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Section 17 - GWR signalbox bell codes
| Description | Beats | |
| Call Attention | 1 | |
| Emergency call attention, number of beats in rapid succession | ||
| 'Is Line Clear?' for: | ||
| Express passenger train, express diesel railcar, breakdown van train going to clear the line, 'light engine' going to assist disabled train, empty coaching stock timed at express speed? ('A' headlamps) | 4 | |
| Ordinary passenger train, 'mixed' train, breakdown van train not going to clear the line? ('B' headlamps) | 3 - 1 | |
| Branch line train (only on main line to junction)? ('B' headlamps) | 1 - 3 | |
| Rail motor-car, auto-train or streamline railcar? ('B' headlamps) | 3 - 1 - 3 | |
| Express freight, or ballast train conveying a stipulated number of vacuum-braked vehicles connected by vacuum pipe to the engine and authorised to run at a maximum speed of 35 m.p.h.? ('C' headlamps) | 2 - 2 - 3 | |
| Parcels, newspaper, fish, meat, fruit, milk, horse, cattle or perishable train composed entirely of vacuum-fitted stock with the vacuum pipe connected to the engine? ('D' headlamps) | 5 | |
| Express freight, livestock, perishable or ballast train partly vacuum fitted with not more than one-third vacuum braked vehicles connected by vacuum pipe to the engine? ('D' headlamps) | 4 - 4 | |
| Empty coach stock train not specially authorised to carry 'A' headlamps? ('D' headlamps) | 2 - 2 - 1 | |
| Express freight, fish, meat, fruit or cattle train, ballast train or breakdown van train not proceeding to an accident? ('E' headlamps) | 3 - 2 | |
| Through fast freight train conveying through load? ('F' headlamps) | 1 - 4 | |
| Light engine or light engines coupled together or engine and brake van? ('G' headlamps) | 2 - 3 | |
| Freight, mineral or ballast train or train of empties carrying through load to destination? ('H' headlamps) | 3 - 4 - 1 | |
| Freight, mineral or ballast train stopping at intermediate stations? ('J' headlamps) | 3 | |
| Train conveying out of gauge or exceptional load? ('J' headlamps) | 2 - 6 - 2 | |
| Branch freight train (only on main line to junction)? ('K' headlamps) | 1 - 2 | |
| Ballast train, freight train or inspection train requiring to stop in section? ('K' headlamps) | 1 - 2 - 2 | |
| Trolley required to go into or pass through tunnel | 2 - 1 - 2 | |
| Train approaching | 1 - 2 - 1 | |
| Train entering section | 2 | |
| Section clear but station or junction blocked | 3 - 5 - 5 | |
| Line clear to clearing point only | 2 - 2 - 2 | |
| Engine assisting in rear of train | 2 - 2 | |
| Train out of section, or obstruction removed | 2 - 1 | |
| Engine arrived | 2 - 1 - 3 | |
| Train drawn back clear of station | 3 - 2 - 3 | |
| Blocking back inside home signal | 2 - 4 | |
| Blocking back outside home signal | 3 - 3 | |
| Blocking back outside home signal for train already in section | 1 - 2 - 3 | |
| Shunt train for following train to pass | 1 - 5 - 5 | |
| Opening signal box | 5 - 5 - 5 | |
| Closing signal box | 7 - 5 - 5 | |
| Testing bells | 16 | |
| Time signal | 8 - 5 - 5 | |
| Lampman or fogman required | 9 - 5 - 5 | |
| Testing slotted signal | 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 | |
| Take off slot train waiting | 3 - 4 | |
| Cancel 'Is Line Clear?' | 3 - 5 | |
| Emergency bell signals: | ||
| Obstruction danger | 6 | |
| Stop and examine train | 7 | |
| Train passed without tail lamp To box in advance |
9 | |
| To box in rear | 4 - 5 | |
| Train divided | 5 - 5 | |
| Train or vehicles running away on right line | 4 - 5 - 5 | |
| Train or vehicles running away on wrong line | 2 - 5 - 5 | |
| Taken from 'GWR Regulations for Train Signalling on Double Lines', 1936 | ||
Copyright © by John Daniel 2013.