Signals and points at Asciano

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One day, we did a short tour from Siena to Asciano and Rapolano Terme. Here are the photos from Asciano.

At this time, Asciano had semaphore home signals, or, more precisely, "segnali semaforici di seconda categoria", which are marked with a "2" in the white stripe of the signal arm. Such signals did not have distant signals, rather, a yellow diamond with a fixed light was put up in braking distance:

Diamond for home signal, Asciano, May 1990

Home signal, Asciano, May 1990

A short distance after the home signal, this apparatus was used as a tensioner for the signal wire. In the next posting, we'll take a closer look at it:

Tensioner, Asciano, May 1990

Asciano is a junction, where the line to Grossetto diverges from the Chiusi—Siena line. Therefore, it has three home signals, as can be seen at this photo of the typical Italian signal cranks. The second crank, marked "CH" for the signal from Chiusi, is still turned to "via libera," i.e. "free route" for the train with which we arrived. The other two cranks are marked "SI" for Siena and "GR" for Grossetto:

Signal cranks, Asciano, May 1990

In classical European style, the "capo di movimento" raises his paddle to signal the departure to the train:

ALn663 1107, Asciano, May 1990

In the following points indicator, the lamp apparently lights a reflector, which in turn throws the light on the red screen, which will probably emit a red shine to indicate that the points a reversed. For lamp replacement or maintenance, the reflector is hinged at the upper two mounts:

Ground-operated points with points indicator, Asciano, May 1990

Another set of points in the adjacent track shows the various rods at the tips of the tongues. In contrast to the "very British" signals, Italian points did have blade locks. They worked like the German "Hakenverschluss", however, the hook would turn upwards and simply engage with the foot of the stock rail:

Connecting rods and lock rods of a ground-operated set of points with blade locks, Asciano, May 1990

Connecting rods and lock rods of a ground-operated set of points with blade locks, Asciano, May 1990

Near a starting signal (I think), I took this photo of another ground-operated set of points. Here, one can see the triangle at the other side of a points indicator which indicates that the points are reversed:

Points indicator, Asciano, May 1990

A small maintenance car was parked in front of a water tower. To the left, various junk pieces slowly rot and rust:

Water tower and maintenance car, Asciano, May 1990

Here is one of the rusty objects, an old barrier drive:

Rusting barrier drive, Asciano, May 1990

This signal was located on the platform, directly in front of the traffic bureau. I am quite certain that these were simplified starter signals erected quite recently; which, for economics, were not put at the end of the tracks, but rather in their middle:

Simplified exit or departure signal?, Asciano, May 1990

Finally, here is a photograph of the station building as well as the goods shed behind it. On both platforms, one can see the simplified exit or departure signals:

Station building, Asciano, May 1990