LNER and BR Searchlight

The London North Eastern Railway used colour light signals in several places on busy parts of the network most notably they are still in use on part of the former Great Eastern section. The signals are capable of displaying three or four aspects, Clear - proceed, Advance Caution - the next two blocks are clear, Caution - the next block is clear but be prepared to stop at the next signal, and Stop.

While this signalling was installed initially by the LNER in the 1930s installation continued under British Railways and is still in use today at Clacton on Sea. BR Western Region modified some of the Great Western searchlight signals to be of this type too on lines out of Paddington. The latest signals which are currently being installed by Network Rail are the LED equivelents of the LNER searchlights.

LNER searchlight signal operation table for CV38=4 or CV38=5

Base state	Base+1 state	Aspect
Normal	Normal	Red
Reverse	Normal	Green
Normal	Reverse	Yellow
Reverse	Reverse	Double Yellow

LNER searchlight signal operation table for CV38=8

Base state	Base+1 state	Base+2 State*	Base+3 State**	Aspect
Reverse	Normal	Normal	Normal	Red
Normal	Reverse	Normal	Normal	Green
Reverse	Reverse	Normal	Normal	Yellow
Reverse	Reverse	Reverse	Reverse	Double Yellow
Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Dark

* For 3-aspect signals Base+2 is the feather pivot lamp.
** For signals with a single feather Base+3 is the feather.
Flashing aspects can be displayed by toggling between the desired aspect and Dark

LNER searchlight signal operation table for CV38=129, CV38=131, CV38=132 and CV38=134

Aspect number	Aspect display
0	Red
2	Green
1	Yellow
3	Double Yellow
4	Flashing Red
6	Flashing Green
5	Flashing Yellow
7	Flashing Double Yellow
8	Dark

LNER searchlight signal wiring diagrams

London North eastern Railway three aspect searchlight signal wiring diagram

2x 3-aspect with feather wiring diagram

London North eastern Railway three aspect searchlight signal with feather wiring diagram

2x 4-aspect wiring diagram

London North eastern Railway four aspect searchlight signal wiring diagram

2x 4-aspect with single feather wiring diagram

Four aspect searchlight with single feather wiring diagram

4-aspect with multple feathers wiring diagram

London North eastern Railway four aspect searchlight signal with feather wiring diagram

Several CV38 settings are possible:-

CV38=8 - Any configuration (standard accessory protocol)
CV38=4 - 2x 4-aspect searchlights (standard accessory protocol)
CV38=5 - 1x searchlight with multiple feathers (standard accessory protocol)
CV38=129 - 4x 3-aspect searchlights (extended accessory protocol)
CV38=132 - 2x 4-aspect searchlights (extended accessory protocol)
CV38=131 - 2x 4-aspect searchlights with single feather (extended accessory protocol)
CV38=134 - 1x searchlight with multiple feathers (extended accessory protocol)

If using JMRI with standard accessory protocol use the BR-2003 signal system with the signal head controlled mast driver.

For 3-aspect or 4-aspect with CV38=8 use the 3-aspect or 4-aspect signal mast with the double output signal head driver for the individual head(s).

If using JMRI with extended accessory protocol use the BR-2003 signal system with the DCC signal mast decoder driver.

For 3-aspect with CV38=129 use the 3-aspect signal mast with the DCC Signal Mast Decoder driver.
For 4-aspect with CV38=131, CV38=132 or CV38=134 use the 4-aspect signal mast with the DCC Signal |Mast Decoder driver.

Visit the JMRI BR-2003 signal system to see the available mast types.

Harman DCC, the home of Signalist DCC decoders

London North Eastern Railway Searchlight Signals