Bala Lake Railway: Survey of the 2-arm mechanical Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway ground signal

The Bala Lake Railway has three ground signals of interest: two of clear Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway parentage, and a LNWR-type that would have been deployed in LYR territory after the Horwich Signalling Department was closed in early-1922 and stocks and patterns transferred to Crewe. In creating his collection of LYR signalling items, George Barnes therefore may an astute call to include on of these in his remarkable collection.

On site (as of mid-July 2015) were a two-arm mechanical signal previously located opposite the signal box in store, a two-arm low pressure pneumatic signal, presumed to be from Bolton West, also in store and not used on the railway, and a LNWR miniature ground signal controlling the exit from the Monkey House sidings.

This page deals with the L&YR ground signal. The signal post is currently painted black, but until just before its removal from the Llanuwchllyn Station loop exit, it had a white post - the white post is the authentic colour.

It is not known when Horwich started manufacturing its own ground signals after it parted company with the Railway Signal Company, but the notable difference from the earlier form was the addition of a raised edge and the conspicuous counter-balance weight to the cast iron arm to return the arm to danger in the event of a failure of the operating linkage, notes Chris Littleworth in L&YR Focus number 76. Chris notes that details of this signal appear in the L&YR's 'Standard Signal Fittings' catalogue of 1912. The L&YR apparently painted the arms plain red, without a white vertical band. However, Chris also notes that there is a photograph at one at Todmorden taken about 1900 showing a band. In BR days in th Bolton area they were red with a band, as can be seen in the pneumatic example in the Bala collection. The back of the arm was painted plain white, and see on the preserved example (see below). The upper part of the posts appear to have been painted white.

Mechanical Ground (Dwarf) Signal

L&YR 2-arm ground signal as seen in store at Llanuwchllyn 16 July 2015. The arm would have originally been red with a white vertical band. The upper arm is original; the lower a replica.

L&YR 2-arm ground signal as seen in store at Llanuwchllyn 16 July 2015, as removed from the station loop in early 2009.

L&YR 2-arm ground signal as seen in store at Llanuwchllyn 16 July 2015

Side view of L&YR 2-arm ground signal as seen in store at Llanuwchllyn 16 July 2015

Rear view of L&YR 2-arm ground signal as seen in store at Llanuwchllyn 16 July 2015

Side elevation of L&YR 2-arm ground signal