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Standing at the Peg, Bobby

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Standing at the Peg, Bobby

A glossary of signalling slang

by John Hinson

“Standing at the peg, Bobby” means quite a bit to a signalman, but the layman could not possibly have a clue as to what it might mean.

This glossary explains the meanings of terms like this, giving information (where possible) as to how the terms came about. Many terms are regional, and often stem back to pre-grouping days and vary between former company’s territories.

I would welcome any suggested additions to this section, but I would stress that this is a general glossary and I do not intend to include very localised jargon.

Ask-on, or
Ask the road
To offer on a train to the next box.Common
Back board (or Back-‘un)Distant signalGreat Northern and Great Western
Back shiftAfternoon, or late turn of dutyNorth Eastern
Bang roadA wrong direction movementLondon & North Western
Be readyThe offering of a train to the next box on the block bell.Great Northern and elsewhere. Probably dates back to older systems
of block working, where an approaching train was just “announced”
as comong by the previous signalman.
Block on block
or
Block to block
Example: “The trains are running block to block”
See
On the block
General
BoardSignal. Dates back to the original term of Caution Boards of the
1840s.
Great Northern/Great Western
BobbySignalman. Dates back to pre-Absolute Block days, when railway policemen
were responsible for the signalling of trains. The name Bobby for
policemen goes back to when Sir Robert Peel created the Metropolitan
Police force.
Universal
Clear backSend “Train out of section”Common
DaysEarly, or morning turn. Example: “I’m on days next week”.Common
DikeTo loop a train for regulating purposes.Widespread (Eastern Region?)
Dodd (or Tommy Dodd)Shunt signalGreat Eastern
DollyShunt signalGreat Northern
DummyShunt signalCommon, particularly on former LMR and WR lines
Flat oneA “long” or heavy beat on the bell to distinguish it from normal bell signals, to get your colleague on the phone (or for other unofficial and possibly devious purposes)Fairly widespread
Front shiftEarly, or morning turnNorth Eastern
Getting the callBeing offered a train (or being described on TCB)Great Eastern
Going round the cornerTrain passing onto a branch lineCommon
HeaterHot axle-box on wagonScotland
Hot boxHot axle-box on wagonCommon
Knock outSend “Train out of Section”Common – stems from original type of pegging instrument, where the
peg was removed to release the commutator.
Off the roadTrain derailedUniversal
One-inAdmitting a train to an occupied section on Permissive BlockWestern region. Refers to their use of 1 beat to accept a train
into an occupied section.
One-onTrain expectedCommon. Term also often used by track staff.
On the block, or
block’n block
Train waiting at signal box for previous train
to clear. Example: “I’ve been on the block all morning”
Universal
On the deck,
on the dirt,
on the floor.
on Old England, or tanning the ballast*
Train derailed
(* – specifically for a freight train derailed at speed)
Common
PegSignalCommon, particularly on former LMR lines
Peg up, or
Peg over
To change the block instrument to “Line Clear”, or “Train on Line”Common – refers to “pegging” block instruments.
Pull offTo clear a signalCommon
Put away, or put insideDivert a train to a Goods Loop or shunt to a Refuge SidingCommon
StickSignalUnderground railways
Taken at half-priceAcceptance of train into occupied section on Permissive Block linesLincoln area (and elsewhere?)
Taken at the bellsAcceptance of a train under the Warning Arrangement (Regulation
5).
Lincoln area (and elsewhere?)
Tommy Doddsee Dodd.
Top shiftNight turn of dutyNorth Eastern
Turn inDivert a train from to the Slow or Goods linesCommon
Turn outDivert a train onto the main or fast lineCommon
Under the hammerAcceptance of a train under the Warning Arrangement (Regulation
5). Relates to the hammer-shaped subsidiary signals used by the Midland
Railway
Midland Railway
Walking my legs offGrumbles about the signalman in an adjacent box that keeps calling
you back to the bell instead of dealing with two or more matters on
the bell at once.
Warn onOffer a train to the next box on the block bellSouthern Region, mostly.
Wrong roadA wrong-direction movementCommon