ground frame

English

Porthmadog Ground Frame on the Ffestiniog Railway in Wales

Noun

ground frame (plural ground frames)

1. (rail transport) A lever frame controlling the operation of points and/or signals which is installed at ground level.
   • 1979 August, Michael Harris, “A line for all reasons: the North Yorkshire Moors Railway”, in Railway World, page 412:

     Before long, this box will be installed nearer Grosmont (NYM) level crossing to permit control of the crossing gates (presently hand-worked) and to replace the eight-lever ground frame which currently operates the pointwork.

   • 2019 October, James Abbot, “Esk Valley revival”, in Modern Railways, page 78:

     At the western [actually eastern] end of the line, operation of the ground frames at Grosmont and Whitby for NYMR [North Yorkshire Moors Railway] services is time-consuming: if we could speed that up, we'd improve track occupancy. Motorising points is quite easy to do.