The LNER Encyclopedia

Technology has moved on and I can now start to add the working scale size theatre indicators to my model based on York Station. I know that they were fitted in the early 1950s and one is shown operating in the BTF film "This is York".

I have an undated track and signalling plan of York Station which is generally in accordance with my recollection of it in the late 1950s. This plan states that "Route Indicators display yellow front and lunar white back indications unless otherwise stated". A web search has produced clear evidence of yellow indications at York in the late 1960s and one taken at Doncaster with two green Deltics dated 1964. However this is not my recollection of York, which is hazy in any case. I have only black and white photos to go by and these don't help. It may be that in order to aid visibility, yellow tinted screens were fitted at some stage.

So does anybody have a colour photo with an illuminated TI front indication taken before 1960 which can prove the case either way?

Colombo

You have the colours the wrong way round, it was lunar white forward and yellow to the rear.

52A,

I can only offer this photo as evidence. My own recollection is hazy, but the 1951 resignalling notice also has it yellow to the front.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/david_christie/6078576191/.


Colombo

Theatre Indicators at York in the 1970's were white to the front, orange to the back.

Pinza,

I can add another colour photo from 1969 showing a yellow indication facing the oncoming train on platform 8.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blue-diesels/8085562508/

If anyone has any more photos of whatever quality that support or disprove the written evidence, I would be very pleased to see them because I am about to start signalling my layout using working 8mm square 5x5 theatre indicators, starting with Dicky Bridge.

Colombo

I think its largely an illusion due to the quality of the colour film at the time. BTW if you notice the glass in the rear of the indicator above the Peak is clearly orange? I believe this was changed so to avoid Drivers mistaking a rear indication for front on a complicated gantry.
Having said that in my photo at Leeds in 1987 it does look yellowy orange so maybe old age has befuddled my mind http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinzac55/4 ... otostream/
PS "here's one I made earlier at York in 1979 and it is clearly white. http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinzac55/3562606893/

I have been to the Search Engine at the NRM today and looked at some interesting documents on York signalling, in particular a BR published hard back booklet by AP Hunter entitled "York Resignalling 1951". After a brief introduction every signal is listed numerically, right down to the PGLs, with the letters displayed on each of the TIs and their meaning, and the respective colour light display which was subject to that displayed by succeeding signals. There is a very long coloured track plan showing each signal numbered and the number of aspects etc.

And, oh yes, the TI display is specified as yellow to the front.........

The track and signalling diagram for 1909 was also there for inspection.

Altogether a very useful exercise, as I had to be in York anyway and my missus went Christmas shopping. I bought my Christmas present at the NRM as well, but it has been taken off me so I can't spoil my surprise, but its green, would you believe (?)

Colombo