5BarVT

'Bordering' on difficult to answer?

"in advance" and "in rear" is confusing . . . assumed that "in rear" was what was behind (i.e. after) the signal as the train approached it, and "in advance" meant somewhere that the train got to before the signal. 

Even 'behind' can be used differently depending on circumstances: if out on the track and asked to stand behind a signal I would be looking at the back of it, however if I was talking about a train going behind a signal (to reverse being unstated) the driver would be looking at the front of it (having changed ends).

I understand that one of the difficulties with 'in advance' is that track colleagues use it to mean looking into the toes of the points so that for a trailing set it is the same as the operating use but for a facing set it is the opposite.

No wonder there is confusion!

Paul.

That looks nice. Shades of the old Manchester Victoria.

would there be a wooden fence around behind the Buffers, but leaving access to the Signals?

A railway must be fenced off, but only at the outer boundary. Since privatisation, that has led to fences between NR and other depots that didn't exist under BR, so don't regard current practice as what would have been the case in the 70's. I don't think there would have been a fence, but I stand to be corrected.

Paul.

WR had standard circuits for one pull (no track circuits), one train (tracked beyond starting signal), one train with track clear (tracked up to starting signal) all done at the receiving (non pegging) end. One acceptance (Welwyn control) was a 4 P.O. Relay box at the sending (pegging) end. All worked over a single line wire with earth return. I think the circuits are still available.

 

Edit to add: all of the above is only to prevent signalmen from forgetting about trains and ending up with two in the block. If the whole block is visible, and it's only a model 'by instruction' is perfectly adequate.

 

Paul.

Many thanks for the information on magnet strengths: an area where I had questions too. Also useful thoughts about the orientation of the poles (end vs top) - makes sense to me.

Paul.

Looks like a 5 bar VT frame to me!

Paul.

Looks good Andy. As others have also said, I think you will enjoy it. It reminds me a bit of a Thornton Fields Carriage Sidings with the buffers almost at right angles to the running lines, so even prototypical in its arrangement.

Paul.

Perhaps they didn't think about sighting when designing the canopy.

They don't. Consistently!

Bright yellow buffers as well!

But not for long bashing those hoppers up & down.

Paul.

'The Cherwell Bore'

I think I knew him.

Paul.

Thanks to the organisers from me too. A really enjoyable day, spent too much time talking and not enough looking at the excellent models (only me to blame!).

Paul.

Was the right size for two tracks in 1970.

Not a forum I frequent, hence delayed response.

Co-acting: platform 14 at Piccadilly.

Interesting 'splitting' banner: Deansgate platform on the end of the canopy.

Neither Western unfortunately.

Paul.

The two distant signals that can be seen are for Benton Quarry Junction. As shown, the line is clear through Benton Quarry for the ECML. I'm fairly certain the LH distant will be worked as it would not need to be provided if fixed (unless someone knowledgeable in NE signalling knows better) and will be to indicate that the signals at Benton Quarry are cleared round to Benton Station. I would expect the RH signal to be a distant too and it looks like it is: that will indicate signals off round towards Backworth.

Paul.

Looking good Andy. You can feel how the river and then the railway have cut through the landscape.

Paul.

Nearly forgot to order our 'Advance Tickets', got in just before the deadline (i hope!). Looking forward to the show.

Got mine already, just need to remember to take it with me when I come south tomorrow. Looking forward to the show too.

Paul.

Henley: not 'cos I'm clever, but because I'm familiar with The Stationmasters thread "The Stationmaster Says Goodbye to Steam at Henley-On-Thames" and I recognise the signal gantry in the background.

Paul.

Ed,

I lost your thread in the move, but have found it now.

As you can see, a three platform minories, with above the third platform a parcels platform and siding. An arriving parcels can run straight in (or into the passenger platform), a departing parcels is made up and placed in the top passenger platform for departure.  I have added a loco release crossover in the platforms - this works for short trains, but longer expresses are taken out by a new train loco.  To give an idea of scale, the bars below are 12" and 3" in OO.

Paul.

Yes, it was still called the School of Transport then, only becoming the Railway Engineering School a few years later. A bit like boarding school - we had to stand when the Principal (Leslie James) entered the dining hall and we were allocated a silver napkin ring complete with napkin, which lasted for the whole week.

I'd forgotten about the napkin rings - thanks for the memory. I worked there 84-88 when Charles Underhill was in charge - he took us on an outing to Tees Yard and Thornaby depot in the induction week, so he may have taken over by then too.

Remember the dodgy emergency alarm and the poor soul who was allocated follow up each one overnight?

Paul.

One of my colleagues carries an induction charger with him so that he can plug it in and place his phone on it to charge.

I find a lead lighter and quicker to use in the same USB socket!!

Paul (semi-Luddite).

Today I clocked up my 43rd anniversary of working in the rail industry.

Congratulations. 42 years two weeks ago yesterday for me. WR S&T started their trainees two weeks before BRB that year (get the regional loyalty in early?!). So 42 years ago today I would have been sitting in the lecture theatre at the ex LMS training school in Derby.

what I'm going to do when I grow up - I tell them that I don't know yet...

Ditto!

Anyway, when I got back from Melbourne this week these were waiting for me:

Really nice. I have seen their site before, just need to get round to deciding what I want on mine.

Paul.

As Meibion Glyndwr used to say, come home to a real fire, buy a cottage in Wales...

That's assuming you could find your way there with all the monolingual signposts cut down.

Paul.

Thanks for the help! I am still going to want help on the goods yard.

I have a plan for what is essentially an extended minories.  I want shunting so I am using parcels traffic to give that.  Newcastle 1970's certainly had enough moving of parcels stock to justify what I'm intending to do.

Paul.

Track plan please!

More or less pure Minories. There may be a plan somewhere in the thread, but you can easily work it out for yourself using the photos in posts 2 and 16.

Paul.