Upper Quadrant

Upper Quadrant

Automatic upper quadrant GRS 3 position electric signals were in operation on the old eastern railway between Bellevue and Koojedda from circa 1926 until line closure in 1966. The patent for these signals is dated 1918. WAGR installed them to improve the traffic-handling capacity of the main eastern railway.

It had been a desire of the Signals Dept of the BBR to have some of these Upper Quadrant signals operational on the Railway. It was planned to have 2 signals as starter signals at Zamia, approximately midway round the Bushland Loop.

As a result of a request for assistance to the WA branch of ARHS, BBR obtained a long-term loan of 2 spectacle plates, 2 semi-automatic arms and 1 spectacle casting. Westnet Rail donated a complete upper quadrant mast, lamps, enough hardware to assemble a second mast and relay box for the control circuitry.

The 2 signal motors required were in store. The authentic glass convex lenses were obtained from USA, a second casting was made and signals staff, refurbished the motors, manufactured the platforms, assembled the signals, designed and manufactured the control circuits. The finials are unique and impossible to obtain until my neighbour manufactured the finials from timber and fibreglass using old photographs as a guide.

The signals at Zamia were installed in July 2004 and came into use when the Bushland Loop was re-opened to traffic in October 2004.

Danger

Caution

Clear

The signals rest at danger (horizontal). Approach of a train causes the signal to go to caution (45 degrees) for 15 seconds and then to clear (vertical) until the locomotive passes the signal when it will return to danger. This allows passengers to observe the full operation of the signals.

In the event of evening runs, the lamps in the signals are automatically lit when the train approaches. It is an awesome sight seeing the signal aspect change from red to yellow to green and then return through the colours as the signal drops.

The BBR is proud of the results and is pleased to have invested the money and the 900 manhours to preserve these unique examples of WAGR heritage signalling equipment. Thanks also to ARHS WA Division, Westnet Rail and SIGWA for their valuable assistance.

This article by Bob Baker

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