beast66606

Hi Peter, my contact says the drawing he has is only a general one - better to get some photos and model from them. So I've photographed some for you - here hth

Whilst awaiting for an early morning gypsum train I took some shots of the clamp locks at Helsby which I thought might be of interest.

No

It wasn't GWR - it was a Joint line between the GWR and LNWR although it was built somewhat earlier by the Chester and Birkenhead. What time frame ? I have signal box diagrams for both the Saxby box and the BR replacement.

I might be able to get drawings for a clamp lock - I will see what I can do. As per Dirty Diesel, if you want pics of clamp locks I have some, even a video so you can get the noise of that last "hamster squashing" squeal as they drive home. If you want to model a Chester one then make sure the oil squirts out

They're clamp locks (on the traps?) I did go in Holyhead box - several times B)

Llandudno is a standard Type 4 cabin - at one stage it had two boxes though, the one remaining is No.2, No.1 controlled the exit from the yard and the carriage sidings at the Junction end. Not got any shots over and above whats available on the net I'm afraid, never went in that box btw - Holyhead is an LMS cabin of 100 levers.

Llandudno Station or Junction ? For the (current) Junction you would need to scratch build to get a decent one, for the station you could use the London Road top (probably two joined) and scratch build a base - this would make whats known as an LNWR Type 4 cabin - perfect for North Wales. Before you start (again!) you should draw the signalling so you know how big the cabin should be ..

Colin Craig clamp locks might be more suitable - Llandudno Junction has these as its motors. Look a few posts into this thread

It's not a game, it's a business

Neither of my Capris had those wheels - KEM991P (originally brown and then flame red after a respray) had alloys, off the S versions which were acquired by the previous owner, a policeman after an RTA involving a 3.0S ! and DAW660T (light blue) was a 2.0S and had the alloys as standard - and some other bits which weren't My brothers MkIII Cortina (Red) - PCA432M had normal steels but had a vinyl roof. All had "Cib Bees" fitted All of these cars were frequent visitors to North Wales from 1980 onwards B) signalbox

Wasn't Halebarns partly CLC ? - maybe this is based on the signal that used to stand on the approach to Chester Northgate ? - good luck, it looks in worse condition than some prototypes I've seen

Blue Monday - New Order

Depends on volume of traffic really, if it was light then as Paul says, its probable they would keep the existing arrangement, but if the traffic, especially the passenger service, was heavier then they might not want bi-directional facilities as this presents extra risk - horses/courses. Colour lights could be introduced if there was a PTE paying for the work

Here's an option AHB = Automatic Half Barrier (at a level crossing)

In simplistic terms each arm controls the route to the next signal or buffer stop (simplistic view before we start getting variations!) Looking at plan you would need a few changes if you were to add a second platform

I suspect that most running line signals would be lit from sunset until at least close of traffic and then extinguished until the line reopened again the following morning (unless its a Sunday!) until sunrise, I think the SA lists the exceptions rather than the norm, semaphore signals controlling exit to the main lines were probably also lit at the same times. I'm afraid my SAs are mostly LNWR/LMS/BR LMR. Give one a go - remember you can get LED paint, yellow for example will take the brightness out of of yellow/white/sunny white LED.

Hi CK, I'm afraid I'm a classic case of not liking the solution but no real alternative, the circuit suggested might make LEDs more usable ? Give them a trial, you might like them. Maybe a small LED painted with some LED paint might be dull enough ? - needs some experimenting.

Lamps ? - little ones ?

Not in my humble one - resistors on LEDs are not a sliding scale like a lamp, they dim a bit and then go out - but each to their own of course.

Hi C.K, Personally I don't like LEDs in semaphores, oil lit lamps were incredibly dull and difficult to see and I think LEDs are too powerful for this period - but I know others use them (which is their choice and I respect that)

I had a good couple of tugs on Friday myself. Heres 60096 taking the up slow at Acton Bridge on the Ratcliffe, it was struggling approaching the signal due to slippy rail conditions but had just about got control of the train again by this point And 60010 with a Ratcliffe - LBT overtakes some 325s awaiting permission to go to Warrington RMT, notice the Pendo heading South, it cleared seconds before the 60 got to the sweet spot.

Nice one John. I've seen plenty of prototypes with the arms "cocked" - as long as there are no block / lever controls on them no-one seemed to mind too much

Get that signalbox sorted