West Ken area code

[programmes1]

I know that at West Ken there are 2 IMRs, 1 being the former cabin WB, WC was also the code for Barons Court now abolished. When the area was converted can anyone suggest why the opportunity was not taken to re code either WB or WC and have just 1 IMR?

[Deleted]

THIS THREAD contains a previous discussion about why there are two IMRs in the first place, and suggests that the reason for two codes was because both IMRs replaced separate signal boxes.

[programmes1]

TOK thanks for the link what was there before the IMRs was a box over the Picc by the tunnel mouth which could be switched out and controlled by WB cabin, when the IMRs were brought in there were 2 WC's 1962 WB became a IMR 1970. The area between Earls Court/High St Ken/Sth Ken was originally controlled by Cromwell Curve cabin prior to PMs being introduced all areas had the same code EC which changed after that was the point I meant why not make all either WB or WC.

[Harsig]

It seems to have been policy prior to the early 1960s for all signals controlled from one cabin to carry the same code regardless of how many IMRs/remote signal cabins are involved. After this date each IMR seems to have merited its own cabin code. Presumably the change was prompted by the opening of control rooms with larger control areas; to keep the same code throughout would have meant very high signal numbers. The area controlled by the old Cromwell Road Cabin remains a good example of this; even though the area now boasts a number of different cabin codes (EC,ED,EE,EF) you will still not find any controlled signal number duplicated in this area but this in turn means some signals are numbered as high as 2nn.
As always when there is a change of policy there are always areas where the new policy has yet to be or was only partially implemented often because of the dates involved.
Some IMRs have had their codes changed to conform with the policy normally when there has been some change to their status. Sometimes they have changed more than once. Chalfont & Latimer is a case in point. From 1949 the signals at Chalfont carried the code JT and were controlled from the signal cabin there. When the area was resignalled and provided with an IMR the code was changed to JW in anticipation of the transfer of control to the new Amersham signal cabin in accordance with the old policy. However in the interim the IMR was temporarily controlled from the old cabin at Chalfont. By the time the control of the IMR was transferred to Amersham, the new policy had come into effect and the code reverted to JT at the time of the transfer.

[programmes1]

Harsig thanks for that you are a mine of information perhaps you will put pen to paper one day, I checked and noticed that this applies to Watford being controlled from Rickmansworth thus having same code JP.

[Deleted]

WB is west ken east (located in lillie bridge depot)
WC is west ken west (located between barons ct and west ken on the e/b)

[Harsig]

programmes1 said:

Harsig thanks for that you are a mine of information perhaps you will put pen to paper one day, I checked and noticed that this applies to Watford being controlled from Rickmansworth thus having same code JP.

Indeed and for a time the Watford triangle also carried the code JP to reflect the fact that it too is controlled from Rickmansworth. This was changed to JJ as part of the substantial changes undertaken as part of the four tracking from Harrow.