A once in a lifetime occasion
SU46-029, the last of its kind, and 55224 "Niedźwiadek", the excursion train from Laskowice Pomorskie to Bydgoszcz Główna. The train is about to pass the distant signal pointing to the station in Wierzchucin. Signal displayed - Ot3, at next signal proceed at 40km/h.
To see a working mechanical/semaphore distant signal is a real rarity in Poland, no doubt. There is a subset of them, which is even rarer though, and is to be seen in ex-Prussian areas exclusively nowadays. The presented kind of mechanical distant signal can foresee weather the signal at a station will be showing a 'full speed ahead' or 'proceed at 40km/h' sign, which is useful on lines with lots of traffic. I would estimate the number of this kind of distant signal to be at around 10 in Poland right now. The most interesting thing about the picture though, is that the signal is not only working but also showing the descibed signal. This happens extremely rarely given the amount of traffic on branchlines these days, where most trains are simply let through the station with no halt at the side track.
To our total shock, me and Jarek were the only people to witness this. It was a big surprise given that over a hundred people chased the train around Pomerania.
Photo by Piotrek/Toprus
A once in a lifetime occasion
SU46-029, the last of its kind, and 55224 "Niedźwiadek", the excursion train from Laskowice Pomorskie to Bydgoszcz Główna. The train is about to pass the distant signal pointing to the station in Wierzchucin. Signal displayed - Ot3, at next signal proceed at 40km/h.
To see a working mechanical/semaphore distant signal is a real rarity in Poland, no doubt. There is a subset of them, which is even rarer though, and is to be seen in ex-Prussian areas exclusively nowadays. The presented kind of mechanical distant signal can foresee weather the signal at a station will be showing a 'full speed ahead' or 'proceed at 40km/h' sign, which is useful on lines with lots of traffic. I would estimate the number of this kind of distant signal to be at around 10 in Poland right now. The most interesting thing about the picture though, is that the signal is not only working but also showing the descibed signal. This happens extremely rarely given the amount of traffic on branchlines these days, where most trains are simply let through the station with no halt at the side track.
To our total shock, me and Jarek were the only people to witness this. It was a big surprise given that over a hundred people chased the train around Pomerania.
Photo by Piotrek/Toprus