Signal box 1 at Retz, 1990

German version of this posting

The frames at Retz were, even back then, among the last with a complete set of levers—for points, locks, and, above all, semaphores:

Interlocking frame, signal box 1, Retz, 14.8.1990

The signal box was quite small, therefore my photos are angled somewhat strangely. The signal levers are typical for an Austrian single track line: From the right to the left, one can see

• the single lever for distant signal a
• the double lever for home signal A; the lower lever clears the signal with one arm, the upper one with two arms;
• three so-called reduction levers (the name comes from the fact that even though they are reversed by about 180°, the wheel turns only by about 90°, so that the wire travel is 250 mm) for starting signals H₅, H₃, and H₁
• and finally another reduction lever for grouped starter H_2-6 for tracks 2, 4 and 6:

Interlocking frame and block instruments, signal box 1, Retz, 14.8.1990

The track plan above the frame nicely shows all these semaphores, however, all the starting signals miss their names:

Track plan, signal box 1, Retz, 14.8.1990

This photo of the points lever is on the dark side, ...

Interlocking frame and track indicator, signal box 1, Retz, 14.8.1990

... but one can nicely read the labels on the track indicator:

Track indicator labels, signal box 1, Retz, 14.8.1990

Here are all the signal levers and, above them, the block instruments in their normal position:

Signal levers and block instruments, signal box 1, Retz, 14.8.1990

and once again:

Signal levers and block instruments, signal box 1, Retz, 14.8.1990

The small signal box was painted flawlessly:

Signal box 1, Retz, 14.8.1990

A goods train from (still existing) Czechoslovakia rests on its trip to Vienna:

2050.011, Retz, 14.8.1990

And here is a final photo of the station building, with a sole pylon foretelling the coming electrification:

Station building, Retz, 14.8.1990