| PERTH (CITY) 'C' CABIN |
Western Australian Government Railways
Opened : Circa 1896 Closed : 1987
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Perth (City) 'C' cabin was one of the busiest cabins in Perth. In addition to handling the normal suburban passenger working, through Goods trains had to be 'slotted in' between the passenger services. There was also much Goods traffic into and out of Perth Parcels for attachment to or detachment from the many country expresses arriving and departing this state's capital. The cabin seen here is the second 'C' cabin situated near the Barrack Street bridge. The exact opening date of both this cabin, and the previous cabin is yet to be determined by S.I.G.W.A. as the official W.A.G.R. record card for both these cabins could not be found at the time when the cards were copied. This view of the rather imposing, and very substantial 'C' cabin located on the West side of the Barrack Street was taken from the old footbridge entry to Nos.6 and 7 platforms. Of course, both the heritage listed cabin and the footbridge are now just memories. The former timber 'C' cabin was situated on the eastern side of the Barrack Street bridge. It is a pity that this second cabin had not been built on the eastern side instead. If it had, then there might have just been the chance of saving the structure from demolition in the 1980s when it was destroyed and replaced with a car park. It is believed that the building shown, was a 'classified' structure, yet it still succumbed to the onward march of progress - and the mighty car. During its history, Perth (City) 'C' cabin worked on the western side with William Street Gate Box; Perth (City) Box 'B' and on the eastern side with Pier Street (Mackie Street); Moore Street; and Lord Street - all of which were level crossing (or gate) boxes and East Perth (Claisebrook).
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Perth (City) 'C' cabin accommodated an 85 lever McKenzie & Holland No. 9 pattern frame. For many years, there were a number of controlled semaphore signals governing moves between Boxes 'B' and 'C' in Perth. These were either worked by the mechanical 'slotting' method, or in the case of the 'UP Home Signals (known as Gallipoli by Drivers) by the use of electrical 'controlling'. Above a number of these controlled signals on the Box 'B' side, were a fine array of miniature semaphore arm signal repeaters in highly polished brass and glass fronted cases. These indicated to the 'C' cabin Signalman if a signal out of his sight had 'obeyed the lever' and if not, alerted him to the need to tighten the signal wire to that signal as necessary.
With only months to go before being demolished, the Block Boy is still keeping up with the laundry, with yellow 'dusters' hanging out to dry under the diagram. The dusters were used by the Signalmen in order to keep the highly polished lever handles from getting rusty by sweaty fingerprints. Even though this part of signal cabin life continued as normal, the dreaded 'white' levers are beginning to make their presence felt. The lever frame itself was destined for an ignominious fate. The 85 levers (cut off just below the floorplate level) presently reside on a plinth in the car park walkway - no doubt some person's idea of a 'salute' to the former, proud, signal cabin. Such a tragic waste.
In addition to directing trains to and from the various platforms and goods roads, the 'C' cabin Signalman controlled the up and down main lines of the portion of the Eastern Railway which passed between Perth and East Perth (Claisebrook), and "the engine road" which later became known as the "Independent Main". In 1896, control of the double line mains was conducted by Winters two-position block instruments, however these were eventually replaced by Sykes Lock and Block. When the Sykes instruments were themselves replaced by automatic colour light signalling in the 1960s, the "Independent Main" was worked as a 'single line, colour-light signalling section' and the despatch of trains to East Perth (Claisebrook) was by means of a speaker system like that used between Perth (City) Box 'B'.
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This view of the 'black' illuminated track diagram in 'C' cabin has already suffered from various covering over and painting out of tracks and signals. This being brought about by the rationalisation of tracks for the then looming constructon of a multistorey car park and preparations for the Perth electrification Project. Many of the semaphore signals in the station area at this time were replaced with 3 aspect searchlight signals, some being fitted with stencil type indicators. On the diagram, it is apparent that there is a train somewhere on Platform 7 & 8, and by the single red light on the lower right hand side, a train is approaching on the Independent Main from Claisebrook. The two stays above the diagram once held a separate lever pull-chart, the diagram has survived but we wonder, where did the pull-chart end up? As the car park construction gained momentum, the cabin was replaced by a small 'NX' computerised control panel placed in Perth Box 'B'.
The Signalmen here were 'Special Class', working four, six hour shifts until a change in the Industrial Award 'brought them into line' with all the other Signalmen. As with Fremantle Box 'B', the cabin was attended continuously, all year round. Morning and afternoon Block Boys were rostered on for most days, but not usually Sundays. During Royal Show week, the Block Boy had to keep up with the work of two busy Signalmen - not an easy task I can assure you!