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GWSR Broadway Developments

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Breva, Aug 1, 2014.

  1. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    Have the volunteers who put so much effort (in the face of much opposition from the GWSR hierarchy) into building a proper signalbox at Broadway (unlike the Trumpton style boxes at Gotherington and Cheltenham Race Course) been told that it was all unnecessary as only a ground frame is needed at Broadway?
     
  2. 45045

    45045 New Member

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    I have a general question. Do you have fibre optic cables along the line? They can be useful not only for communication but can also be used to monitor things like bridge strikes. Do any heritage railways have them?
     
  3. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    As far as I'm aware the "GWR hierarchy" (who are of course, also just normal volunteers doing work on the railway) were never against a signal box at Broadway. Using the CRC and Gotherington boxes as arguments is pretty irrelevant, that was over 15 years ago when the railway was in a much worse place. We've moved on massively since then, as is obvious by Broadway box and in general.

    I don't see what you're so incredulous about - of course a ground frame is all that's necessary, in the same way that only a platform and a shelter is *necessary*. The point is we've done more than is necessary to be authentic. That seems like a good thing to me. So it won't quite be ready for when track arrives, but so what - we've known for some time that Broadway won't be finished, we now just have a bit more detail as to what won't be finished.
     
  4. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    Can I ask why this has been chosen as the method of working over more electric key token?

    Robin
     
  5. Gloucester Boy

    Gloucester Boy New Member

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    Yes, we are aware of this, there will be a lot that still needs to be done at Broadway, long after the service starts in 2018, partly due to us having our budgets cut, as are other departments, to help towards unexpected additional expenditure. We don't anticipate being made redundant for quite some time. I am aware of at least one of our volunteers going to train as a signalman, and I suspect as things get completed at Broadway others will volunteer for other roles on the railway (some already do other jobs already).

    By the way, the GWSR website is now showing that the share issue has reached £975,000 subscribed as at 20th January. The share issue is open until April, I understand, so if you have any spare cash, please help us, for those that have already, we really appreciate your help.
     
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2017
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  6. Kinghambranch

    Kinghambranch Well-Known Member

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    Excellent news on the latest total, thanks for the update.
     
  7. Breva

    Breva Well-Known Member

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    The best way to get an answer to this is to put the question on the S&T blog, I am told. From the horse's mouth is best :)
     
  8. 46229

    46229 New Member

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    I think because Toddington box is 300 yds south of Toddington station and the loop meaning an auxiliary token instrument would be required on Toddington platform with consequent delays crossing trains to and from Broadway. Token instruments may have also been in short supply. The original plan for Broadway also envisaged a short section of double track south of the road bridge with provision for trains to pass south of the station - obviously that can now not happen due to the embankment problems enforcing single track. With cwr and track circuiting throughout from Toddington to Broadway acceptance lever working was originally seen as a more flexible method although modern standards require additional protection where a visual reminder of authority (token/staff) to enter the single line is not carried in the cab. (e.g. flank/trap protection or illuminated SPAD indicators ahead of the section signal). With only 12 months to go and the track not in place yet, you can understand why installation and testing of the signalling system would simply not be possible in the timescale. One train working with a staff will quite happily provide the service in the meantime as the signalling for it is already set up for that at Toddington.
     
  9. jtx

    jtx Well-Known Member

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    Notwithstanding some of the more critical posts upthread, it occurred to me, after a little thought, that the BAG had actually been rather clever.

    With the signal box built - and beautifully, too - the S & T could begin to equip it at their leisure and to their own timescale. They have started fitting it out and, I have to say, I avidly follow Curly's blog posts. The brickies and others have moved on, and the S&T lads have a fantastic facility open, with electricity supply, to do the huge amount of work needed to make the 'box operational, as and when.

    They have lots of holes to dig, wheels and pulleys to install, and the odd signal, of course, with the nerve centre in place to work and measure from.

    A ground frame is the obvious simple solution, easy, safe and convenient, and easily disconnected when no longer required.

    There are probably quite a number of younger viewer/contributors on here who may not remember that that is exactly what we,(the Severn Valley), did at Kidderminster, some 33 years ago. I watched that 'box come together equally eagerly, indeed, I drove the 6 - ton steam crane, which planted the four, bolted together, bullhead rails, which support the front wall over the gap for the rodding, wires, etc.

    When the building reached the level at which the roof was about to go on, I used the same machine to lift in the lever frame, and also every signal at Kidderminster, including the gantry.

    Kidderminster - Bewdley South is also track - circuited throughout, worked by acceptance lever. The brass key, which locked - and still does - the lever, was used to unlock the ground frame. It worked well; I can't remember when the 'box opened, but it doesn't matter: the railway worked fine.

    More power to the BAGs' collective elbows, and likewise the S&T. They are doing a fantastic job.

    Regards,

    jtx
     
  10. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Almost as if the departments talked to each other! ;) Interesting to know Kidderminster did exactly the same thing too, thanks.
     
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  11. jtx

    jtx Well-Known Member

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    Lord! Perish the thought! What would happen if that sort of thing caught on?;)
     
  12. 46229

    46229 New Member

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    And a Ground Frame is also quite 'authentic' for Broadway - one being there from 1960 onwards to control the sidings off the main line, electrically released from Toddington box.....Up and down colour light IB signals were provided there too of course.....
     
  13. Kinghambranch

    Kinghambranch Well-Known Member

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    The latest from the GWSR "Boardroom Blog" is that the magic £1million has now been reached with £230000 to find before this share issue closes on 30 April 17. Chequebook time again for the last push!
    More details here: http://gwrboardroom.blogspot.co.uk/
     
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  14. Young Philip

    Young Philip New Member

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    This page http://5.153.230.80/Signalling.html on the GWRT web site gives an insight into the volunteer role of Signalman on the GWSR. It includes a little test to see if you have the attributes to join the railway as a volunteer in this role. If you are new to the railway you have join in another role, gain your full work permit and volunteer for 12 months before applying to join the Signalling Team. This is to ensure you understand how the railway works in the first instance. If however you are a qualified signalman on another standard heritage railway of similar size or employed on the main line in a traditional box, it is possible to be fast tracked.

    To find out even more about the signalman role, (and all the other volunteer roles on the GWSR) why not visit our Recruitment Fair http://5.153.230.80/Volunteering/Recruitment_Fair_2017.html to be held over 1st and 2nd April
     
  15. Sawdust

    Sawdust Member

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    To put the issue of Broadway signal box not been in use from day one in perspective, I was involved in the construction of Grosmont signal box (roof, windows and doors plus a few other little bits).

    Whilst some functions did transfer into the new box quickly, due to the demolition of the small Grosmont crossing cabin, it did take four years to complete the installation.

    So it isn't really a surprise about Broadway especially as there isn't a railway to install anything on there yet.

    Sawdust.
     
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  16. Gloucester Boy

    Gloucester Boy New Member

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    saw this posted on the GWSR website today:

    Broadway - The Last Mile

    The 'Broadway - The Last Mile' share issue has exceeded the magic £1 million mark - £1,025,683 to be precise! So, there's less than £240,000 to go. Buy shares now and help us to get to Broadway!
     
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  17. An interesting and useful questionnaire. I am a little surprised that question 9 doesn't ram home the point about responsibility a little more forcefully, perhaps something along the lines of "If you have a lapse or make an error of judgement, there is the possibility that it could all go to 5H17 very quickly, people could be seriously injured or worse and, if you are found to have been negligent, you may have the arse sued off you."

    OK, so I am being a little tongue in cheek. But signalman is a role that I think has wonderfully romantic connotations (and, had I been born a couple of generations earlier, is a career I would have seriously considered), yet nowadays the sobering weight of 'what if' would probably put me off, even if I lived close enough to a preserved line for it to be a realistic voluntary proposition.
     
  18. 1472

    1472 Well-Known Member

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    Inaccurate & unnecessary derogatory comments by your rather brazen finance director in the latest house mag have resulted in several application forms having a one way trip to the bin.....
     
  19. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Sorry to hear that, I just reread it and nothing jumped out at me, what bit did you object to?
     
  20. Poolbrook

    Poolbrook New Member Friend

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    The only thing in the interview which struck me as odd was the assertion that another similarly sized railway in Worcestershire (SVR?) has 180 paid staff compared to GWSR's 5. I find the higher figure very hard to believe even if the staff are part time. Perhaps 1472 could confirm whether that was what made him recycle the application forms.

    However that comment hasn't made me regret buying shares to help to get the GWSR to Broadway.
     

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