Chemin de Fer du Nord - signalling instructions for the Paris Area ca 1890...


From signalbox instructions found in the library of the Swedish Railway Museum. The instructions were issued prior to 1898

Cabine = signal cabin for major interlocking
Poste = ground frame or minor signalbox
Poste sémaphorique = intermediate block post

Signalbox
Distance from
Paris Nord (km)
 Levers
in use
 Minum number
of signalmen
Cabine 1
194
 4
Cabine 1 bis
103
 3
Cabine 2
119
 3
Poste A, Poste A1
5
 1
Poste B
7
 1
Poste B bis; engine turntable

1; manned only 5.30 - 24 h
Poste C; signal gantry No 1
29
 1
Poste D; departures for Chantilly

1
Poste E; near the reservoir

1
Poste E bis; near Doudeauville Bridge
 1.000
 5
 1
Cabine 3
 1.300
 25
 1
Cabine 4
 1.900
 52
 1
Cabine 5; Belt Line (Ceinture) Tunnel
 1.900
 10
 1
Cabine 6; Landy
 3
 15
 1
Poste J
 2.650
 5
 Worked by shunters
as required
Cabine 7; tramways (local lines)
18
 1; manned only 4 - 24 h
Cabine 8; freight departures junction
 3.800
 19
 1
Cabine 9
 3.900
 19
 1
Poste Sémaphorique 3; La Chapelle
1.800
1
Poste F; engine depot
 1.500
 26
 1
Poste H
 2.400
 10
 1; manned only 5 - 0.30 h
Poste Sémaphorique J
 3.100
1

---------

In 1935 - 1936 cabins No 1, 2 and 3 where replaced by two route-lever power-frames. The Saxby interlockings thus replaced had been brought into use in 1885, 1896 and 1899 [Marchand 1937]. The instructions for No 3 cabin may relate to an earlier interlocking.

Cabin No 1 with 200 levers was one of the largest mechanical boxes in France [Wurmser I p 130]  

Désengageurs

Disengaging levers (leviers de désengageur) were used go make a signal dependent upon reversing of levers in two different signalboxes (slotting). Désengageurs could also be used to protect trains standing at a platform, by disengaging the signal from the transmission wire. [Wurmser I p 96 - 97]   

Train Describers

Trains were described by bells (for an example see the instruction for Cabine 1 bis)  or by tableaux de correspondence, which may have been the same thing as appareils électriques à guichets. These guichet instruments had small apertures through which a message appeared when a plunger in the corresponding signalbox was operated. The Nord railway system used guichet apparatus of the Sartiaux type [Wurmser I p 112]  



Sources

[Marchand 1937]  Marchand, M: "Notes sur des cabines electriques récemment édifiées à Paris-Nord, Nancy et Lagny" in "Revue Générale des Chemins de Fer"  1937 vol 1 pp 273 -  290.

[Wurmser I] Wurmser, Daniel:  "Signaux mécaniques Tome I: Généralité, Postes D'aiguillga, Réseay Nord", 2007 


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Last update 2009-01-04