Signalling.

[Mickey]

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[StevieG]

Yes; I didn't then know that it might have been a Western Region-only 'Is Line Clear for ...?' code, but I remember using it few times in the '60s ; it standing for 'local goods calling at intermediate points', or some similar meaning.

On the WR, one of these, from Newbury I imagine, served the yard at Thatcham station and Colthrop Sidings (the Reed Board Mills Ltd.) ; another served Aldermaston yard (and probably Theale : Midgham yard had already been closed and lifted by '64), from Reading I think - Distinctly remember arriving at Aldermaston one day before steam ended, delighted to find one of the Collett 0-6-0 tender locos, already run-round its short train, standing half in/half out of the goods shed, waiting for the dummy to come 'off', to head back north-east.

[Mickey]

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[thesignalman]

Thinking about it again 3-bells may have been applicable on other regions of B.R as well and not just on the W.R. although i think it may have been abolished sometime around the 1970s?. John will know.

I reckon you are spot on there, Mick.

John

[thesignalman]

I was 'second line' on call for the old Watford Area that night and it was one of the most upsetting incidents I was ever attended. We'll never really know now exactly what happened but the LMR Regional Fire Officer was also called from his home in Stafford and told me that, in his opinion, the body wasn't laying in a position consistent with a person having been overcome by the fire. Strangely enough, he himself died soon afterwards and I'm not sure what the coroner's court decided about Roy's death.

I finally found the Railway Inspectorate's report on this fire, the relevant part is:
I conclude, therefore, that the fire which began in the S&T cable trough in the north-west corner of the signal box was electrical in origin. I believe that the source was likely to be current from the traction supply being fed into the S&T system at some point remote from the signal box, together with cable faults causing the current flow to by-pass the protecting fuses. At the time there were no trains running on the North London Link nor on the line from Gospel Oak to Barking; also, I have not been advised of any defects in the rail bonding. It is my considered view that the only way in which an electrical connection could have occurred was deliberately, but whether this was mindless vandalism or of malicious intent to cause damage, I am not in a position to state.

That report does not concern itself with Roy's body, but a Ham & High newspaper report says:
Mr Bowley's body was found leaning away from the door, suggesting he was overcome by smoke before he could reach the door.

Regards,

John