RMweb Premium M.I.B Posted February 20, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 20, 2012 I know that Peco make an AWS ramp - how different to the GWR ones are these? Does anyone have a photo comparison? Would the Peco versions be acceptable for a 1940s GW layout? Thanks in advance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted February 20, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 20, 2012 This site has a picture of a GWR ATC (it was called Automatic Train Control by the GWR, and BR continued for a while that to use that in order to distinguish it from the BR system) - the GW ramp was, from memory. 40feet long and had an inverted fishbelly shape with an inverted 'T' shape strip of (I think) steel on top which physically made contact with the shoe on the loco in order to conduct (or not conduct) an electric current. Totally different in concept from BR AWS (which is based on magnetic induction and the only similarity between the two is that the track based element of it is mounted centrally in the four foot - at that point all physical similarity ceases. Edit to add clarification of one item Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Singpoint Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 This site has a picture of a GWR ATC .......................... Aren't we missing something? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xerces Fobe2 Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Aren't we missing something? Here's a couple of photos of ramps http://mysite.du.edu/~etuttle/rail/atcgwr.htm http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrswg751.htm XF Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted February 21, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 21, 2012 Those photos look like the wire some layouts use as an uncoupling ramp for tension lock couplings!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonesome_whistle Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Here's a couple of photos of ramps http://mysite.du.edu...rail/atcgwr.htm http://www.warwicksh...r/gwrswg751.htm XF That second photograph is interesting. Excuse my ignorance, I'm too young to remember the GW system, but was that the normal position for the ramp or were they normally situated on the approach side of signals like their modern counterparts? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonesome_whistle Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Oops, having now read the text in the other link, I can answer my own question.. Ramps were normally placed 440yds in rear of a distant but where a stop signal was provided on the same doll it was located at the signal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted February 21, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 21, 2012 Aren't we missing something? Doh!! Fortunately Xercex Fobe then put up the very same link (blame the Sicilan wine for that omission on my part) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted February 21, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 21, 2012 That second photograph is interesting. Excuse my ignorance, I'm too young to remember the GW system, but was that the normal position for the ramp or were they normally situated on the approach side of signals like their modern counterparts? For isolated Distant signals, the ramps were positioned on the approach side, originally 440yards, which it remained for semaphores, then reduced to 200 yards for colour lights. In MAS areas the ramp would be at the standard position as for BR AWS. Where there was a lower Distant arm combined with a Stop signal (Home or Starter) in Absolute Block areas, the ramp was immediately after passing the signal. In this case the ramp would only be energised if both the Home and Distant arms were Off. Edit - Managed to Invisible Ink me just as I was posting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted February 21, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 21, 2012 I came across this photo of Banbury in 1960 showing one of the GWR track ramps http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Banbury_a_railway_station_1750029_c8ae428e.jpg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold unravelled Posted February 21, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 21, 2012 I think I remember some reference to longer ATC ramps installed in some locations, (to cope with faster trains?). Possibly early 60s, but not sure. Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AberdeenBill Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 There is a lengthy discussion of GWR ATC with diagrams in the accident report for the 1955 Milton derailment: http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=538 Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium M.I.B Posted February 21, 2012 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted February 21, 2012 That is a great photo - many thanks. So many small detail items in there that add the "life" to something modelled - but easily forgotten - tiny steps at the end of the platform, mixed freight running tender first, water drains to cranes - one with and one without shield. Thanks all for your assistance - nothing like the BR versions then, but an easy item to model. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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