Etymology of railway terminology

Was reminded of one today

In Sydney, the method of working box to box, with or without a train describer, is 'they're in order unless i ring you'. Giving telephoned advice of additional traffic, freight etc is known as 'warning on'. "They warned on CA64 a couple of minutes ago"

'Ready and on' for the Western practice of immediately transmitting train entering section upon a train which is close at hand being accepted. The 2 is acknowledged by the signalman in advance but the block left at line clear for long enough to give the other signalman time to clear his signals. So as to save a bit of walking.

'Knock for knock' I believe was a term sometimes used for grouping bells in such a way that if you were offered a train you'd just offer the next one at the same time.

It does however lead onto another term - on the block, for trains running virtually back to back being offered forward and given on line almost instantly after the previous train has been knocked out for. (have we covered "knock out" yet?)

As an extension there was also "Wirral Block" on the Mersey rail network, with block instruments left at line clear by default, and only pegged on line when a train was in section, with trains effectively described rather than offered. 2-1 then being sent and block back to line clear. very much an unofficial way of doing things in busy boxes.

Knock out: send Train Out of Section without calling attention (neither of which ever happened, of course... :-) )

<snip>
As an extension there was also "Wirral Block" on the Mersey rail network, with block instruments left at line clear by default, and only pegged on line when a train was in section, with trains effectively described rather than offered. 2-1 then being sent and block back to line clear. very much an unofficial way of doing things in busy boxes.

Was "Runner" used anywhere other than Taunton/Exeter/Newton Abbot for a train not booked to call at a major station?

Why would they be different by region when the regions are so geographically close to one another?

Sometimes, especially when within a subject of railway history such as this, I do feel conscious of the fact though I may be employed by the world's first underground railway system

...

Pig's Ear - a separate illuminated indication on a signal to the side of the light casing to show an aspect in the event of a bulb failure (powered by a separate/secondary filament) and can be considered a genuine/safe aspect.

Train numbering (not really a thing on the wider network I suppose) but
222 - three little ducks
111 - Nelson (1 eye, 1 arm, 1 leg)

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Coming back to the Big Railway, a (now former) member of the Sleep and Tea told me that a signal with all six possible feathers on it was an "Admiral's Hat". I've never seen one of those and I'm not sure if they even exist. I've seen signals with five feathers in a number of places, but I don't know if there's a special name for that or for the 1-2-4-5 combination of four feathers. Anyone?

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Blocking back / on the block (again congestion and trains queued)
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Zoe in post 159537 said:

Was "Runner" used anywhere other than Taunton/Exeter/Newton Abbot for a train not booked to call at a major station?

On the GCR, the Annesley - Woodford fast unfitted freights were "runners" to railwaymen, windcutter being a spotters term.

Incidentally another one was "ord" for all class 2 (ordinary pass) as in I've got the leicester ord on line and two runners following it.

[quote=clive;post=159569]
Drifting off-topic (sorry), I believe it's not permitted to have all 6 possible feathers. In fact, I've heard it said that even 5 require a derogation, because of the risk of confusing positions 3 and 4 if reading with a too-quick glance.

111 - Nelson (1 eye, 1 arm, 1 leg)

[quote=kbarber;post=159571][quote=clive;post=159569]
I've certainly seen 5-feather signals; from memory, one on the curve from Reading West to Reading and one on the approaches from Clapham Junction to Waterloo.

clive in post 159581 said:

kbarber in post 159571 said:

[quote=clive;post=159569]
I've certainly seen 5-feather signals; from memory, one on the curve from Reading West to Reading and one on the approaches from Clapham Junction to Waterloo.

There's also a one on the Down Main approaching Exeter with the fastest route (no feather) being 30 mph. Would that have been too fast for a theatre indicator?

I'm not sure. I think it's more a question of how long the driver gets to sight it: it takes longer to absorb the meaning of a letter than that of a white light pointing away to one side.

The Down Fast approaching Peterborough used to have two theatres above the top lamp that showed number 1, 2, 4, and 5 feathers for platforms 6, 5, 3, and 2 respectively (this is before the rearrangement) and another underneath the red that showed "B" for moves into platform 1 (the only bay).

[quote=Zoe;post=159583]
I believe feathers were often referred to as "lunar lights" on the Southern.

metcontrol in post 159562 said:

111 - Nelson (1 eye, 1 arm, 1 leg)

I've heard that term in relation to cricket where a batsman on 111 is referred to as on a Nelson which is considered unlucky - your explanation fits that quite well too.

Peter

kbarber in post 159571 said:

[quote=clive;post=159569]
Drifting off-topic (sorry), I believe it's not permitted to have all 6 possible feathers. In fact, I've heard it said that even 5 require a derogation, because of the risk of confusing positions 3 and 4 if reading with a too-quick glance.

There's certainly guidance avoiding the use of 3 and 4, or 1 and 6, at the same signal, so requiring a derogation is certainly possible. As I've said, I've certainly seen 5-feather signals; from memory, one on the curve from Reading West to Reading and one on the approaches from Clapham Junction to Waterloo. I think a layout even requiring 6 would be unusual - you'd need several medium speed (as opposed to slow speeds that can use a theatre indicator) turnouts.

You've got "policemen". Is that all train stops or just those not at a signal?

You've got "arbour lights" where the rest of us have feathers, of course. Was there ever a special name for when the lights were between the home and distant heads? (The best-known example of that was one of the eastbound starters at Earl's Court, but I'm sure I've seen others.)