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WORGL
Österreichische Bundesbahnen

by John Hinson

Photograph 8/55, by Dr J W F Scrimgeour

The majority of mechanical signalling in Austria was worked on the principle common in Europe, whereby the Station Master or Director had charge of all movements at a station, and orders were transmitted to the signalmen at satellite boxes regarding the moves required.

This is the Station Director's control frame at Worgl, which is a junction station between Innsbruck and Kitzbuhel on the Arlberg - Vienna main line, serving the branch to Kufstein and Munich. The control frame is of the VES 1912 type. The principle of operation is much the same as that described at Vols (using Siemens & Halske equipment) - here you turn the green 'permission' knob, an indicator window in the end box turns from red to white, and the pointsman can turn his green knob to release a route, or maybe a red one to directly move a motor-operated signal. Interlocking between boxes was by electromagnets, whilst internally in the frame the knobs locked each other by slides engaging the splined knob axles.

Photograph 8/55, by Dr J W F Scrimgeour

The box at the west end was mechanically operated on the double-wire system.

The box at the east end had, at the time of these photographs, recently been renewed as a power-operated box. Nevertheless, it was still worked on the traditional principle under the supervision of the Station Director.

Additional notes by Michiel Rademakers