Historical information

Staff exchanger hoop - Leather Bakelite and wooden prop staff.

The hoop held the 'Staff’ giving authority for a locomotive or rail vehicle permission to travel over a specified section of track. The display shows the hand held type used from person to person. Hand held staffs were exchanged at low speeds or stationary. Automatic staff exchangers were also in use when a vehicle was not required to travel at low speed to exchange the staffs and were used by express trains.

To exchange the 'Staff’ from the platform or signal box to the locomotive driver, the hoop was held up in the air by the person, and collected by the Drivers arm. The reverse occurred when the staff was being given by the Driver. Both exchanges may occur where one section of line ends and another commences.

Significance

Historic - Railways - Staff exchanger hoop - used for person to person exchanging.

Physical description

Staff exchanger hoop made of Leather Bakelite and wooden prop staff