ENGINE HEAD SIGNALS

ENGINE HEAD SIGNALS

A notable feature of continued use of Engine Head Signals on locomotives. MARK CHIVERS outlines how these distinctive white discs worked and offers a selection of examples.

ENGINE HEAD SIGNALS were a form of route indicator disc used on the Southern to help identify the route each train was to take. The system was maintained into the British Railways era for steam traction.

Whereas other regions used illuminated lamps or discs to identify the type of train, the Southern Region continued to display a series of 15in diameter white discs at the head of its locomotive-hauled trains to display its intended route.

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