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69:, are erected on the mountainside alongside the railway. In the event of one or more wires being broken, signals in each direction are automatically placed at 'danger'. They are part of a warning system that advises train drivers to exercise caution in the event of a rock-fall, and cover a section of track that is just over 4 miles (6.4 km) in length.
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The name 'Anderson's Piano', derives from the inventor of the signals and the humming noise that the tensioned screen wires are said to make in the wind. In 2021, the system was awarded a Red Wheels Plaque by the
National Transport Trust in recognition of it being a site of historical importance to
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Signals are erected at intervals of approximately a quarter mile (400 m) along the affected area and there are seventeen signals in all. They are numbered from "1" to "17", with signal 1 being at the east (Dalmally) end. All except number 9 stand on the south side of the line. All the signals apart
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The initial system was used from
January 1882 and comprised four signals covering 1,112 yards (1,017 m) of line. In April 1883, the system was extended at both ends, resulting in the coverage of 5,659 yards (5,175 m) of track. The final extension, at the west end, was made in September
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A screen of wires is erected on the mountainside alongside the railway, and linked to semaphore signals. The wires are what holds the signals in the "clear" position. In the event of one or more wires being broken, signals in each direction will automatically fall to the 'danger' position, thus
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The system has given early warning of many boulders on the track, but two derailments have occurred where boulders evaded the screen: on 8 August 1946, when the fall occurred just as the train approached, too late for signals to give a warning, and
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102:, and in 1881 a falling boulder hit a train. In response, the secretary of the C&OR, John Anderson, devised a system that would detect falling rocks and provide a warning to drivers.
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providing advance warning to train crews about possible rocks on the track ahead and/or other damage caused by rockfalls.
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and similar areas around the world, the Pass of
Brander system is much older and entirely mechanical in operation.
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After 140 years, this old technology still keeps trains safe - Tom Scott's YouTube video
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The railway through the Pass of
Brander was opened in July 1880, as part of the
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from numbers 1 and 17 carry two semaphore arms, one for each direction.
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1913, increasing the length to the current 7,054 yards (6,450 m).
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are occasionally used alongside railways in the vicinity of
279:. Newton Abbot England: David and Charles. p. 83.
217:""Anderson's Piano", Pass of Brander Stone Signals"
186:"Train driver tells of rocks on line before crash"
139:, and are common in railroads running through the
16:Railway signal in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK
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263:https://www.railsigns.uk/info/stonesig1.html
123:transport heritage in the United Kingdom.
114:, when the fall started below the wires.
98:onto the track had threatened to cause a
331:Railway signalling in the United Kingdom
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223:from the original on 13 September 2021
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269:Stone signals in the Pass of Brander
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131:Although trip wires working with
25:One of the signals in April 2016.
65:. A screen of wires, linked to
277:The Callander and Oban Railway
188:. The Scotsman. Archived from
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31:Pass of Brander stone signals
336:Transport in Argyll and Bute
219:. National Transport Trust.
158:Falls of Cruachan derailment
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341:Rail transport in Scotland
271:description and photograph
248:(50525): 2. 9 August 1946.
92:Callander and Oban Railway
265:details of the signalling
242:"Boulder derails train".
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275:Thomas, John (1966).
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133:colour light signals
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153:Railway slide fence
184:Dalton, Alastair.
59:West Highland Line
37:, are a series of
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67:semaphore signals
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307:56.399°N 5.138°W
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112:6 June 2010
325:Categories
295:56°23′56″N
164:References
100:derailment
45:, between
298:5°08′17″W
245:The Times
221:Archived
147:See also
137:airports
73:Function
63:Scotland
51:Taynuilt
47:Loch Awe
86:History
196:8 June
229:2021
198:2010
118:Name
55:Oban
49:and
29:The
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