Signals at Greenford

29/4/06

Greenford East is the last remaining signalbox with WR lower quadrant signals in London. It controls a triangular junction where the branch line from West Ealing joins the former GWR Paddington-Birmingham direct line.
This is the view of Greenford South Junction from South Greenford station on the branch line. A train is signalled into the bay platform at Greenford, which is cut into the eastern end of the Central Line island platform and reached via a separate chord. The signal in the foreground, GE52/63, controls Greenford South Junction, while the one in the distance controls the entrance to the bay line. The rears of the up starters towards West Ealing can be seen on the right.

A closer view of the signal controlling the entrance to the bay platform, GE22/51. Because the embankment here is prone to subsidence, the signal post has had to be supported by scaffolding - and note the additional support (painted white) that has had to be provided for the signal above. Not ideal, but if this postpones the need to replace it I'm all in favour!

A face-on shot of the up starters towards West Ealing. The signal on the left reads from the chord from the eastern junction, while the one on the right has been cleared for a departing local passenger train.

Greenford East Junction. The viaduct in the background carries the Central Line, which runs parallel to the ex-GWR line between North Acton and West Ruislip, over all three curves to Greenford South Junction.

A closer view of the up main starter, GE42.

This superb GWR bracket still carries the splitting homes for the eastern junction.

A long-range view towards Greenford from a bridge over the line towards Northolt. On the left is the main ex-GWR (Wycombe) line, with the splitting up home signals for Greenford West Junction clearly visible. Since the Marylebone resignalling, this section from Northolt Jct East is now single track. The signals whose rears can be seen are not the arms of a splitting signal, but are the down starters from the main line and the West Ealing branch.
On the right is the Central Line; in the foreground, an Epping train approaches Greenford, while one to West Ruislip can be seen departing from the station. The semaphore that can be glimpsed over the station roof is the bay platform starter, pulled off for a train to depart.

A closer view of the bay platform and its starter, GE29. The platform line descends to go under the Central Line - the line immediately to the left is its eastbound track. The backs of the same down starting signals can also be seen from this position, to the left of the Central Line viaduct.

A closer shot of the up main homes bracket, GE41/45. To the left, a yellow disc controlling the exit from a disused siding can also be seen. The siding is in fact all that remains of the former up platform line, harking back to the days when Greenford also had main-line platform loops in classic GWR style. The main-line platforms were set somewhat to the west of the present-day Central Line island, further to the left of where this photo was taken.

A rear view of the same signal.

A close-up shot of the yellow disc.

The down branch starter, GE50.

Greenford West Junction. The signal on the left is the down main starter. To the right, the down branch starter can be seen, and the rear of the bay platform starter glimpsed over the viaduct. The signalbox nestles in the vee of the junction. The bridge carries the Central Line over the branch chord.

A face-on shot of the signalbox. In case you are wondering why Greenford East signalbox is situated at Greenford West Junction, the box name reflects the fact there was originally a West box at the other end of the main-line station.

Greenford East signalbox (three-quarter angle)

This three-quarter angle gives a clearer shot of the box. You can see from the brickwork that the original building has been extended; this was done in 1956.

28/7/07

A new colour-light which will replace the two brackets affected by the subsidence problems has been erected, but - oh dear...

The up branch advanced starter, GE47, with Castle Bar Park station in the distance.

An up train approaches Greenford South Jct. This shot also gives a better appreciation of the relative positions of the two bracket signals. Even the up branch starter hasn't been immune to the graffiti mongers. :(