Signals at Bognor Regis

15/3/09

There are still interesting semaphore signals at Bognor Regis, whose terminus at the end of a branch line from Barnham. The signalbox can be seen in the middle distance.

Looking more closely, beside the signalbox we can see that the semaphore up starter has a colour-light head below it. This is the distant for an Intermediate Block (IB) signal between here and Barnham. While the starter is at danger, the lights are extinguished...

...but as soon as the arm is cleared, the yellow or green aspect of the IB distant lights up. Note that what would normally be the green spectacle on the semaphore arm is blacked off, so at night the signal will only ever display one light - red from the semaphore, or yellow or green from the distant.

The IB signal is also worked from this signalbox, and the signaller can clear it as soon as the section beyond it to Barnham is clear.
Colour-light distants fixed below semaphore stop signals used not to be all that uncommon, at the boundaries between semaphore and colour-light areas, but they are no longer approved for new work and this is now one of the last ones remaining on the national network.

The station throat as seen from the footbridge just north of the box. The four station platforms are on the left, with three carriage sidings to the right.

For a small town of this size, it still has quite a 'busy' track layout. All the points are still mechanically worked - look at those rodding runs!
The layout allows trains to leave from any platform except no 4 (extreme left) with another one signalled into the platform next to the left of it. There is also a middle road between the two inner platforms.

The rear ends of the inner platforms, and the middle road. Thankfully, in this modern age, TPWS has been fitted to minimise the risk of errant trains ruining the flowers! :)

This loco release crossover reveals one of the purposes of the middle road.

This ground frame works the above crossover. If you are wondering what a Dutton & Co, Worcester ground frame made for the LSWR is doing at Bognor Regis...

...then a look at its 'Westinghouse' persona gives even more pause for thought! My guess is that the "SR 1945" at the bottom is probably the truth, and it was put together from whatever spare parts they could muster during or just after the war.

The bracket at the end of platforms 3 and 4, with the signal cleared for a departure from the former. The main post is formed from four old lengths of rail - an economy measure the SR adopted which has turned out to last extremely well.

The view from Platform 1, with the carriage sidings on the left.

A close-up of the up starter, from below.

This is a mini TPWS loop, part of the system to minimise the risk of buffer stop overruns. Standard loops fitted near platform ends had been found to cause problems due to reflection of the electromagnetic signal.

The middle road exit disc.

The Facing Point Lock (FPL) for the points at the end of Platform 1. To the left there is also a mechanical point detector for the departure signal.

The rear view of the up starter - again, its post constructed from old rails.

The signalbox is a fine example of the SR 'Odeon' style, dating from 1938.

The down home is also a real treasure - now the one at Barnham has gone, the lower arm is the last ex-SR calling-on arm with a large letter 'C' fixed to the arm to survive on the national network.

Thanks to Simon Foster for the information about the mini TPWS loop above.