Signals Collection (#7)

The Snow Plough on the snow-bound railway near Blackhill encountered many difficulties when looking for lost train in North West Durham on 27th February 1933

The Elizabethan at speed, on 10th January 1956, headed by Class A4 locomotive Gannet on the longest non-stop run in the world from London to Edinburgh

This must be the end of an era - the smokepencompassed steam locomotive now being replaced by other forms of rail traction passes underneath the road bridge at Kingstown, Stainton Road, Carlisle

The Silver Jubilee Steam engine at Alston Station on 4th April 1998

The Royal Scott steam train on 29th June 1959

The new British Railways express, The Caledonian pulls out of Carlisle Station on 17th June 1957

The former Midland Duchess of Hamilton on 1st October 1981

The ex-Great Western Railways locomotive King George V drew a big crowd in London on 4th October 1971. She was pulling a trin holding an exhibition of products of her present owners

The Causey Rambler steaming along Tanfield Railway on 4th September 1994

The Flying Scotsman on 12th May 1977 on tis way to Carnforth Rail Museum

Breaking ground on 26th July 1954 was the British Railways new excursion train, Northern Venturer, when it left Newcastle Central Station for Morecambe on the first leg on its four-journey schedule

An Air Express, the Imperial Airways latest machine, flying over another express - the Flying Scotsman at Welwyn (Herts) on 13th February 1934

The Coronation Stream-Lined Train snaking its way out of Newcastle Central Station on 2nd July 1937 en route to Edinburgh

The first non stop luxury express from Kings Cross to Edinburgh, The Captial Limited, passing through Newcastle on its way to the North on 19th July 1949

The Flying Scotman leaving Kings Cross in its intial non-stop run to Scotland. 1st May 1928

Signals hanging over the railway tracks. March 1963

Steam locomotives and trains seen here on the approaches to Waterloo Station. Circa 1935

Getting the munition trains through has developed her muscles. Mrs. Irene Pack, wife of an airman in the Fleet Air Arm is a volunteer night duty signal woman on the L.M.S

General view of railway signals over the tracks. May 1955

Convoys Meet
30th November 1939: A sailor signals a merchant ship as it slowly passes the Naval Control Base in the Thames Estuary. Inward bound convoys halt to take aboard pilots to steer them through

Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R. 1 XW665
Royal Air Force - Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R.1 XW665 (msn 8040), of No.51 Squadron. The three original Nimrod R.1s, and the attrition replacement

Hawker Siddeley HS. 801 Nimrod R. 1 XW665
Hawker Siddeley HS.801 Nimrod R.1 XW665 of no.51 Squadron at RAF Wyton. XW665 was one of three Nimrods especially ordered for use as Electronic and Signals Intelligence gathering aircraft

USAF - United States Air Force - Boeing B-17G
United States Army Air Force - United States Air Force - Boeing B-17G, seen, presumably, at Shaw Field or a satellite field

Operating the levers in the signal box at London Bridge, one of the busiest stations in the country. Date: 1866

Trainee Signalmen use semaphore to spell their regiment
circa 1910s

Flags most commonly flown in Bermuda
circa 1910s

Junction of the Great Western Railway with the London Branch, 1844. Creator: Unknown
Junction of the Great Western Railway with the London Branch, 1844. Two signal-posts of great size, and conspicuous for their markings and colour, have been placed on the left of the up line

Indian Mail signals, at Folkestone, 1844. Creator: Unknown
Indian Mail signals, at Folkestone, 1844. Postal service between Britain and India: In approaching this port [Folkestone, from Boulogne

Using Dictation Machine Date: 1954

Ruins of Richmond & Petersburg Railroad Bridge, Richmond, Virginia, ca. 1865. Formerly attributed to Mathew B. Brady

Ruins at end of Richmond and Petersburg Railroad Bridge, Richmond, 1861-65. Formerly attributed to Mathew B. Brady

Signal Corps, Rappidan River / Signal Corps Reconnoitering at Fredericksburg, Virginia
Signal Corps, Rappidan River/Signal Corps Reconnoitering at Fredericksburg, Virginia, 1863. Formerly attributed to Mathew B. Brady

Baby Scouts -- signaller
Baby Scouts -- A girl scout signaller you notice here, she warns the camp when enemies are near. Date: 1900

FLAG SIGNALS IN NAVY
A barefoot rating signalling with flags on board a warship of Her Majestys Navy. Date: circa 1890

ROMAN BEACON SIGNALS
Beacons used by the Romans during their campaign against the Germans Date: 1st century

SMOKE SIGNAL NATIVE AMER
The Native Americans in the foreground are replying with hand signals to a smoke signal sent by their friends on the opposite ridge. Date: circa 1880

EyeUbiquitous_10048487
England, West Sussex, Shoreham-by-sea, IT Technician programming traffic lights signal box from a laptop computer

A signalman at work at Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England
A signalman at work in the 180 lever railway signal box at Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England Date: 1991

Goat on Bala Lake Railway line, N Wales
A man, wearing riding jodhpurs and boots, leads a goat across the railway line at Llangower railway station on the Bala Lake Railway, in North Wales. First published in The Sunday Times Date: 1989

On Signals Duty, c1943. Creator: Cecil Beaton
On Signals Duty, c1943. The Womens Auxiliary Air Force (WaF), whose members were referred to as WaFs, was the female auxiliary of the British Royal Air Force during World War II

Parisian Officer directing traffic on Les Grand Boulevards
A French Traffic Gendarme with a VERY fine moustache and beard combo direct traffic at a junction on the Grand Boulevards, Paris at the Porte Saint-Denis. Date: circa 1920

Golden-crowned Sifaka or Tattersalls Sifaka (Propithecus tattersalli) climbing down tree in forests near Andranotsimaty, Daraina, north east Madagascar. Critically Endangered

Interior of a signal exchange during the Battle of the Somme, France, World War I, 1916

Observation officer and signallers keep a sharp lookout, St Quentin, France, World War I, 1914-1918. Stereoscopic card detail. (Colorised black and white print)

Handmade Sign Boards. 40s

House Flags and Funnels. circa 1910

Union Pacific Streamliner train, City of Los Angeles
Union Pacific Streamliner luxury train, named the City of Los Angeles, operating between Chicago and Los Angeles in just under 42 hours. Date: circa 1937

Capital ship of a modern battle fleet by G. H. Davis
The capital ship of a modern battle fleet: a drawing of a typical British aircraft carrier, showing the general arrangements between decks, and two British innovations. Date: 1953

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"Unveiling the Art of Signals: A Journey through Time and Technology" Step into the fascinating world of signals, where human ingenuity meets technological marvels. This captivating poster, produced for British Railways in 1969, showcases a railway worker skillfully operating signals by hand, and is a testament to their dedication and expertise in ensuring safe journeys along the tracks. In Reading Signal Works' Clock Shop, time intertwines with precision as every tick synchronizes with the movement of trains. The year 1969 marks an era when manual operations still played a vital role in railway signaling systems. Delving deeper into the intricate workings of our nervous system, we encounter synapse nerve junctions captured under a TEM microscope. These tiny connections enable lightning-fast communication within our bodies—a remarkable parallel to how signals guide trains on their routes. The majestic HMS Victory sails triumphantly into Portsmouth Harbour, reminding us that even grand vessels rely on precise signaling to navigate treacherous waters safely. Just like railways depend on well-coordinated signals for smooth sailing across vast networks. Leominster Station stands frozen in time on June 27th, 1950—an emblematic moment showcasing how hand-operated levers controlled train movements meticulously. The steam locomotive Sir Nigel Gresley from Welwyn Garden City chugs forward gracefully—its power harnessed by skilled engineers who masterfully interpret these visual cues. No less impressive is No 5082 Swordfish—a Castle class locomotive departing Scours Lane hauling eleven carriages behind it. Hand signals demonstrated by staff from Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway exemplify the importance of clear communication between those responsible for guiding these mighty machines safely along their tracks. As we approach a railway crossing at Newcastle-on-Tyne or witness its counterpart at Newcastle-upon-Tyne—the significance of proper signalization becomes evident once again. Ensuring harmony between road traffic and rail transport demands meticulous coordination and adherence to signals.