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 


Home

 

Last update 2009-01-04