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GCR Swithland - A Tribute

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

  1. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    Very interesting! In effect, it makes your home serve the same position as a three-position colour light, as Neil says.
     
  2. Jamie C. Steel

    Jamie C. Steel Member

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  3. JorgeR

    JorgeR New Member

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    All looks fantastic- so what, in practise, does this allow the GCR to do extra with regards to operational flexibility? I presume freight trains can be looped at Swithland for one thing...?
     
  4. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    It also breaks the section between Rothley and Quorn thereby allowing a more frequent service of trains.

    Now, IBS between Quorn and Loughborough...?
     
  5. pmh_74

    pmh_74 Well-Known Member

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    It'll allow more frequent trains if some of them terminate at Swithland (goods trains at galas, perhaps). But the real restriction on capacity is the Rothley-Leicester section. Well, that and the number of carriages in service! ;-)
     
  6. jtx

    jtx Well-Known Member

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    What a fine job that is. I was a tad surprised to see a Great Western backing signal in the photos, as in the minphoto at the head of guard_jamie's posts, which I assume is the one at Bewdley. I didn't know the G. C. used them.
     
  7. Mattie Bee

    Mattie Bee Member

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    Swithland has been set up to reflect the Great Western and Great Central Joint Line which operated under GW signalling.
     
  8. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    It is the one at Bewdley.

    I believe that, as Mattie Bee says, Swithland has been set up a la GW&GC Jt, at the request of/in memory to the late David Clarke, a signalling enthusiast who grew up on the GW&GC Jt., and was a substantial benefactor to the GCR.
     
  9. Tomnick

    Tomnick New Member

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    Further to Flipper's post, I'll cut out the middleman by making an appearance myself! We're always looking for new trainees (with or without previous experience) but we do have a bit of a waiting list (not too long, don't worry!) at present. Anyone who's interested can contact me via PM, but I'd also suggest getting in touch with Jamie (see above) with a view to getting involved elsewhere on the railway in the meantime - if nothing else, some GCR-specific experience will be helpful during the training process. I'm also, of course, happy to answer any questions regarding the training process or the (operation of the) GCR's signalling generally, either on this thread or by PM.

    I'll contact you directly Steve, but to answer your question - as a trainee, you'll need to complete a series of six classroom sessions, separated into two chunks of three sessions each, with a period of practical training after the first three sessions (and further practical training sessions after the final session until you're ready to pass out, with both written and practical exams). As Flipper suggests, most trainees go into either Loughborough or Rothley initially (some do go to Quorn though), but usually start learning the other boxes in turn quite quickly after they're passed out. Swithland's still a little way off for the current and recent trainees though!
    The combination of co-located home and (inner) distant are effectively equivalent to a 3 aspect colour light signal anyway. I'm not sure I've come across this concept anywhere on the national network (in an AB area, at least) though - most three aspect home signals that I've seen are preceded by a two aspect distant signal, and are either at braking distance from the next stop signal in advance or have some form of approach control when that next signal is at Danger.
    As other have said, the new installation breaks the section between Quorn and Rothley - most usefully to allow a second train to get underway from Quorn whilst a first is standing in the Up platform at Rothley waiting for the single line. It also allows the single line at Rothley to be used much more efficiently for turnbacks - at present, any train turning back there will be at least ten minutes behind the previous train, but there's now the opportunity for a train to come out of the Up Loop and run to Rothley Brook only two or three minutes behind a Leicester train.

    Tom
    (GCR Signalling Instructor)
     
  10. Harleyman

    Harleyman New Member

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    Tom

    My admittedly somewhat peripheral association with GCR's S&T gang goes back to the mid- 1970's when I first worked on the railway. Even then that department had an enviable reputation amongst heritage railways for professionalism, enterprise, hard work and attention to detail, a tradition which seems to have stayed the test of time. It's worth noting that they not only worked hard but played hard as well, as I daresay some of the veterans will testify!

    Looking at this thread I cannot help but think that the late Al Maddocks ( a particular mate) would have been very proud of what his successors have achieved.

    If any of the workers from that era are still involved (John Drake, Paul Turlington, Graham Bannister and Al Thompson come to mind) would you please pass on to them that "Scriv" says hello and well done?

    Thanks
     
  11. Tomnick

    Tomnick New Member

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    If my colleague and friend 'Flipper' is still reading, he's perhaps best placed to pass on your message to the gang. Unfortunately I don't get as much chance as I'd like to contribute to the S&T's efforts, as I spend most of my time on the GC instructing others how not to break the S&T kit, or trying not to break it myself! Graham, John and Al are all still involved though (not so sure about Paul - not a name I'm familiar with), and the department still retains all four qualities named above under Graham's leadership. A real credit to the GCR!
     
  12. Black Jim

    Black Jim Member

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    Well done to the GCR! I was a fireman there from 1990- 95. I'm sorry to say I have only visited a couple of times since (now in Somerset) But I had a brilliant few years there, loved the atmosphere about the railway, looks like I shall have to visit again soon!
     
  13. pmh_74

    pmh_74 Well-Known Member

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    Paul T. still drops by occasionally; I'm pretty sure Graham is still in touch with him.
     
  14. Flipper

    Flipper New Member

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    We see Turlo pretty regularly, although not often in a working capacity these days. He still hangs around with Drakey, Phil Blanksby, Keith, &c. Tickery often sees him at work on the big job.

    We used to see a chap called Phil H. fairly regularly too, but now probably see Turlo more often ! :)

    I shall pass on your regards Scriv.

    Shawn
     
  15. pmh_74

    pmh_74 Well-Known Member

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    Cheeky!
     
  16. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    Please could we have a decent picture of the diagram? I'd like a gander, if that's ok...
     
  17. Flipper

    Flipper New Member

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    I can do you a heavily edited version of the Technician's Diagram from the Relay Room, assuming you're interested in functional information and not artitistic merit :)

    View attachment SS_Diag_2.pdf

    Regards

    Shawn
     
  18. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    Much obliged!
     
  19. Neil_Scott

    Neil_Scott Part of the furniture

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    Are the acclerating distants under No.40 and No.39 signals? These are controlled from Rothley hence being blacked out partially?

    Assume Swithland Sidings No.32 is the one on the Down?
     
  20. Tomnick

    Tomnick New Member

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    The 'accelerating distants' are No.43 (under No.42 signal) on the Up and No.32 (under No.33 signal) on the Down. The two distants you mention are Rothley's outer and inner distants respectively - the more conventional application!
     

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