About us
The signal
A number of members worked hard during the summer of 2002 to remove a full size signal from a garden in West Bletchley. The signal had been erected in the garden from parts collected from various local railways by John Hughes. Thanks to Janet Hughes and son Stephen we began the task of bringing the signal to our site in Bletchley Park.
Getting said post out of the ground took considerable effort and was eventually accomplished when, with one final desperate pull, it swung out of the hole. Quite how this was achieved is still not known but volunteers were well supported by Janet's refreshments and Steve's strength, along with a couple of builders who were keen to see the post out of the garden!
After delivery almost a full year passed with the signal post and components littering the area around the garden railway until, after copious moaning, the hole in which it was to be planted was started. This was a novelty to watch as, as the hole got deeper and deeper, rather outlandish methods were used to extract the earth, culminating in one of the thinner members being lowered in by his ankles with a tin cup to scoop out the mud. Once the hole was dug it was a matter of days before plans were made to stick a post in it, and just one weekend later a team arrived with ratchet straps and the weather (and not a lot else) on their side to sling a 22ft post up from 3 trees and dangle it into the hole.
After getting the post halfway up a tree on the Saturday, the Sunday dawned bright and sunny, the team descended again to finish the job. After a few hairy moments the post went in the hole at around 6pm, at which point several members of the team disappeared, but the last couple managed to attach the ladder as well - this being significantly easier than had been feared.
Monday morning dawned and a couple of the weekend team were lucky enough to
have no work, and within a matter of hours the post was fully clothed again,
ready for a grand unveiling at the club night on Tuesday. Meanwhile some of
the more optimistic members decided to investigate the rather decrepit lever
frame to see if it was salvageable, and by Monday night it was naught but a
pile of nuts, bolts and components - ready for cleaning and reassembly.
The lever frame has since been completely re-assembled and painted, as has the
signal post. A twin-dolly ground signal has joined the fray, and after a hectic
search for suitable cable, the 4 signals are now reconnected to the ground frame,
and fully operational. Mysteriously, some lights have even appeared behind the
spectacle plates, so the signal can be enjoyed during the hours of darkness
as well.
Our thanks go to Janet & Stephen for making the signal and associated equipment available to us.
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