CF du Nord - Paris Area Interlockings ca 1890 -

Cabine 1

The Saxby Interlocking Cabin No 1 is equipped with a frame for 200 levers. 194 levers are in use:

92 signal levers
45 points levers
39 direction levers
10 disengager levers (for slotted signals)
 5 locking bar levers  (pédales)
 3 derailer levers

The box is worked by 15 men, among them four principal signalmen.  Four men are always on duty:
  1. One principal signalman working the centre of the frame
  2. One signalman works the south area (departures side)
  3. One signalman works the north area (arrivals side)
  4. One signalman assists in the north area
The signalmen work six hour shifts, except the assistant, which is relieved every eight hours.

Trains, engines and shunting moves departing or arriving to be announced by telephone or by appareils électriques à guichets [train describer], which connect cabines 1, 1bis, 2 and postes A, C, D and E.  The signalman receiving a train description (by telephone or by indicator) to announce in a loud voice the track and the signal to be taken off. Principal signalman reverses levers for points and facing point locks, if neccessary assisted by signalman to the right or left. The signalman reverses the levers for taking off the signal. For track No:s I and V an authorisation from poste D is required before any signal is taken off.  

Signalmen in cabin 1 to inform collegue in poste D by telephone or by appareils a correspondence électrique [probably some telegraph instruments or train describers] about all trains, engines or shunting moves. The track number to be indicated.

Before starting a movement towards the local/belt lines departure (Départ Tramways et Ceinture) or the wall track (Voie du mur) an authorisation from cabins 1bis and 2 is required. Cabin 1 has to give authorisations to cabins 1bis and 2 for movements in the other direction.

When a train, engine or shunting move is stopped at one of the signals at Jessaint footbridge, signalmen in cabin 1 must immediately  and without hesitation protect the train or engine by reversing the disengaging lever (levier de désengageur) for the track in question.

Clearing of starting signals for track numbers I - XIX is requested:
  1. For train departures:  By the station controllers operating plungers at far end of platforms
  2. For engines standing near buffer stops: By signalmen in poste A, by pressing plunger twice  
  3. For engines stationary near signals:  By signalman in poste C
Sidings E, F and G are equipped with stop blocks (blocs d'arrét) interlocked and worked by cabin 1.

Working of Safety locks for Poste C (Manoeuvre des Safety locks du Poste C)

When tracks No I - XIX are occupied by trains, engines or shunting moves, they are protected by Safety-lock levers (leviers de Safety-lock) in Poste C. When reversed, these levers prevent cabin 1 from clearing the signal for entry to the occupied track [slotting?]. If it is neccesary for cabin 1 to send an engine or a shunting move to an occupied track, it has to request by appareils de correspondence à guichet that poste C temporarily releases the safety-lock. If the request is granted, poste C makes the indicator disappear to signal to cabin 1 that the move may be carried out.

Electrical apparatus

Electric bells outside poste C indicate that reversing the Safety lock lever has been effective.

Electric repeaters (contrôleurs électriques) inside poste C indicates to the signalman the position of cabin 1 signals which are disengaged (désengagé) by levers in poste C  [slotting to enable poste C to put som of cabin 1's signals to stop]

Electric repeaters inside cabin 1 indicates to signalmen the manipulation of disengagement levers in poste C.


CF du Nord interlockings

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Last update 2009-01-04