Signals on the GW & GC joint line

Northolt Junction East

April 1983

Northolt Jct is where the ex-GC line to Neasden and Marylebone diverges from the former GWR route via Greenford into Paddington. My train is about to turn left onto the former, while the GWR line can be seen in front of us and on the right are the down starters. On the very right is the Central line.

The view back from the chord towards Neasden (South) Jct. The line in the foreground serves the West London refuse terminal; beyond the junction is South Ruislip station.

The up main starter and down main home on the line to Greenford.

The signalbox.

A rear view of the down advanced starters, again with South Ruislip station beyond.

A face-on view of the above signals.

West Ruislip

April 1983

This gantry carried West Ruislip's up advanced starters, with Northolt Jct East's splitting distants beneath. There was originally an up relief line here with a similar group of signals. I believe this was the last pair of GWR/BR(WR) lower-quadrant splitting distants to survive on the national network. This gantry is now preserved (with its original complement of arms) at the National Railway Museum in York.

West Ruislip's down distants.

West Ruislip signalbox.

The down homes. Unusually, the down relief signal had a separate spectacle case lower down the post for sighting reasons - the glasses in the case attached to the arm were blanked out.

January 1983

A better view of the up advanced starter gantry.

The view towards Gerrards cross, with the down starters in the foreground as a train to Marylebone enters the opposite platform.

The down starters. The up homes can also be glimpsed under the bridge.

Gerrards Cross

April 1983

The signalbox and down starters at Gerrards Cross.

Thanks to John Hinson for giving me the reason for the lower spectacle case at West Ruislip.