Wrexham Resignalling

[beast66606]

Over the weekend of the 17/18 October 2009 a new panel will be brought into use, this is installed in the existing Croes Newydd North Fork signal box and replaces the current lever frame.

 

Some of the signalling is to be upgraded to LED based and some will remain, to be controlled by the new panel.

 

Wrexham General, 13/10/2009

 

CN49 becomes 925

 

CN63 and it's replacement 934 - note the loop is to be indicated with a feather rather than a stencil as current.

 

CN61 - to be replaced by 942, probably of similar form to the 934 signal above, the new signal (positioned where the metal plate temporarily blocks the hole) would obscure the view of CN61 so won't be erected until Saturday when CN61 is removed.

 

958 - this replaces the ground disk with stencil route indicator - interestingly it's a main aspect but reads over hand points so the bay cannot be used for passenger services.

 

New speed board and a point with a partially replaces switch (54A becomes 2417A)

 

A new limit of shunt signal 1397, this gives a new move which was not possible on the old frame, trains had to proceed towards Chester and return right line, now they can simply shunt up to this LOS. CN50 (931) beyond.

 

And with the old GWR shed behind (note the writing on the end wall)

 

Signals protecting exit from the Up Goods Loop

CN36 (disk) CN 18/10 behind to be replaced with 956 (main) and 1387 shunt (only it's framework currently in place)

 

The box with the down home, CN5/42 (943) and CN31 (the semaphore) to be replaced with 959, the new ground signal is 1389 (CN30 just visible behind)

 

And a new banner repeater 943BR to repeat the existing CN5/42 (when it becomes 943)

 

Watery Lane ground frame, out of use - note it uses LNWR SK80 levers (in GWR territory )

 

And finally a train passing a couple of the signals.

82303 and 67013, Dyfrbont Pontcysyllte, on 1J80, 07:23, London Marylebone - Wrexham General

[Bruce Depot]

Thanks for the info

 

Is the box taking on a bigger area Dave, or just covering the same but with new signalling?

Bit rusty, but do they work up to Chester PSB?

 

cheers

Keith

[Edwin_m]

Nice pics to look at and also a useful record of what is going on.

 

I'm not too familiar with this area, but is any new facility being provided to terminate trains from either direction in the platforms? I looked at this a few years back and seem to recall the existing signalling is pretty restrictive. As they plan to double the middle part of the Chester line they really need bi-di on both tracks northwards to where they converge (and will still converge) so they can terminate any extra trains the double track allows them to operate.

[beast66606]

Thanks for the info

 

Is the box taking on a bigger area Dave, or just covering the same but with new signalling?

Bit rusty, but do they work up to Chester PSB?

 

cheers

Keith

 

Same area but some new signalling (a fair few are the old structures) - it works AB to Gobowen and TCB to Chester PSB (over the single line)

 

hth

[beast66606]

Nice pics to look at and also a useful record of what is going on.

 

I'm not too familiar with this area, but is any new facility being provided to terminate trains from either direction in the platforms? I looked at this a few years back and seem to recall the existing signalling is pretty restrictive. As they plan to double the middle part of the Chester line they really need bi-di on both tracks northwards to where they converge (and will still converge) so they can terminate any extra trains the double track allows them to operate.

 

Hi Edwin,

 

the only new route is the shunt wrong line to the LOS, no other new routes are to be provided at this stage, so it's still awkward to shunt

[flyingsignalman]

Good set of pics Dave. It's interesting to see how Elf and Safety is affecting the design of the signals.

[Natalie]

Hi Dave

Great pictures as usual. Thanks to people like you who are documenting the changes endemic on the railway system at present with the introduction of LED signalling. Just as important to record this stuff as the old mechanical systems. There is a common misconception that colour light signalling is 'modern' with the implication that it will be around for a while yet. These pictures illustrate the fact that it is just as susceptible to change as other forms of signalling.

[Edwin_m]

Hi Edwin,

 

the only new route is the shunt wrong line to the LOS, no other new routes are to be provided at this stage, so it's still awkward to shunt

 

Thanks Dave. Hopefully there's enough capacity in the interlocking for them to add more routes later, which might have run into wire condition etc problems on the old interlocking.

[beast66606]

Cheers all.

 

I will be back next week to get some pics of the new signals in use (might try and get there on Sunday for some commissioning shots) - I'm hoping I might get to Wrexham later this week to video CN63 clearing before it bites the bullet (I have a feeling I may have already done this but can't remember ) - I've already got CN61 - nowadays videos are easily "doable" and I try to record signalling in action as well as a still pic

[Guest Digital]

Hi Dave,

 

Cracking stuff!! Really interesting a great enjoyable article.

Look forward to seeing more.

 

John

 

 

[Audley Road]

Very interesting to see this, its helpful to get ones head around modern signalling.

Is the LOS stop signal the way things are done these days, do limit of shunt boards not get used anymore, or is there regional variation?

 

Look forward to more...

[The Stationmaster]

Very interesting to see this, its helpful to get ones head around modern signalling.

Is the LOS stop signal the way things are done these days, do limit of shunt boards not get used anymore, or is there regional variation?

 

Look forward to more...

 

The double red position light signal has been the standard for indicating a Limit of Shunt since the back end of the 1990s but existing installations have only been gradually modified to conform (presumably because of the ongoing lack of design capacity that afflicted signalling work for quite a while).

[big jim]

im struggling to see what the new los is going to achieve?

 

i can only assume its so that trains can come out of the old bays or croes newydd loop and go back into plat 1 to head south rather than having to cross over to the plat 3 loop as they do now?

 

Are the bays now signalled to allow passenger trains to depart from them?

 

the only shunt moves ive ever done in wrexham are from the up across to the bidston line or platform 3 which meant going into croes newydd loop, is that still the case?

 

Good to see that they have spent all that money doing new signals but why have they put the new signal exiting plat 3 on the wrong side? There was nothing wrong with the visibility of the old one, again i can only assume its because they have changed from cats eyes to a feather and its lost its sighting behind the canopy maybe?

[beast66606]

im struggling to see what the new los is going to achieve?

 

i can only assume its so that trains can come out of the old bays or croes newydd loop and go back into plat 1 to head south rather than having to cross over to the plat 3 loop as they do now?

 

I think thats the reason, it means P1 can be used for the Marys rather than having to block the connecting line, no P&C alterations so P1 is not available for terminating trains.

 

Are the bays now signalled to allow passenger trains to depart from them?

 

Nope - the point which splits to either bay is still hand operated.

 

the only shunt moves ive ever done in wrexham are from the up across to the bidston line or platform 3 which meant going into croes newydd loop, is that still the case?

 

Shunting can go to the loop or the up main (which it always could even under the existing signalling), the loop gives a main arm for departure but setting back from the up uses a ground signal. In the new signalling the pair of pairs of discs are abolished, all moves are controlled from the signal on the Ruabon side of the crossing.

 

Good to see that they have spent all that money doing new signals but why have they put the new signal exiting plat 3 on the wrong side? There was nothing wrong with the visibility of the old one, again i can only assume its because they have changed from cats eyes to a feather and its lost its sighting behind the canopy maybe?

 

I think thats the case, it's logical.

 

Hows LBT

[big jim]

lbt was dark and stinky!!

 

it started to drizzle as i assaulted the climb upto bootle jn, didn't think it was gonna do it but i got over the top ok, the poor 66 was pulling 8500amps (the gauge only goes upto 8000!!)

 

the run across to earlestown was "spirited" i was surprised just how quick it picked up speed when back on the main line, 60 through huyton, i thought it would be a slog

 

anyway back on topic, i have done the move behind the signal on the main when shunting, forgot about that one, i've also put a demic 153 in the old neck beyond the bay, double shunt, into the bay and back out to the neck, the disc signal was inop though so i had to pass it with authority

 

that banner aproaching cn5/42 will speed things up a bit too

 

dont think i'll be driving through there under the new signalling though, out of my area now unfortunatly, unless an lbt to ironbridge gets diverted!!

 

august last year was the last time i drove wrexham

[iploffy]

Any news on the re-doubling of the single line to chester yet

[beast66606]

lbt was dark and stinky!!

 

it started to drizzle as i assaulted the climb upto bootle jn, didn't think it was gonna do it but i got over the top ok, the poor 66 was pulling 8500amps (the gauge only goes upto 8000!!)

 

the run across to earlestown was "spirited" i was surprised just how quick it picked up speed when back on the main line, 60 through huyton, i thought it would be a slog

 

anyway back on topic, i have done the move behind the signal on the main when shunting, forgot about that one, i've also put a demic 153 in the old neck beyond the bay, double shunt, into the bay and back out to the neck, the disc signal was inop though so i had to pass it with authority

 

that banner aproaching cn5/42 will speed things up a bit too

 

dont think i'll be driving through there under the new signalling though, out of my area now unfortunatly, unless an lbt to ironbridge gets diverted!!

 

august last year was the last time i drove wrexham

 

Pity it was night, 60 at Huyton would have made a nice video - and bet it woke the bobby up too (66301 ??)

 

The disc is back in full use, Wrexham and Shropshire use the neck for stabling locos (normally failed ones )

The banner is great for straight through but I have a feeling the approach control on CN5/42 will mean it will be at "red" for most of the trains which need to be under control anyway, a routing banner would have been nicer but line speed precludes that I guess.

 

The work starts tomorrow night ... Watch out for an ex GWR lever frame, one careful owner and some associated accessories, on eBay - buyer collects, c/o Watery Lane, Wrexham !

 

I hope the redundant kit will be reused either on the big railway or on a preserved line, even the colour lights are some 20+ years old and of a type that is disappearing due to LED heads.

[beast66606]

Any news on the re-doubling of the single line to chester yet

 

Gets mentioned from time to time .. but then so do lots of things.

[Merfyn Jones]

The WR pattern barrier parts are spoken for. I have to keep Deganwy crossing going until it gets renewed in 2005-2006-2007 whenever.

Thanks for the updates Dave, very interesting.

Merfyn

[RELIEF SIGNALMAN]

2012 now Merf.

[Merfyn Jones]

2012 now Merf.

 

 

 

I will believe it when I see it Alan.

 

Merf.

[RELIEF SIGNALMAN]

 

 

 

I will believe it when I see it Alan.

 

Merf.

 

 

January 2012 ?? ...... booked for conversion.