Lochty no more Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 We are renovating an NBR lattice post signal at the Kingdom of Fife Railway Preservation Society (KFRPS ) yard at Kirkland, I have taken some photo`s which may be of interest to rmwebbers The first photo shows an NBR signal arm, which was made from cedar sanwiched between two cast arm plates which are rivitted on.The spectacle plate is bolted to the cast arm plate. The shaft slides through two boss plates bolted to the top of the lattice post. this photo has been included to show the taper on a signal arm from 32mm on one end to 12mm on the other. the cast boss plates in position on the top of a lattice post. the cast boss plates once 100+ years of paint have been removed. The bracket for the arm stop in position on the boss plate. the cast iron lamp carrier runs on a guide on the r / h side of the signal connected to the windlass by a chain ( the lamp was raised & lowered by windlass removing the need for a signal ladder ) the lamp is fixed by 4 bolts to the carrier. the windlass was bolted to the bottom of the lattice post ( normally about 2` 6" from the ground ) the chain has been unwound revealing half it`s lenth in good condition and the other half suffering the effects of 100+ years exposure to the elements. The windlass came from a signal in Normand Road Kirkcaldy ( the same signal as apears on the signal box web site ). detail of the toothed wheel and pawl on one end of the windlass, the end of the chain is secured to the wheel by a bolt. the windlass handle fitted on to the square end to wind the lamp up and down. the Stevens "open ball" type finial secured to the top of the signal by four bolts through the corners into the angle iron of the lattice post. the front of the signal arm Drawings of NBR signal parts are available in A.A.Maclean`s book "A Pictorial Record of LNER Constituent Signalling" by Oxford Publishing ISBN 0860931463 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Max Stafford Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 I'm rather hoping we can find one or two of these for use up at Whitrope too, so I'll be bookmarking this for reference. Thanks for the interesting feature. Dave. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochty no more Posted March 10, 2012 Author Share Posted March 10, 2012 I'm rather hoping we can find one or two of these for use up at Whitrope too, so I'll be bookmarking this for reference. Thanks for the interesting feature. Dave. I wish you the best of luck. The signals we have were mostly obtained from overlooked branches and the NCB during the 70`s the only examples I know of are in the Stirling area and there will be a quew of preservation groups when they decide to re - signal Stirling.I have been folowing the progress you have made at Whitrope (via an other website) and hope to visit you in the future, It`s inspiring stuff, If the KFRPS can assist you in any way with this project let me know. The work you are undertaking is important and requires support by all who care about our history Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Max Stafford Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Thanks. I'll pass your kind offer to the committee. You'll be made most welcome if you decide to pay us a visit. Dave. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochty no more Posted March 11, 2012 Author Share Posted March 11, 2012 I just realised I missed a part, the casting on the top of the signal the photo shows the casting containing the wheel that carries the chain over, this is located on the top of the lattice post, a notch in the casting locates it on the end of the rail for the lamp carrier, the two luggs act as stops for the lamp carrier. Also visible in the photo are the holes in the angle iron for bolting on the finial. the same part after it has been cleaned up another view from a different angle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochty no more Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share Posted March 16, 2012 This first photo is of the feet of a NBR lattice doll, the holes are where it would be bolted to th bracket this is a photo of the cast base of a NBR lattice post (this one was dug out at "Methil Central") this was normally never seen - the part below ground level. When these signals were scrapped it was normal practice to cut them off at ground level with an oxyoceteline burner (there must be hundreds of cast signal bases still in situ). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochty no more Posted March 27, 2012 Author Share Posted March 27, 2012 Found this little gem lurking in our S & T container,it`s an NBR pattern cast boss plate stamped LNER 1938. The cast boss plates were left in situ on many lattice posts when they were modernised to upper quadrant signals. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochty no more Posted May 1, 2012 Author Share Posted May 1, 2012 Some more NBR signal parts, the signal arm was operated by a 5/8" rod connected to the back of the signal arm and the counter weight at the bottom of the post, the rod was held in place by clips bolted onto the corner of the lattice these were normally at 4` or 4`6" apart on the lattice post the second photo shows the other side of the clip Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochty no more Posted May 22, 2012 Author Share Posted May 22, 2012 A few more signal parts A Stevens & sons small cruciform finial - this type were used on subsiduary arms, large cruciform finials were used on main arms a signal gantty at Methil central, our example was on the centre doll - note the shunt facing road signal arm has lost the last 6" of the arm the arm apears to have a bodged repair by BR, the rear of the arm has a metal plate holding things together and the plywood used on the repair has begun to de-laminate. A new arm will be machined from cedar, note the cast iron wedge screwed to the top of the arm to keep the signal in position against the arm stop. the spectacle plate has beem broken - subsidary arms had a heavier spectacle plate than main arms, as the arm blade was lighter a heavier spectacle plate ensured the arm failed to danger. a new backplate will be screwed & glued behind the broken casting which has had all the paint removed a pair of NBR signal lamps one restored the other awaiting restoration the last photo shows the inside of the lamp Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochty no more Posted June 12, 2012 Author Share Posted June 12, 2012 the spectacle plate has been repaired and put through the paint shop, green & red glass puttied into place ready to bolt onto the "shunt facing road " signal a view of the top of a lattice post showing the lamp carrier casting up against the top of the signal, the lamp has been omitted for clarity progress on the "Methil central" signal this is a single lattice post which some dunderhead decided to tie a chain to & pull it over when Lochty closed. The repair will require heating the angle iron hammering into position and welding in order to make the post strait again. this photo is of the Lochty lads digging the signal out at "Methil Central" c1974 the next signal to be dragged out and restored will be the "Michael Colliery signal" from East Wemyss, its about 24` above ground level if memory serves me correctly we have even got the ground frame to go with that Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochty no more Posted June 25, 2012 Author Share Posted June 25, 2012 We require finials for all of our signals,so we have had to go with plan B - make them a Stevens & sons original "cruciform" pattern finial, these came in two sizes small (as in this example)used on doll signals, or large used on main lattice posts the prototype lazer cut from 6mm steel plate (we should have used 3mm) and welded, the base has still to be attached. Total cost £25.00 - a bargin a coat of paint added, If anybody has a drawing of a large "Cruciform" finial, or knows where we can get one It would be a tremendous help. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochty no more Posted July 1, 2012 Author Share Posted July 1, 2012 So far we have identified three different types of clip for the operating rods, the first has the letter C cast on the side and is used on the angle iron, the second has the letter D cast on the side and is used on double angle iron sections ( on tall Lattice posts, 1 1/4" angle iron with 1" angle iron is used at the join for strenth ), the third has the letter N cast on the side and is used on the lattice work ( when signals have the counterweight on the left hand side the operating rod crosses over the post from left to right ) as in this example Iron brig signal at Leven. Some photo`s of the three types of clip the operating rod is 5/8" diameter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochty no more Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 Cedar arrived this week for the replacement signal arms, I have had it in the boot of my car - it smells much better than the air freshner hanging from my rear view mirror. The first signal arm is the replacement "Shunt facing road" or sissors arm, the taper was planed by the big jointer plane to the reverse face of the arm then machined to shape. The metal wedge was salvaged from the old arm and fitted to the new one ( this keeps the arm horizontal against the arm stop ). next the cast Boss plates were fitted holes drilled and the repaired spectacle plate fitted, the Boss plates were rivited on we used round headed bolts of the same size, filling in the allen key reccess in the face of the bolt with putty. Some photo`s of the arm ready for the paint shop ( yes thats me again ). Got a full size NBR arm 5` x 10" x 1" to make next. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochty no more Posted July 13, 2012 Author Share Posted July 13, 2012 The finished job the old " Shunt facing road arm is at the bottom of the photo. We have also checked pre 1923 photo`s and our painting of NBR signal arms was wrong - the cast arm plate was painted red in NBR days ( white painting was a LNER / BR thing ) so we have altered it to suit, the white stripe on the arm has also wandered about a bit the correct spacing is 12" from the end of the arm then a 8" white band on a 4` arm, 12" from the end of the arm then a 10" white band on a full size 5` arm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochty no more Posted July 25, 2012 Author Share Posted July 25, 2012 One of our members has visited the SRPS at Boness to have a shifty at there NBR signal lamps ( because we dont have any, just a bit of one and will have to make some ) the top of the lamp will be dificult to make The lattice post also interests me, the 1" square bar is shamfered at 45 degrees - I have not seen that before on a "Stevens & sons" lattice post I wonder if that is original? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochty no more Posted August 28, 2012 Author Share Posted August 28, 2012 The Kingdom of Fife Railway Preservation Society are having an open day on the 23rd September 2012( addmission free but it`s a quid if you want a hurl on the train ) We have rigged up an NBR signal to our WPR lever frame`s so you can have a go at operating the signal and see how it works took some pictures to let you see how the various parts fit together, the signal is the top six feet of a single lattice post, the lamp carrier and chain have still to be added ( the paint was still wet ) and an operating rod have still to be connected. We will bolt it down to one end of the platform the lever frame will be at the end of the ramp. So if you fancy pulling a few levers get yourself down to Leven on Sunday the 23rd from 10am to 5pm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochty no more Posted March 5, 2013 Author Share Posted March 5, 2013 A late addition to our collection of signal parts, took this off a section of double lattice lying in the long grass it was not until I put it with the other boss plates that I realised it was a different size presumably this larger size was used for repeater arms mounted further down the lattice post. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff mcghie Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 For info, Stirling resignalling is starting this summer with the middle box being converted to LED signals along with extensive P way works. Jeff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochty no more Posted March 11, 2013 Author Share Posted March 11, 2013 For info, Stirling resignalling is starting this summer with the middle box being converted to LED signals along with extensive P way works. Jeff. cheque books at the ready, it`s the only place in Scotland - with the exeption of the highlland line that has any signals worth saving! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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