Distant Signals Film – The West Highland Lines before 1980.

Distant Signals is a film produced by Scottish Television just before the West Highland Line signalling was modernised with the introduction of Radio Electronic Block Signalling (RETB). A system which reduced the cost of running these lines by replacing all the line staff with a single manned control buildingĀ  at Banavie, outside Fort William.

The film is beautifully produced and is a great record of the railway employees, often second and third generation family members, employed on the line, the equipment and proceedures which, until the introduction of RETB, were virtually unchanged since the line was opened.

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