Claremont (2) - SignallingWA

The year 1899, appears to have been another of minor corrections and changes. The first was the official announcement of the change to the Terms 'Up' and 'Down' - these being promulgated in Weekly Notice 26 of 1899. The second change that year, was that Signal boxes were subject to Classification - In Claremont's case, it was rated as a 3rd Class Cabin as from 1st July 1899.

The next year, 1900, saw more innovations: The Claremont 'Down' Distant Signal, which was a considerable distance from the Signal Cabin, and out of sight of the Signalmen by being around a curve (near today's Scotch College), was provided with an Electric Signal Repeater from 13th July 1900. Then, in October, a new 32 foot high 'Down' Starting signal was erected and provided with a 'repeating arm (co-acting signal) so as to enable it to be seen under the recently provided pedestrian footbridge. The top arm of this signal, situated at the top of the post, and well over the heads of patrons using the footbridge, was easily sighted by Locomotive Drivers when approaching from a distance. Both arms worked as the same signal, and the Rules stated that should either arm fail to work when the signal was set to 'Proceed', then the signal was to be regarded as a 'Stop' signal.

On the 7th January, 1902, the 'Up' Starting Signal was removed and refixed 85 yards nearer to the Platform, i.e. on the Perth side of the Level Crossing which spanned all the tracks at the station. This was the last event at this cabin's short, if somewhat troubled working life as it was closed on Wednesday, 15th January 1902 when a new Signal Cabin was brought into use. This new cabin, situated on the ground beyond the platform ramp at the Fremantle end of the 'Up' Platform became the third such structure along that platform. One thing that each cabin had was the orientation - the levers were all nearest the main line. The Copy of Circular 465 of 10th January 1902 did state that the old cabin would be 'taken down and removed', but one has to wonder, was this actually the case? Perhaps the lever frame and block instruments inside the cabin were, but a building similar in style to the smaller cabins of the time shows at the very same location in photographs taken in the mid-1930s. This remains a tantalising puzzle that requires further investigation. To date, no photographs have yet come to light that show this 2nd Claremont Signal Cabin, either inside or out during its working life of 9 years, 6 months and 7 days, but we can still hope. The story of Signalling at Claremont continues on the page CLAREMONT (3)...