262:
working in order to maximize efficiency and deal with any irregularity in traffic which may affect smooth operation. On busy railways such as the
Midland, it was at times very difficult for signalmen to keep track of train movements and make optimal traffic regulation decisions whilst operating signalling equipment. Consequently, fast trains could be delayed by slower trains on the line ahead. Moreover, there was no-one with specific responsibilities relating to the efficient, economical use of rolling stock in traffic, which made it difficult to manage the contingencies of underutilisation, wastage and allocation of inappropriate locomotive power. In the face of rising costs, operating economies were particularly important to the private British railway companies in the early twentieth century. The Train Controller was intended to manage these and other difficulties. It is important to note that while Train Controllers were responsible for traffic regulation within their areas of control, they generally had no safety-critical responsibilities, which were within the realm of the signalmen and
279:
wanted to issue instructions or receive train arrival and departure times, he selected the relevant signal box on his telephone, which rang the control phone therein. There were two main problems with this system. Firstly, the train controllers could become overloaded with path requests from signalmen, train recording and other duties. This led to delays for signalmen waiting for their turn to speak on the omnibus circuit, making the role of the train controller somewhat self-defeating. Secondly, signalmen were often in a better position to make train working decisions by virtue of their experience and by being on the spot, but were prevented from doing so by bureaucratic procedures. In silent admission of the deficiencies of this system, signalmen were generally left to their own devices, especially in the event of a general disruption to train services, during which the train control system simply could not handle the demands placed upon it.
108:
40:
234:
railways, modern technology has seen the positions of
Signalman and Train Controller united (or reunited, in the sense that traffic regulation and train path allocation were originally duties of the Signalman anyway). Irrespective, the classic Telephone Train Control system has been generally abolished, with a few exceptions.
204:. Signallers are therefore susceptible to stress-related illness. Following protracted industrial action from unions and, much more recently, detailed studies on fatigue and ergonomics in the rail industry, prudent operators implemented strict guidelines relating to the length and number of consecutive
278:
systems with selective code rings, to all signal boxes in the area. This method of operating was sometimes known as the
Telephone Train Control System. If the signalman required directions, he simply lifted the receiver and spoke to the train controller on the omnibus circuit. If the train controller
290:
in the late 1960s), obviating the need for telephonic communication. This practice was followed by what has been the norm since the introduction of modern power signalling schemes, viz. the traditional train controller's substitution by a senior signalman, signal box supervisor or traffic regulator,
208:
permissible for safety-critical workers, including signallers. These guidelines are ideally aimed at improving safety and reducing fatigue at work, but also the overall lifestyle of employees. In some cases, physical changes in the work environment also followed these studies, including changes in
122:
Each train movement was logged, by hand, in a Train
Register Book, and it was normal practice to provide a special desk to support this sizeable book. As well as train movements, every communication between signalmen and adjacent signal boxes via bell codes (when accepting trains or dealing with a
233:
performs signalling duties in addition to other work such as selling tickets and cleaning. Although the positions of Train
Controller and Signalman were always distinct from the inception of the former in 1907, Train Controllers perform work previously executed by Signalmen in some cases. In many
303:
from the 1950s. A power signal box (PSB) often has a number of signalmen operating multiple electric or computerized signalling panels and large illuminated track diagrams showing wide areas of operation. This makes traffic regulation much easier for signalmen to handle among themselves. In some
261:
were loaded economically and provided with suitable locomotive power, liaising with train crew rostering personnel, ordering additional trains to run for the carriage of extra freight tonnage or passengers as required, allocating paths for unscheduled services and making alterations to scheduled
83:
The first signalmen, originally called
Railway Policemen (leading to the nickname of 'Bobby'), were employed in the early 19th century and used flags to communicate with each other and train drivers. The railways were already in existence by then and The British Transport police say that,"early
187:
The signaller's main duty is to ensure trains get from A to B safely and on time. The classic Train
Register Book remains in use at most older installations, with train describers and Automatic Train Recording taking its place in more modern power signalling schemes. All trains are listed in a
84:
railway policemen were probably sworn in as special constables under a statute passed in 1673 during the reign of
Charles II. They were appointed to preserve law and order on the construction site of the railway patrol and protect the line control of the movement of railway traffic.) and
159:
command is used to alter the lie of points and control signals. Although many classic mechanical signal boxes remain in use, these are gradually being replaced by modern power signalling systems on most railways. The heartlands of
British-style railway signalling could be said to be the
142:
from 1856, allowed safer, more expeditious train working, and more complicated track layouts to be controlled single-handedly. The advent of such technological advances gradually led to the provision of an enclosed workspace known as a signal box, signal cabin or interlocking tower.
252:
working, train controllers (also known as controllers, district controllers, line controllers and area controllers) were progressively introduced on many
British-style railways in the early years of the 20th century, the first being on the
118:
It was a signalman's duty to check each train that passed their signal box, looking for the red tail lamp exhibited on the trailing vehicle, the sighting of which confirmed that the train was still complete, and thus the section was clear.
374:
308:
in 1999, it was resolved that supervisors should be appointed at key signal boxes. However, these supervisors are not train controllers. Similar appointments have been made at major signal boxes in
192:. Any train can be found on here together with its schedule and route. If a train is late, it is up to the signaller to ascertain in what order the trains should run, known as regulating trains.
364:
257:
in 1907. Although the specifics of their duties varied between railways, train controllers were responsible for tracking train movements (especially freight), ensuring
155:
and early 20th century. Modern technology has generally reduced the labour required per train movement. In many cases, a switch, button or
217:
The signalman is known by various other corporate job titles, including Signaller, Area Controller and Network Controller. In the
32:
This article is about rail traffic controllers in Great Britain and Ireland. For similar functions in other jurisdictions, see
274:
Typically, train controllers were stationed at district or "divisional" control offices which were linked by omnibus circuit
282:
In exceptional cases, district control offices were abandoned and train controllers appointed at key signal boxes (as in the
304:
cases, a traffic regulator is appointed, who may be consulted for train working decisions. Following the accident at
17:
221:, a signalman is sometimes officially known as such, but is also known under other names, including Leverman and
427:
People and Rail Systems: Human Factors at the Heart of the Railway, John R. Wilson et al, Ashgate, London, 2007
397:
492:
487:
445:
Kichenside, Geoffrey and Williams, Alan: Two Centuries of Railway Signalling, Oxford Publishing Co, 1998
124:
305:
48:
369:
418:
Rail Human Factors: Supporting the Integrated Railway, John R. Wilson et al, Ashgate, London, 2005
299:
In the UK, the beginning of the end for classic "Control" came with the commissioning of large
107:
283:
112:
44:
200:
In busy locations, signalling can be very challenging and stressful, in a manner similar to
169:
8:
201:
327:
321:
135:
131:
230:
300:
287:
243:
33:
467:
343:
309:
254:
165:
151:
The principles of British-style railway signalling have changed little since the
64:
472:
338:
263:
226:
161:
68:
39:
481:
258:
218:
152:
96:
92:
181:
139:
454:
Railway Safety: Interlocking and Train Protection, Ian Macfarlane, 2004
205:
173:
72:
436:
Control on the Railways, Philip Burtt, George Allen & Unwin, 1926
332:
275:
222:
209:
the design of signal box lighting, seating and signalling equipment.
85:
156:
188:
computer system in the UK in time order. This system is known as
63:
is an employee of a railway transport network who operates the
249:
189:
177:
88:
for the purpose of Time Interval Working between stations.)
95:
achieved some fame for the unique distinction of being a
138:
and block working in the 1850s, and proper mechanical
479:
111:A hand-held railway signal lamp, on display at
473:Train Controllers at Stenson Junction, BR(LMR)
91:In South Africa, a local rail signaller named
130:Technological advances including mechanical
75:in order to control the movement of trains.
398:"Stranger Than Fiction: Jack the Signalman"
448:
27:Person controlling the movement of trains
395:
106:
38:
14:
480:
294:
324:, an example of a working signal box
269:
237:
102:
396:Williams, Michael (2 August 2012).
24:
377:from the original on 10 April 2023
25:
504:
461:
146:
439:
430:
421:
412:
389:
357:
212:
13:
1:
350:
248:To improve the efficiency of
291:situated in the signal box.
7:
342:, a short story written by
315:
10:
509:
365:"The first railway police"
241:
78:
31:
195:
49:Annesley, Nottinghamshire
370:British Transport Police
468:Control on the Railways
225:. At some locations, a
115:
52:
400:. Knoxville Daily Sun
284:London Midland Region
113:Israel Railway Museum
110:
42:
493:Railway occupations
202:air traffic control
488:Railway signalling
328:Railway signalling
322:Ledbury Signal Box
301:power signal boxes
295:Power signal boxes
136:electric telegraph
134:in the 1840s, the
116:
53:
270:Method of working
238:Train controllers
103:Additional duties
43:Signalwoman in a
16:(Redirected from
500:
455:
452:
446:
443:
437:
434:
428:
425:
419:
416:
410:
409:
407:
405:
393:
387:
386:
384:
382:
361:
288:British Railways
244:Train dispatcher
34:Train dispatcher
21:
18:Signalman (rail)
508:
507:
503:
502:
501:
499:
498:
497:
478:
477:
464:
459:
458:
453:
449:
444:
440:
435:
431:
426:
422:
417:
413:
403:
401:
394:
390:
380:
378:
363:
362:
358:
353:
344:Charles Dickens
318:
310:New South Wales
297:
272:
264:station masters
255:Midland Railway
246:
240:
215:
198:
166:New South Wales
149:
105:
81:
37:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
506:
496:
495:
490:
476:
475:
470:
463:
462:External links
460:
457:
456:
447:
438:
429:
420:
411:
388:
355:
354:
352:
349:
348:
347:
339:The Signal-Man
335:
330:
325:
317:
314:
306:Ladbroke Grove
296:
293:
271:
268:
259:freight trains
242:Main article:
239:
236:
227:Station master
214:
211:
197:
194:
162:United Kingdom
148:
145:
127:) was logged.
104:
101:
80:
77:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
505:
494:
491:
489:
486:
485:
483:
474:
471:
469:
466:
465:
451:
442:
433:
424:
415:
399:
392:
376:
372:
371:
366:
360:
356:
345:
341:
340:
336:
334:
331:
329:
326:
323:
320:
319:
313:
311:
307:
302:
292:
289:
285:
280:
277:
267:
265:
260:
256:
251:
245:
235:
232:
228:
224:
220:
219:United States
210:
207:
203:
193:
191:
185:
183:
179:
175:
171:
167:
163:
158:
154:
153:Victorian era
144:
141:
137:
133:
132:fixed signals
128:
126:
120:
114:
109:
100:
98:
97:chacma baboon
94:
89:
87:
76:
74:
70:
66:
62:
58:
50:
46:
45:Great Central
41:
35:
30:
19:
450:
441:
432:
423:
414:
402:. Retrieved
391:
379:. Retrieved
368:
359:
337:
312:since 2012.
298:
281:
273:
247:
216:
199:
186:
182:South Africa
150:
147:Duties today
140:interlocking
129:
121:
117:
90:
82:
60:
56:
54:
29:
213:Other names
86:hourglasses
482:Categories
404:27 October
351:References
174:Queensland
73:signal box
381:13 August
333:Switchman
276:telephone
223:Switchman
61:signaller
57:signalman
47:cabin at
375:Archived
316:See also
170:Victoria
157:computer
346:in 1866
79:History
71:from a
69:signals
231:Porter
206:shifts
196:Health
65:points
51:, 1918
250:train
190:TRUST
178:India
125:token
406:2014
383:2023
180:and
93:Jack
67:and
286:of
229:or
59:or
484::
373:.
367:.
266:.
184:.
176:,
172:,
168:,
164:,
99:.
55:A
408:.
385:.
36:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.