Christmas 2023, observing the signals.
Another year passes. At a first glance it might seem progress at Kelvinbank has been slow, a few wagons made and an old loco refurbished. However from the perspective of me enjoying the layout the major step forward has been the building of a lever frame and sorting out the signalling system. So some pictures on that theme.
1 class No. 2 heads east towards Kelvinbank. The home is off if a correct route is set out of the storage yard and the section switches are set properly. The distant is cleared if the signal protecting the crossover at Kelvinbank is off.
The platform home, No.6 is on as the preceding train is still occupying the next section.
A condensing jumbo, No. 283 is held by the signal at Kelvinbank. Looking at photos the condensing pipes were kept well polished.
The preceding train has now cleared. ( Actually just correctly stabled in the west sidings) So lever No. 6 can be pulled off. Using the duster of course.
No. 283 can then proceed westwards.
The signal under the bridge is an odd one. The real Partick Central had a signal at the east end of the platform about 20 yards the other side of the bridge. I can’t put one there so I made a Stevens and Sons tunnel signal which the Caley used elsewhere on the underground lines. 29 class No. 203 is held there, The signal is controlled from the lever frame but will not clear until the traverser is properly set and locked.
No. 263 heads west with a short goods. The distant is cleared only when the signal into the west storage sidings is clear. Archibald McGregor hopes it is going to be clear all the way .
Building and installing the lever frame has increased my enjoyment of operating the layout considerably. It is something I have been swithering about for a long time, but all the available solutions were either too small and fiddly or too large and would be visually overpowering in that location. Of course none were cheap. I think the decision to scratchbuild was the right one, the frame just feels to be the right size and the action is smooth and positive.
My compliments of the season to everyone, I hope you get some solid modelmaking time.
Edited by Dave John
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