [10.54]. No propelling movement must be made beyond the signal concerned unless the "P" indication is displayed.
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[10.54] "P" Indication (e.g. associated with shunting signal and route indication "F").
Area: Scottish Region
Usage: Low
Status: Uncertain
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Two set back indicators installed at Parkeston Quay (Eastern Region) in December 1976 displayed a yellow light when illuminated [10.55], and these performed the same function as the set back white lights provided on some other regions (see [10.44]).
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[10.55] Set Back Yellow Light.
Area: Parkeston Quay
Usage: Low
Status: Historical
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Around 1979, various NCB colliery sidings on the Western Region were provided with a type of six-light signal (see [10.50 - 10.52]) that displayed modified indications. Only the top pair of lights was illuminated for the 'stop' indication [10.56], while illumination of the top and bottom pairs meant 'proceed' [10.57]. All six lights were lit for the 'set back' indication [10.58].
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[10.56] Loading Signal showing 'Stop'.
Area: Western Region
Usage: Medium
Status: Historical
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[10.57] Loading Signal showing 'Proceed'.
Area: Western Region
Usage: Medium
Status: Historical
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[10.58] Loading Signal showing 'Set Back'.
Area: Western Region
Usage: Medium
Status: Historical
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At various locations on the Western Region where loading or unloading movements were controlled by Toton signals, the indication meaning "move slowly in the opposite direction to that required for loading or unloading" comprised two flashing white lights and a steady white pivot light at 45° [10.59] instead of the standard indication in which all three lights are flashing (see [10.42]).
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[10.59] Position Light Signal showing flashing diagonal indication (white lights).
Area: Western Region
Usage: Medium
Status: Uncertain
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Toton signals came into use at Harwich Train Ferry Terminal in October 1980 to control the movement of trains on and off the train ferry. Train ferry operations at Harwich ceased in January 1987.
A series of "stop"/"proceed" indicators are provided at some collieries on the Eastern Region to control propelling movements on the line used for loading. The 'stop' indication comprises an illuminated letter "S" [10.60], and the 'proceed' indication is a letter "P" [10.61].
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[10.60] "Stop"/"Proceed" Indicator showing "S".
Area: Eastern Region
Usage: Medium
Status: Uncertain
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[10.61] "Stop"/"Proceed" Indicator showing "P".
Area: Eastern Region
Usage: Medium
Status: Uncertain
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From 2015, the red-white-red "stop immediately" aspect in loading/unloading indicators (see [10.29]) was superseded by a new aspect comprising three red lights in a horizontal line [10.62], for use in any new installations.
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[10.62] Position Light Signal showing horizontal indication (red lights).
Area: All Areas
Usage: Low
Status: Current
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