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Section 4; pages:
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2,
3,
4
Section 4: Subsidiary Signals
(Page 1 of 4)
A subsidiary signal, where provided, is always associated with a main signal (see Section 2). When cleared, the subsidiary signal authorises the main signal to be passed at 'danger' for a move along the same running line to which the main signal applies, in circumstances when it is not appropriate to clear the main signal.
A subsidiary signal fitted to a semaphore signal would usually be in the form of a miniature semaphore arm placed below the main stop arm. On most companies' signals, the subsidiary arm remained in the 'on' position while the main stop arm above it was cleared for a running move [4.1]. On the Midland Railway and the North Eastern Railway however, the interlocking was arranged such that the subsidiary arm had first to be pulled 'off' before the main stop arm could be cleared [4.2]. In either case, when the main stop arm was 'off', the subsidiary arm could be disregarded by drivers.
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[4.1] Main Stop arm 'off' and Subsidiary arm 'on'. *
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[4.2] Main Stop and Subsidiary arms both 'off' (Mid.R/NER). *
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| * Note: |
The above illustrations serve only to show the positions of the signal arms. For full details of their appearance, refer to Section 2 and the remainder of this section. |
Different categories of subsidiary signals exist for specific purposes. A 'calling-on' signal authorises the driver to proceed forward cautiously and indicates that the line towards the next stop signal (or buffer stop where there is no main signal in advance) may be occupied. There were numerous different designs of calling-on signal [4.3 - 4.20]. In 1889, just five companies used calling-on signals; these were the L&Y, LNWR, LB&SCR, LC&DR, and the North London Railway.
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[4.3] Calling-on Signal ('on') (LB&SCR).
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[4.4] Calling-on Signal ('off') (LB&SCR).
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[4.5] Calling-on Signal ('on') (SE&CR).
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[4.6] Calling-on Signal ('off') (SE&CR).
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[4.7] Calling-on Signal ('on') (L&SWR).
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[4.8] Calling-on Signal ('off') (L&SWR).
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[4.9] Calling-on Signal ('on') (GNR).
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[4.10] Calling-on Signal ('off') (GNR).
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[4.11] Calling-on Signal ('on') (G&SWR).
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[4.12] Calling-on Signal ('off') (G&SWR).
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[4.13] Calling-on Signal ('on') (Mid.R).
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[4.14] Calling-on Signal ('off') (Mid.R).
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[4.15] Calling-on Signal ('on') (NBR/NER).
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[4.16] Calling-on Signal ('off') (NBR/NER).
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[4.17] Draw-ahead Signal ('on') (GER).
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[4.18] Draw-ahead Signal ('off') (GER).
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[4.19] Calling-on Signal ('on') (GWR).
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[4.20] Calling-on Signal ('off') (GWR).
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