The Arms Race Is On! (Part II)

Following on from the previous blog post, dealing with the problems we found with the CD signals and the research, we set to, and trimmed a main arm down by 6", with the ability to take off another 6" if need be, later*.

Having chopped it down, a test was in order, which necessitated the removal of the arm we'd fitted to the Fixed Stop signal at the top of the site. This should have been very simple, but we found the paint had stuck the washer plate onto the arm. We just left it attached, deciding that we could attack it on the ground, later if need be!

Shortened arm in place, and looking better-proportioned than the 'technically correct' version!

The shortened arm (measuring at 4' projecting beyond the post) was slotted in and secured with a single bolt. And it returned to the horizontal position perfectly, on its own! Success!!

Sadly we couldn't just leave it like this, and took it back indoors so that it could be fully painted. The opportunity was taken to shorten all the other main arms (except the demonstration one) in similar fashion, as well as rounding over all the edges with a router, on all the arms. This should suit the paint better, as well as having a historical precedent*.

The collection of arms, following shortening - the original is to the furthest right.

It was then the turn of the subsidiary arms: we're still not entirely sure what to think of the dimensions: we tried fitting one to No.4 signal, just outside the box, to check it wasn't too heavy, as well as seeing how it looked! We will make a final decision very shortly.

The arm returned to the horizontal on its own, happily!

Next up, we need to paint all the arms and then fit them. The painting requires warmth and dry conditions, so we may tackle this alongside other work in the box, and on the frame, with the accompanying fire!

Comparison of sizes, from right to left we have:
  • Full size CD arm,
  • Shortened CD arm,
  • Upper Quadrant enamel arm,
  • Subsidiary CD arm
More soon.

(*The rationale behind these will become more apparent in the next blog post..)

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