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GCR Swithland - A Tribute

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by sche, Jun 1, 2012.

  1. sche

    sche New Member

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    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!
     
  2. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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  3. Andy2857

    Andy2857 Member

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    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.
     
  4. Jamie C. Steel

    Jamie C. Steel Member

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    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
     
  5. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    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.
     
  6. jnc

    jnc Well-Known Member

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    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
     
  7. Gwenllian2001

    Gwenllian2001 Member

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

    Neil_Scott Part of the furniture

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

    Flipper New Member

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    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.
     
  10. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    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?
     
  11. stevepurves

    stevepurves New Member

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    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!
     
  12. Flipper

    Flipper New Member

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

    Flipper New Member

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    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.
     
  14. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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

    Flipper New Member

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    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.
     
  16. Orion

    Orion Well-Known Member

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    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
     
  17. Flipper

    Flipper New Member

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    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.
     
  18. Neil_Scott

    Neil_Scott Part of the furniture

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    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.
     
  19. stevepurves

    stevepurves New Member

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    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
     
  20. Flipper

    Flipper New Member

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    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.
     

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