Free Lever

[GentlemanJim]

What was the purpose of having a 'free lever'.

For those unaware of what a free lever is/was, a semi-auto that acted like an auto, cleared without having to re-stroke the lever. The lever was always in the 'reverse' position.

2 that come to mind were LJ15 Woodford and LW6 Epping, both advanced starters.

[Nortube]

That sounds like the equivalent of a King lever, but just for one signal. If there are no points after the advanced starter (in which case there's no real need for it to be a semi), I can only assume that it's for the odd occasion that signal would need to be used as a fixed red light - perhaps during a shunt move?

[hellocontrol]

BS1 at Elephant was a free lever even an illuminated A although the frame was a push/pull 1's was a full stroke lever.