Photograph 22/9/67, by Dr J W F Scrimgeour
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THE SIGNAL BOX |
OVERSEAS |
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Photograph 22/9/67, by Dr J W F Scrimgeour |
Spring Bluff was a crossing station near the summit of the Darling Downs between Toowoomba and Helidon, at an altitude of 1531 feet. Here, we see the station officer on the platform preparing to exchange staffs with a Brisbane-bound freight train. Loops such as these never justified the emplyment of a dedicated signalman, and duties were undertaken by a multifarious member of staff known as the station officer.
 Photograph 22/9/67, by Dr J W F Scrimgeour, |
The signal cabin was a neat hipped-roof cabin on the platform adjacent
to the station buildings.
 Photograph 1995, by Frank Archer |
In the 28 years between 1967 and 1995, the signal cabin has been totally
rebuilt - gaining a structure distinctly comparable to a garden shed! The main
station building, however, seems little changed.
 Photograph 1995, by Frank Archer |
Inside the box, a 15-lever McKenzie & Holland frame works the
layout.
 Photograph 1995, by Frank Archer |
The signal cabin diagram shows the layout at Spring Bluff. The Toowoomba
end of the loop is some distance from the box, with power-operated points and
colour-light signals. The track-circuits and signal indications for this part
of the layout are indicated on the lower diagram.
 Photograph 1995, by Frank Archer |
 Photograph 1995, by Frank Archer |
The single-line sections between Spring Bluff and Holmes
and Ballard are controlled by Miniature Electric Train Staff instruments. These
are not housed in the signal cabin but in the adjacent station office.
The instrument illustrated on the right has an extra magazine attached, which is interesting. This is a "balancing magazine", a detachable device to allow the safe transfer of staffs to the instrument at the other end of the section.
The line in now operated by Centralised Traffic Control (nowadays
referred to in Queensland as RCS - Remote Controlled Signalling) from Brisbane,
but Spring Bluff cabin remains in situ, gradually deteriorating.
Additional notes by Frank Archer, Phil Barker and Brian Webber.
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Comments about this article should be addressed to John Hinson |