The LNER Encyclopedia

It is not important but I was wondering what the correct name is for the detonators /fog signals that were put in place by use of the stirrup lever in the signal boxes.
I have been told they are Fish Tails due to the shape of the metal plate.
Does anyone have any other name for them, Polite ones will do.

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Detonators or Fog signals as stated.
Any other name such as Fishtails is wrong and can lead to confusion.
I can think of at least 2 other railway items known as fishtails.
TSR Advance warning board and SHC concrete sleeper fastenings.

Are any detonators still placed by signal box lever?
I have seen numerous locations were they are fitted but the mechanism was so corroded it could never have worked if required in most of them.

Generally only carried in drivers cabs, by lookout / handsignalmen, Picops and a requisite item to be carried by Road rail machines.
Still made in Penistone S Yorks. Saw 10 new packets just delivered yesterday.

Bryan wrote:Detonators or Fog signals as stated.
Any other name such as Fishtails is wrong and can lead to confusion.
I can think of at least 2 other railway items known as fishtails.
TSR Advance warning board and SHC concrete sleeper fastenings.

Are any detonators still placed by signal box lever?
I have seen numerous locations were they are fitted but the mechanism was so corroded it could never have worked if required in most of them.

Generally only carried in drivers cabs, by lookout / handsignalmen, Picops and a requisite item to be carried by Road rail machines.
Still made in Penistone S Yorks. Saw 10 new packets just delivered yesterday.

I was aware of term Fishtail being used for concrete sleeper fastenings.
but not the TSR.

You should know of at least one Box that still uses "Fishtail Detonators" and one that still has the mechanism although rusted up, you have to pass it to visit your plough the other is the next but one box.

Was the delivery to the N.Y.M.R.?

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Micky wrote:I know what your talking about loco cleaner the x2 detonators that were either placed on the railhead by a lever (a WHITE lever with BLACK chevrons or a BLACK lever with WHITE chevrons - whichever way that you want to look at it?. Pointing UP for up line and DOWN for down line) via point rodding or a Detonator placer worked from a stirrup handal from the s/box again via point rodding to the detonator mechanism which held x2 detonators fixed in a fish-tail shaped piece of flat metal.

They are the ones, not used by N.R. these days but some Heritage railways still do.

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Never heard of the term 'fish tails' applying to such 2-det. pairs, though that doesn't mean they haven't been informally called that in some area(s). (Though 'fish tail' is also often used in describing the 'vee'-notch shape of the end of distant signal arms [and possibly of their black stripe] ).

Also not heard of 'fish tail' for a TSR (temporary speed restriction) warning ('board') indicator (but same possible local usage applies* as above), and for years now it wouldn't have been currently appropriate anyway as the horizontal yellow board parts have had 'squared' ends.

I believe that lever-operated det.placers have mostly - perhaps completely - been put out of use/removed from the national network.

............*- (For example, on a slightly related item, the additional 'Emergency' speed warning indicators are variously known as 'daleks', 'metal mickeys', 'zebra boards', and possibly other nicknames.)

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Always known just as "dets" in my experience.

My recollection is that thet were called "machine dets" but memories can get a bit messed up over time.

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loco cleaner wrote:

Bryan wrote:Detonators or Fog signals as stated.
Any other name such as Fishtails is wrong and can lead to confusion.
I can think of at least 2 other railway items known as fishtails.
TSR Advance warning board and SHC concrete sleeper fastenings.

Are any detonators still placed by signal box lever?
I have seen numerous locations were they are fitted but the mechanism was so corroded it could never have worked if required in most of them.

Generally only carried in drivers cabs, by lookout / handsignalmen, Picops and a requisite item to be carried by Road rail machines.
Still made in Penistone S Yorks. Saw 10 new packets just delivered yesterday.

I was aware of term Fishtail being used for concrete sleeper fastenings.
but not the TSR.

You should know of at least one Box that still uses "Fishtail Detonators" and one that still has the mechanism although rusted up, you have to pass it to visit your plough the other is the next but one box.

Was the delivery to the N.Y.M.R.?

I do know that box and its fittings.
But not that familiar with the other one.
And yes to PW.

The last remnants of a placer that I can recall seeing on NWR was at Selby station were the placers were fitted on the approach to the swing bridge.
I pulled them off the wall by hand when we relaid the Up platform line. S+T said they would not get replaced.

I have a large tin marked ''PERCUSSION SIGNALS'' in my collection.

You can all put this one to bed lads.

L.N.E.R. Rule book 1933 reprinted 1945 states them as detonators on page V of the index at the back of the book, with more than 36 references to them in the book itself.

If the name was good enough for the L.N.E.R. then sod the rest.

And don't forget 70013 is going up the old South Yokshire line from Brancliffe Junction[as was] to go round the back [or front] of Donny' on it's way to Cleethorpes 3rd. March