GCR Swithland - A Tribute

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

 

If anybody is interested in volunteering in any role, drop me an email to jamiesteel@gcrailway.co.uk (it might be jamie.steel@gcrailway.co.uk), I'll sort out all the appropriate paperwork and get you signed up in the appropriate department. =)

 

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...?

 

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

Now, IBS between Quorn and Loughborough...?

 

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! ;-)

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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)

 

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

 

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!

 

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!

 

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

 

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

 

Cheeky!

 

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

 

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

Den Anhang SS_Diag_2.pdf ansehen

Regards

Shawn

 

Much obliged!

 

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?

 

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!