GCR Swithland - A Tribute

Just want to congratulate the GC S & T team for a fantastic achievement in commissioning Swithland box this week.

They have worked at it for 8 years I believe, it's another milestone in the late David Clarkes vision and it's been carried out very comprehensively and to a very high standard.

Can't wait for the first gala to use the loops and the yard!

Also in testing the signalling, a DMU was seen out on the Mountsorrel Branch this week for the first time.

So good to see progress when we are in such a poor financial climate! Well done everyone!

 

Here's an exciting piece of news that has slipped under the radar, what wonderful news!

I cannot wait to see this. I almost wish I was a Signalman on the GCR...7

Extra: Look what I found on Flickr! WOW... http://www.flickr.com/photos/49799937@N06/6790935955/in/photostream/

 

Now that's what I call a lever frame!

Congratulations to all at the GCR, that's a hell of a project you've completed there.

 

Some images from a colleague are available to view here, shewing the test train and associated commissioning works from Wednesday. An interesting fact that comes with the commissioning, the GCR now has 14 distant signals (12 worked plus 2 fixed), is this a record for a preserved railway?

www.es-jay-tee.co.uk

 

Not quite! The SVR has 15, however only 8 of them are worked. So I think it's a case of shared honours! Lovely pictures by the way, I'd dearly like to be fly on the wall in that 'box on a gala.

 

Definitely a giant 'hats off' to the team who did this - it's an incredible piece of work.

There's only one issue that I can see - I'm not sure any box was ever that absolutely immaculate, 'back in the day'!

Noel

 

Signal boxes, like lighthouses, were noted for being kept spick and span and woe betide anyone who walkes in with mucky boots.

 

12 distant signals for how many boxes? Loughborough, Quorn & Woodhouse, Swithland Sidings & Rothley?

 

Yep, 12 worked Distants for the four boxes, as well as the Up Inner Distant at Loughborough which is fixed at caution, and 1 fixed Distant for Belgrave & Birstall.

 

More than one distant in each direction per box seems to be a feature of the GCR. Might be something to do with the dispensations for high speed running?

 

Travelled through the new signalling yesterday in horrendous weather, I must say its very impressive. Makes me want to train to be a signaller there, I'm not too interested in station boxes, so this really is special!

 

Nope, but it might be something to do with LNER accelerating-Distants, and having the infrastructure to make use of them.

 

Thanks. I can put you in touch with our Signalling trainer if you like, but don't expect to get to work Swithland straight away ! PM me your email if you're interested in entering the programme.

 

This isn't a concept I've come across before?

 

Well is it, or isn't it ?

Without going into two much detail, accelerating Distants allowed the signalman a "second bite at the cherry". The outer distant is usually (but not always) a three-aspect colour light, capable of display Yellow, Double Yellow or Green. If a train comes on a single yellow in the Outer Distant, they know that the Outer Home is against them. If they come onto a double-yellow, then they know that the Outer Home, as a minimum, is off for them, but that the rest of the signals may not be. If they come onto a green, then they know that they have the road.

So far, nothing unusual. With accelerating distants there is an Inner Distant, normally mechanical and normally under the Outer Home signal. If the train has got a double-yellow at the Outer Distant, and reduces speed accordingly, but in the time it takes it to travel between the Outer and Inner Distants the signalman manages to get the road off all the way through, then they will see the Inner Distant off. They then know that all signals controlled by that box are off for them, and can drive accordingly.

It was fairly common on the GCR London Extension following the 1942 resignalling.

 

I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that the signalling at Swithland is most impressive, but are the hoi-polloi going to be able to see it? Ie is there going to be a place where it, and passing trains, can be viewed?

Regards

 

No idea David. Contrary to popular opinion, we don't primarily put signalling in to look pretty, or to act as a photographic backdrop. It's there to allow maximum effective use to be safely made of the infrastructure, with an eye on historical accuracy. Our job is to put it in and make it work - job done. There may be occasions when the railway choose to arrange managed access, but by default there is no public access to the site for reasons of safety and security.

 

An interesting idea but one that would be unnecessary with a 3 or 4 aspect colour light home signal although I appreciate that you're trying to recreate something that is appropriate.

 

I would be very interested depending on requirements, I can only commit about 1 or 2 days a month. What is the training procedure? I'm assuming start as a box boy at Loughborough/Quorn/Rothley and then sign off on individual boxes? My email is spoon845@hotmail.com
Steve

 

Steve,

Not sure of the exact process, I'm S&T, not Ops, but I do know the trainer very well. I shall pass your email address on to him. You will certainly be required to undergo instruction and examination in the rules before you start to learn any boxes, and you would probably be started off at one of the terminal boxes.