Bobartist

Indeed I did, thanks. Absolutely superb! I did acknowledge this earlier as a brilliant bit of support, but my incompetence with posting procedures seems to have left it in amongst other posts further up the page. Nevertheless, I'm more than happy to repeat my gratitude for the time and effort you've made to put a complete novice signalman right! Cheers Bob

Hi All, Apart from the brilliant advice, I'll apologise for several of my posts ploughing into and mixed up amongst various of your responses. Clearly, I need a few FPL's on my own submissions! I'll happily take all your musings on board and re-signal re-rod accordingly. Cheers and thanks Bob

Beast That is really very good of you to go to the trouble of properly 're-signalling' the layout! As a newcomer to RM Web, I'm quite taken aback at the quality, generosity Thanks Keith. As with the other responses, excellent assistance. cheers Bob and depth of knowledge in the responses. I had also read about the Maghull-Ormskirk rail-motor accident and it was this that actually alerted me to the fact that I could justify a local service such as this from a bay platform to add operational interest. Yes I know it would double up on the electric service to Ormskirk, but in my world, the Maghull shuttle could run on to Southport or over the then existing branch to Rainford and St. Helens.

Hi Joseph. You're quite right in that I'm using modeller's licence to base the layout on Maghull while adapting to suit the available space. The bay platform was indeed used for a local Maghull - Ormskirk service pre-war, as mentioned by Beast 666066, but I think this was taken out of use either before or shortly after WWll. In my 1950's world, it's been re-instated! In reality, there have always been and indeed still are, very occasional departures wrong line back to Liverpool, regaining the correct line via the crossover beyond the LC. I don't however recall seeing a 'wrong line' starter signal in the last 30 years or so. This move usually happens if a train has broken down or there's a track problem beyond Maghull, as Ormskirk now terminates in a single track and I think this is the last remaining crossover between Maghull and Ormskirk. I do however like your idea of the occasional hand-signalled wrong-line departure. An appropriately posed and positioned 4mm scale figure seems a lot less complicated than installing another starter signal and all that associated rodding! Many thanks for those thoughts. Bob

That's great information, guys. Have a much clearer idea of the siting of FPL's and will now have a re-think about whether to have regular 'wrong line' departures! And the advice on how to configure the bracket signal (or not) is especially useful. All the feedback is very much appreciated. Cheers Bob

Thanks to all for the advice Hi Eric. Thanks for the feedback. I've just found a photo from 1954 which confirms your memory as far as the crossover being beyond the platform in the Preston direction and right at the end of the Liverpool platform. As I haven't yet constructed the platforms, I can follow the prototype here. I put a 2 doll signal in as the right hand doll would be the main line starter with the left hand being for the bay. I took info from a 1910 photo which shows a form of 2 doll bracket. In the 1954 pic you can see the bay line has been lifted but to add operational interest, I've reinstated it in the model. Would it therefore be more appropriate to put in two separate starting signals rather than a two doll bracket? Am I right in thinking also that there is a rear view of a double shunt signal in the foreground of this 1954 pic? If so, would the top one be for the crossover and the lower one for the Liverpool bound lay-by behind the photographer?

Thanks for that Keith. That's really helpful re. the GF. An electric lock is fine as (I think) it avoids me having to put in another 6' actual feet of rodding ! Yes, 5 is the shunt signal I referred to so the rodding from the SB for that appears correct. Apologies, I should have put in the platforms. Left them out for 'clarity' ....... See updated plan. The junction signal shown next to GS 6 is intended to control the bay and is the main line starter. There are a number of 'run-around' empty passenger stock movements that involve the crossings at GS6 and GS9. As trains also would sometimes be departing from their arrival platform after the loco has run round, there would be a short section of 'wrong line' running to regain the correct line via the crossover, which I assume would thus require the FPLs.

Hi All, I've put together a point rodding and signal layout plan for my new layout. It's based quite closely on Maghull station on the Liverpool - Preston line in the 1950's. The platforms sit between the level crossing and the yard entrance. I really knew very little about point rodding layouts and linkages etc. before joining the RM Web so I've gratefully gleaned much information from poring over the many previous threads here, over the last few weeks. Hopefully, the plan is fairly self-explanatory but a few questions remain:- 1. There was a ground frame at Maghull when the long-departed goods yard existed at roughly the point I've positioned it. I assume it's because of the distance from the signal box (SB) to the farthest exit from the yard to the main line (about 450 yards). Would it be necessary to run a rod from the SB to the GF to release it, or could this be achieved by a release key to be collected by yard staff from the SB? 2. If the Distant Ground Signal (GS) in the yard is correct, would this have been operated from the SB or GF ? It was about 250 yards from the SB. 3. From the plan it is clear that there are two crossings from the up to down main and the track into the bay, with a trap point, is effectively a crossing. The crossings will have occasional passenger movements so would have FPL's, but would the bay entrance, as this would be merely a shunting move of empty stock into it ? Also would the lay-by or either yard entrance require an FPL as this will be goods only ? 4. I understand now that with a crossover, one rod only is required from the SB to operate both points at once. Does the same apply to FPL rodding? (Please say yes.... !!!) 5. Finally, is it necessary to have a 'shunt limit' signal near the far left hand yard exit as I've put (SL)? Any advice on these queries is much appreciated as is the advice you've unknowingly provided me with already! Cheers Bob Davies