Signalling & Signal Levers
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Signal Lever
The station is protected by semaphore signals, trains approaching from the north are allowed access to the station by a Stevens & Son compensating signal lever dating from 1879 and operated by the station master from up platform beside Poulsom Park; this lever pulls a long cable which in addition to lowering the signal, some 500 yards from the site, to the “clear” position, also locks the points into position via a slide bar.
It originates from the Manx Northern Railway who favoured this method of signalling; from 1905 when it was merged with the Isle of Man Railway equipment was moved to other stations. The red counterweight is known as “the cheese” and is designed to slide up and down the level for ease of use, the cable varying owing to warmer weather in the summer months. The signal which it operates is a lower quadrant with a red and white arm and integral lamp now powered by solar panel.
Lower Quadrant Signal
This is typical of other signals along the line and is operated by the Stevens & Son compensating lever as above; unusually the arm faces away from the railway, this is because it was relocated from the other end of the station limits in 2012 when the slotted post was installed. It has an integral access ladder and single aspect lamp built into the arm to show red until the arm is lowered, whereupon the disc moves and exposes the white (clear) light. It is located atop a bank and the cable ascends the bank via a set of pulleys through which the cable passes from the station some 500 yards distant.
Signal Windlass
Trains approaching from the south are controlled by a similar method, but operated via a windlass, akin to a ship's wheel, again operated by the station master and interlocking with the points. This serves a unique slotted post signal, the arm of which slots into the post rather than at an angle as elsewhere on the line; this also turns a lamp atop a rod, from the red (danger) aspect to white (clear) - the railway having not used green for clear as elsewhere.
The windlass is from 1873 and overhauled when the signal was reinstated by the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters’ Association in 2012; it was discovered in the undergrowth by the points and overhauled; it is now fenced in to deter interference and features a basic ratchet and pawl mechanism to hold it in position. A locking disc known as Dribley’s Patent confirms that the points are locked, a white disc with red diagonal stripe rotating to face the station confirming the points to be locked.
Slotted Post Signal
This is located on the bypass road on Pumphouse Curve and is unique on the railway in being the sole remaining slotted post semaphore signal, restored in 2012 by the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters’ Association. When the windlass is turned the signal arm drops into an integral slot which indicates that the line is clear and the points locked; at the same time an integral lamp turns to display a white (clear) light at night, otherwise displaying a red stop signal; it has a built in access ladder for maintenance and accessing the lamp to light it (though today this is solar powered).
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