Assembly Of Ground Signals...

...and planning ahead for their maintenance!

Quite a lot of repetitive actions here: drilling out greaseways, tapping to fit grease nipples, bolting things together!



First up were the balance levers for the LMS-pattern ground signals. These had previously had grease nipples fitted in most cases, so only required the threads cleaning up with a tap. The one that hadn't, required drilling out first.


Why so many balance levers for just 2 signals? Well, this is a case of planning ahead. The two signals in question née to be able to be controlled from either the S&D box OR the Junction box. This is done by each signal having a wire from each box to a shortened balance lever, and whichever is operated will lift the longer lever (by means of a solid bar welded to it, which will be completed shortly!). Control between the two boxes is to be tied up electrically and mechanically. Hence, 6 levers for 2 signals!

It was then on to the LNER-pattern ground signals, which were originally drilled for oil lubrication of the main spindles. These required drilling out before tapping.



There will probably need to be a modification to the spindle to accommodate the grease lubrication, but we will look at this a little later.



Once the threads were tapped into the castings, a quick clean up was required, before the grease nipples and the next components could be fitted.

The lamp casings were cleaned up and repainted in Settle as part of  'The Kirkby Stephen East Railway Artefacts Community Cleaning Group'. This comprises our friends at Dementia Forward, The Place In Settle (a Community Wellness Centre), Exclusively Inclusive & the Friends of the Settle - Carlisle Railway. It can now be seen how these components fit into the bigger picture, and further mention will be made! The flat wheels for the signal wires (via chains) to negotiate can also be seen.


Thanks for reading and we'll be sure to post more updates soon.

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