Editing Northern Counties Committee (section)

==Signalling==
[[Image:NCC Carrick down home.jpg|thumb|right|NCC somersault signals at Carrickfergus]]
[[Image:NCC Killagan sigs r.jpg|thumb|right|Signalling diagram of crossing loop with fast line]]
[[Image:NCC Whitehead cabin.jpg|thumb|right|Whitehead signal cabin]]
[[Image:NCC Train Describer.jpg|thumb|right|Magazine train describer in Greenisland signal cabin]]
[[Image:NCC block.jpg|thumb|right|Tyer's 3-position absolute block instrument]]
[[Image:NCC tokens.jpg|thumb|right|NCC single line tokens]]
[[Image:NCC manson catcher2.jpg|thumb|right|Manson tablet exchange apparatus fitted to a locomotive]]
The majority of the NCC system was [[Railway signalling|signalled]] using somersault [[Railway signal|signals]]. This type of lower quadrant [[Railway semaphore signal|semaphore signal]], with a centrally pivoted arm, had originated on the [[Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)|Great Northern Railway]] in England.

Upper quadrant semaphore signals were installed at [[Larne Harbour railway station|Larne Harbour station]] when the layout was remodelled in 1933.

Two types of mechanical ground signals were installed. The majority were similar to the [[London and North Eastern Railway|LNER]] standard type but others of a Westinghouse type were to be found at Larne Harbour and a few other locations.

There were three colour light signal installations on the NCC. The earliest was at [[Yorkgate railway station|York Road station]], Belfast where two-aspect colour light signals had been installed in 1926. The subsidiary signals were of a unique "pointer light" type.

Two-aspect searchlight signals were installed on the Main and Shore Lines in 1934 in connection with the opening of the Greenisland Loop Line. Finally, Coleraine was resignalled with three-aspect colour light signals in 1938.

At those crossing loops on the Main and Larne Lines which had been relaid with straight "fast" lines, the fast lines and loops were both fully signalled for working trains in the up and down directions. The use of Manson tablet exchange apparatus at these locations allowed [[Token (railway signalling)|tablet]] exchanges to be carried out regularly at speeds of up to (and on occasion in excess of) {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.

Most of the [[Signal box|signal cabins]] on the broad gauge lines were to a BNCR hipped roof design by Berkeley Dean Wise that was introduced c1889. They had a brick base with wooden superstructure but usually also a brick back wall to the operating floor. A principal feature of these cabins was the overhanging roof supported by large eaves brackets which served to protect the window sashes from the weather. Newer cabins to the traditional design, such as those at Larne Harbour and Coleraine, omitted the eaves brackets but retained a distinctive appearance.

The new signal cabins at York Road, Greenisland, Antrim and Mount were built entirely from brick with flat concrete roofs. Another exception was Templepatrick cabin which was of all wood construction.

===Methods of working===
The various lines on the LMS (NCC) system were worked as follows:

==== Broad gauge lines ====
Automatic and semi-automatic two-aspect searchlight signals together with magazine train describers: 
* Main and Shore Lines: Belfast to Greenisland and Monkstown Junction.

Tyer's three-position Absolute Block instruments: 
* Main Line: Greenisland – Ballyclare Junction – Kingsbog Junction – Templepatrick – Dunadry – Muckamore – Antrim – Cookstown Junction – Ballymena Goods Yard – Ballymena Passenger Station;
* Larne Line: Greenisland – Carrickfergus Harbour Junction – Carrickfergus Station – Kilroot – Whitehead.

Electric Direction Lever: 
* Main Line: Macfin – Coleraine.

Tyer's electric train tablet instruments: 
* Main Line: Ballymena Passenger Station – Cullybackey – Glarryford – Killagan – Dunloy – Ballymoney – Macfin; and Coleraine – Castlerock – Bellarena – Limavady Junction – Eglinton – Lisahally – Derry~Londonderry;
* Larne Line (short section working): Whitehead – Ballycarry – Magheramorne Loop – Larne – Larne Harbour;
* Ballyclare Branch: Kingsbog Junction – Ballyclare;
* Cookstown Line: Cookstown Junction – Toome – Castledawson – Magherafelt – Moneymore – Cookstown;
* Derry Central Line: Magherafelt – Maghera – Kilrea – Garvagh – Macfin;
* Portrush Branch: Coleraine – Portstewart – Portrush;
* Limavady Branch: Limavady Junction – Limavady.

Railway Signal Company electric key token instruments:
* Larne Line (long section working): Whitehead – Larne.

Train Staff and Ticket with Tyer's two-position Absolute Block instruments: 
* Dungiven Branch: Limavady – Dungiven.

One engine in steam or two or more engines coupled together:
* Draperstown Branch: Draperstown Junction – Draperstown.

====Narrow gauge lines====
Tyer's electric train tablet instruments: 
* Ballymena and Larne Line: Larne Harbour – Larne – Ballyboley – Ballymena Passenger Station.

Train Staff and Ticket with Tyer's two-position Absolute Block instruments: 
* Ballycastle Line: Ballymoney – Ballycastle.

Electric train staff:
* Londonderry and Strabane Line: Londonderry – Donemana – Strabane.

One engine in steam or two or more engines coupled together:
* Doagh Branch: Ballyboley – Doagh;
* Parkmore Line: Ballymena – Parkmore.

:Details of signalling systems in this section are mainly from ''LMS NCC Appendix to the Working Time Table''.