I'm really pleased to be able to report that during a 2 day possession earlier this week the electronic interlocking of the points, signals and route setting for the area controlled by Churminster South signal box was finally completed!
A replacement bus service was provided for travellers during the possession.
The results of this work are significant operationally, but difficult to illustrate; briefly, what it means to the operator is that when a route is selected by pulling a lever on the main panel, one hears a series of clicks as the required points or crossovers are fired in sequence, the corresponding panel lights are changed to show the selected route, and then once all of these are set, the appropriate semaphore signal is cleared.
Returning the lever reverses the sequence commencing with the signal reverting to danger, followed by the same points regaining their mainline or straight-through positions. This is their default position whilst all signals are also set to danger.
The way that the track power feeds are connected also means that when a point is set against a particular route, the approaching track will be electrically dead, making a SPAD quite difficult to achieve!
The program which is bespoke, runs on an Arduino which fires a bank of relays and whilst the code allows two parallel routes, such as the up line through platform 3 plus the down line through platform 2, to be set at the same time, it also prevents the setting of any conflicting routes. Once a route is selected, pulling a lever for a conflicting route will be ignored by the system and no changes will be made. I am grateful to Giles Walburn for completing this installation.
Steve Hewitt's beautiful up approach signal remains to be fitted once scenic work close to where it is to be sited is completed , however, all wiring and related programming work is already finished and this has been tested with the signal unit, pre-installation.
In an effort to better illustrate all of this in operation, I am working on some video but it may be some time before I manage to produce something satisfactory!
Advantage was taken during the posession, to work on the previously undeveloped land formation above the Churminster cutting and beneath the narrow gauge quarry line; this is now ready and waiting for the application of plaster bandage and scenic material.
This will in turn be followed by completion of the undecorated narrow strip along the full length of the front of the baseboard, however the last remaing but very obvious gap, between the narrow gauge line and the road above may take a little longer. As can be seen from the images this sits above some cabling and so will require the formation of an access 'portal'!
Only once all scenic work is completed will distant signals be installed at either end of the cutting; these are complete, having been built some time ago by Steve Hewitt but they are delicate and I am keen to avoid their being damaged during construction work.
Tony
Very glad we have sorted this system out, made the brain cell itch. On to Stowe Magna next and automating wind and water mills.
Churminster & Stowe Magna, Southern Railway
in Layout topics
Posted
Very glad we have sorted this system out, made the brain cell itch. On to Stowe Magna next and automating wind and water mills.