North Eastern Railway LoS Indicator

[RailWest]

The 'signal' shown at http://tinyurl.com/nhkq5cb has been identified elsewhere as probably a NER LoS indicator. Careful study of the picture will show the apparent faded white 'X' on its face. Sadly the provenance of the item is unknown.

 

Can anyone comment further please as to its likely age, period of use and possible manufacturer? Would the post be original, or simply something convenient to which it has been attached for display purposes?

[Mark Saunders]

I looks more like a "fogging indicator" if the Signalman could not see it then Fog Working would be introduced!

 

Mark Saunders

[RailWest]

Well, to my mind it certainly looks like the NER style of LoS illustrated at 5.2 in http://www.railsigns.co.uk/sect5page1/sect5page1.html .

 

I've not come across the use of a specific fogging indicator anywhere other than the usual practice of designating an existing specific object - not to say of course that such things did not exist. 

[micknich2003]

In all my years of studying NERly signalling I personaly have never heard of that railway using LoS, but that of course dosen't mean they didn't have any. I shall put the question to several "Learned Friends". The lamp is almost certaily McKenzie & Holland, who in later years were the NE Rly's signal contractor.

 Typicly, I can't put my hand to a photo of a NERly "Fogging Object", which as stated, it may well be. Mick.

[50A55B]

http://www.signalbox.org/signals/ne.htm

 

Here is a link to the page on the signal box.org site relating to the NER. Scroll down a bit and there is a photo of the Fog indicator at Barton Hill. The item in the original post would appear to be one of these.

The Barton Hill example is still in situ, I believe.

[micknich2003]

http://www.signalbox.org/signals/ne.htm

 

Here is a link to the page on the signal box.org site relating to the NER. Scroll down a bit and there is a photo of the Fog indicator at Barton Hill. The item in the original post would appear to be one of these.

The Barton Hill example is still in situ, I believe.

Your reply confirms what one of my "Learned Friends" says. Thanks, Mick.

[micknich2003]

I have now had further confurmation. Prior to the Grouping, the North Eastern did not use LoS Boards. The "Fog Sighting Object" was uniquie to the North Eastern.

[RailWest]

Thanks for the clarification. This accords with what I too have heard recently from other sources.