Tessera

Semaphoria

@semaphoria.co.uk

Just posting my photos of old signals in the modern world. I put more detailed descriptions in the alt text.

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Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 6mo ago

Departure from Worcester Foregate Street. 15 December 2024. #railway #photography

GWR IET 802113 has just departed Worcester Foregate Street working 1W02 London Paddington to Hereford.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 3mo ago

Semaphore at Acle. 4 January 2020. #railway #photography

A particularly tall semaphore signal - numbered A17 - at the end of the Great Yarmouth-bound platform at Acle. It was replaced during a resignalling project not long after this photo was taken.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 18h ago

Passing Marston Moor. 9 August 2026. #railway #photography

Northern DMU 158793 passes the cleared combined home and distant signals at Marston Moor as it works a very late 2C36 Leeds to York.

湘南s.sasaki休日旅行人 @shounanssasaki.bsky.social · yesterday

Good morning. This is a preserved traffic light in Japan, near Yamakita Station.

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Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 6mo ago

Great Yarmouth Semaphore. 4 January 2020. #railway #photography

Semaphore signal Y4 - with not one but two cumbersome access platforms - at the end of the platform at Great Yarmouth station. Note the faint green paint on the post marking it for removal.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 3mo ago

Approaching Buxton. 30 March 2019. #railway #photography

Northern DMU 150145 approaches the platform at Buxton working 2B14 from Manchester Piccadilly.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 2d ago

Semaphore at Dunragit. 6 August 2026. #railway #photography

Semaphore signal DR14 just in front of the bridge carrying the A75 over the railway at Dunragit. This is presumably slightly newer than some of the others, which are on lattice posts.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 6mo ago

Departure from Swinderby. 7 February 2026. #railway #photography

East Midlands Railway DMU 170423 has just passed cleared semaphore SY14 as it departs Swinderby working 2A30 Lincoln Central to Matlock.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 3mo ago

Semaphore at Culgaith. 19 February 2023. #railway #photography

A semaphore signal just before the short tunnel at Culgaith on the Settle-Carlisle line.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 3d ago

A Hellifield Arrival. 9 August 2026. #railway #photography

With the subsidiary signal and points set for access to the siding, West Coast Railways Class 37 - 37706 - leads the Railway Touring Company’s “The Waverley” into Hellifield.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 6mo ago

Heckington Signal Box and Semaphore. 7 February 2026. #railway #photography

The marvellous signal box at Heckington, with semaphore signal HN3 on a rather cumbersome and incongruous bracket.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 3mo ago

Departure from Holyhead. 1 December 2024. #railway #photography

On a foul afternoon in Holyhead, TfW DMUs 197106 and 197030 pass a cleared semaphore signal having departed that station working 1K90 to Crewe.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 4d ago

Stranraer. 6 August 2026. #railway #photography

A comprehensive view of the station at Stranraer from the bridge carrying the A77. Since the ferries moved to Cairnryan it has lost much of its purpose, with the station a shadow of its former self and the surrounding area now in a very sorry state. The signal box is usually switched out - three signals (of which two can be seen here) are permanently cleared for the single train that comes in and out on a rather infrequent schedule.
This photo was taken a few days before a 3-week closure of the line between here and Girvan. A lot of new sleepers were piled up in an area just to the left of this shot. As I understand it, the signalling is not (yet) being replaced, but perhaps the rest of it will look rather tidier come September.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 6mo ago

Approaching Heckington. 7 February 2026. #railway #photography

East Midlands Railway DMU 158810 passes manually-worked semaphore distant signal HN15 - sadly not pulled off - as it approaches Heckington working 2S19 Nottingham to Skegness. Note the Grade I-listed windmill beyond.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 3mo ago

Blea Moor Semaphore. 1 October 2023. #railway #photography

With Ingleborough completely enveloped in thick cloud, a semaphore signal stands starkly amidst the wild surroundings at Blea Moor.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 5d ago

Passing Glenwhilly. 6 August 2026. #railway #photography

Working 1A64 Ayr to Stranraer, Scotrail DMU 156511 passes rusty semaphore signal GW19 as it prepares to pause at Glenwhilly to exchange the token from Barhill for that to Dunragit and Stranraer.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 6mo ago

Semaphore at Kirkconnel. 25 March 2022. #railway #photography

Semaphore signal KC40 at Kirkconnel. The entire apparatus - the arm, the post and the sighting board - all appear to be very new.

HiPa125 @hipa125.bsky.social · 5d ago

Network Rail NMT #HST working 1Q36 0558 Crewe Gresty Road (Western Sidings) > Leicester Beal Street Depot through Uttoxeter #NorthStaffordshireLine

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Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 3mo ago

Departure from Helsby. 13 April 2025. #railway #photography

Working 1F93 Chester to Liverpool Lime Street, TfW DMU 197123 passes a cleared semaphore beyond the bridge at the north-eastern end of Helsby station. On the right, semaphore signal HY37 has returned to danger.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 6d ago

Kirkconnel Semaphore. 6 August 2026. #railway #photography

Semaphore signal KC40 at Kirkconnel.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 6mo ago

Avanti at Garsdale. 2 January 2026. #railway #photography

Avanti West Coast Evero 805005 passes a cleared semaphore at Garsdale as it works 1Z38 Carlisle to Wigan North Western. (805009 formed the rear of this set.)

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 3mo ago

Semaphore at Wigton. 21 July 2018. #railway #photography

Semaphore signal WN37 at the end of the Workington-bound platform at Wigton. The signal box is in the background on the right.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 7d ago

Approaching Appleby. 5 August 2026. #railway #photography

Locomotive Services Class 40 “Andania” passes a cleared semaphore signal as it approaches Appleby working 1Z45 Crewe to Carlisle.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 6mo ago

St Blazey Semaphore. 10 February 2024. #railway #photography

A lower-quadrant semaphore - numbered SB36 - at St Blazey on the line to Newquay. It is missing its finial.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 3mo ago

Passing Garsdale. 19 April 2026. #railway #photography

Avanti West Coast Evero bi-modes 805011 and 805009 speed past a cleared semaphore signal at Garsdale as they work 9Z66 Carlisle to London Euston on the last day of WCML diversions over the Settle & Carlisle.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · last wk.

Semaphores at Cattal. 14 July 2019. #railway #photography

Viewed from the Harrogate-bound platform at Cattal, two semaphore arms - Cattal’s starter and the motor-operated distant for Whixley Level Crossing - on a substantial bracket. The manually-operated crossing gates are closed across the tracks. Beyond the gate is a further semaphore signal.
Since this photo was taken, quite a bit of modernisation work has taken place, extending the double track a little further along towards the bridge in the distance, resulting in the removal of the semaphore signal beyond the level crossing. The crossing gates have also been replaced with new metal fixtures designed to imitate old wooden gates.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 6mo ago

Approaching Cupar. 27 July 2025. #railway #photography

Scotrail DMUs 158723 and 158727 pass a semaphore signal as they approach Cupar station working 2L58 Dundee to Edinburgh.

Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · 3mo ago

Semaphore at Leuchars. 27 July 2025. #railway #photography

Semaphore signal LE29 at Leuchars, to the left of the track which curves off to the right under an old stone bridge. The embankment is a pretty mixture of greens and yellows and pinks.

Mike @mikeyashworth.bsky.social · last wk.

One for you @semaphoria.co.uk flic.kr/p/2ssHxKS

803002, Worcester, March 2026

The 09:50 GWR London Paddington to Hereford, formed of 9-car Hitachi bi-modal Class 800 No, 800302, approaches Worcester Foregate Street on 28th March 2026. IMG_15175

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Semaphoria @semaphoria.co.uk · last wk.

Passing Settle Junction. 7 July 2018. #railway #photography

In the evening sun, Northern DMU 158797 passes a cleared semaphore signal at Settle Junction as it works 2H97 Carlisle to Leeds.