I have been absorbed by the signalling at Leicester Central. The plan was always to have working signalling that, as much as my modelling skills would permit, would be as representative of the real thing as possible. 

I've now taken delivery of a few more books on the GCR as well as my first actual copy of Colin Walker's Main Line Lament, a book i've read and reread so many times from the library - so lots of signal spotting. 

What I found so interesting is the array of different types of signals on the prototype.

A visit to the GCR brought me face to face with the searchlight signal in the photo above, looking at the workings it's one lamp with a mechanism behind which changed the aspect. At the time I didn't give it a great deal of thought.

This is what seems to be a slightly different searchlight signal on the northern end, down platform. 

This shows the two 3 aspect home signals at the northern bays.

  The following picture is from Nigel Tout's site (link here) the single lens searchlight is on the left. The signals have been decomissioned prior to end of services and demolition. I am not 100% sure but I believe it would have shown red, yellow and green aspects. Hopefully somebody can confirm. Again I would appreciate if somebody could confirm the two smaller aspects below.... shunting signal? white? 

Moving to the southern end - more variety.... I am not sure what these are called (anybody) four aspect? But I think the bottom would display red / yellow / green and the top just yellow (the top yellow would show as a double yellow only). The left signal here controls the exit from the southern bay, the right hand signal the main "up" line.

 and two further views

The exit from the other southern bay was controlled by a semaphore.... you can see the 2 x "four" aspect signals on the left...



The last little surprise that I almost missed was a ground signal on the "up" approach at the north end of the station. I believe that the two far right signals control the two bays and the smaller signal at the bottom of the main line controls the access to the dead end siding? 



A little bit ambitious perhaps? Well today I spoke to the two very helpful gentlemen at G F Controls from whom I have just bought an 8 semaphore servo controller. It arrived next morning. This will control the upper and lower limits of the semaphore movement as well as a characteristic bounce (or not) I understand that not all signals bounced, particularly the ones closer to the signal box. But bounce looks good. This will be controlled by DCC with a Digirails DR4108. 

For the searchlight I have already found and ordered two of these BLMA models searchlight heads from the States. They come in a pack of two so the second "spare" will form the bottom lamp of the "4" aspect which i'll try to create myself. I'll control this with a Signalist SC1 decoder. Signalist appear to do this head (as well as the 4 aspect) but the info is not particularly clear how much it is or how to order one.... It's too late for this trip anyway. But i'm intrigued to know what's available. (Edit, Paul Harman has replied quickly to my email and is able to provide the searchlight and the two lens signal heads at a very reasonable cost, LEDs fitted - they arrived and look great).

The three aspect signals are in the post as a Berko kit (or is it Eckon?)

Semaphore signals will be a little bit more tricky, i've bought the Ratio LMS / BR and LNER advanced signal kits, have a simple(ish) MSE kit to have a go at. It might be a complete mess, but I have to start. Fortunately there are some very inspirational threads here so i'm quite happy to jump in at the deep end. 

I'm really enjoying the research part of this project. The subject keeps throwing up more variety.