uax6

Its just a shame I can't find the original GPO drawings for the buildings at the minute... I know I had the A type one, but just can't find it!

The bits for the exchange are looking really impressive! I love the corners.

Andy G

The first image isn't an A, its a bit like a B, but not quite! Probably a mod to the design to suit the site.

The second image is a rendered A type, as is the 3rd image (but with a different design roof!).

The remaining images are B types.

Sadly the official drawing for the early A types (with the timber windows, no longer exists, but the one for the later type with Crittal Z windows does... 

I'm not sure the B type drawing exists still, I'll have to do some digging. But the larger B1 type certainly does.

Both types are also available as timber built versions..

PM me, and I'll see what I can do for you!

Andy G

Your telephone exchange buildings are quite easy... The pitched roof one is an A type building, that probably housed a UAX5 or a UAX12. The hipped building is a B type and would have been built for the replacement exchange, probably a UAX13 (although it could have been a UAX6). 

Your later colour photo of the exchange shows that the B type has been extended over the footprint of the A type building, in this case at least twice, if not three times! I'm guess the original B type is actually the 1/4 that is behind the tree, and its actually been extended forward and backwards, and lost the hipped roof in the process. 

Andy G

All bell codes (except prehaps train entering section...although some companies did call attention for this too) would have call attention (a single beat) which would be repeated by the advance box, sent before the main message code.

Also 'Train out of section' would only be sent when the train had passed the signal box (and the clearing point 440 yds beyond the home board) AND was complete with tail lamp (the tail lamp is only there to prove the train is complete, nothing else!).

Andy g

2 hours ago, Judge Dread said:

My complements sir, as a retired telephone engineer who started his working life with B.R. in the S & T dept and ended with our local telephone company, your poles look spot on to me.  I am working on the same project at the moment for our groups 0 gauge layout "Millicent Street" which is based on  a fictitious  sight  in Hull. 

I'm sure you are about to do this  anyway, but may I point out that the "lids" on the terminating pots show be painted black and in any case all pots should be toned down so as the local kids will not use them for target practice. 

On my kitchen beam I have a selection of gpo insulators, and I have both composition (black) and porcelain (white) pot head versions. In my experience it’s very rare to see a white pothead with a black top....

the poles look good, the only thing is that you have your wires too tight, there should be a drop in the span, or else they will snap in hot weather. Unless, of course, you are modelling a very cold winters day....

Andy g

The effect is pretty good, although i would have thought that your wires are a little tight (unless it's a winters morning?) Also the poles on the corners will need some sort of stay (Probably a gallows stay) on the resultant to stop the pole bending and falling over.

Planting poles is a very tricky thing to get right, the GPO produced quite a thick set of instructions to their engineers (some of which I have, and they make interesting reading).

Andy g

I found, buried away in a MRC (or was it a RM?) a system to make the older style tension lock coupling delayed action. It was very simple, a bit of filing and a hole with a ring through it. It allowed you to push back and leave a wagon in a siding at will.

I've scanned it and if you would like a copy PM me!

BTW a very clever way to disguise the ramp, and to operate it!

Andy G