I.R.S.E. visit
Swindon Panel
John Roberts
Swindon Panel
John Roberts
Subject: CRS Swindon Panel
Keith, on Wednesday 30th November 2022 I joined an IRSE (Institution of Railway Signal Engineers) visit to Didcot where the Railway Centre has built a small signalling museum which includes an exhibit by the Swindon Panel Society.
During resignalling mania in the 1960s, most of the contractors were busy with West Coast Electrification, so the Western Region signal works at Reading designed its own Turn & Push NX (Entrance-Exit) Panels based on the Swiss Integra system. They used the Domino mimic panels manufactured by Henry Williams and were installed at Old Oak Common, Slough, Reading, Swindon, Gloucester, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Port Talbot. Birmingham and Plymouth were the precursors to all of these, designed in the 1950s. In the 1970s BR imposed standardisation and Oxford was a later addition with a Push-Push Panel, while Westbury and Exeter were provided by Westinghouse. This substantially completed the conversion of the WR from Absolute Block to TCB (Track-Circuit Block) with MAS (Multiple-Aspect Signalling), and resulted in the closure of about 90% of some 2000 GWR mechanical signalboxes which were extant at nationalisation.
Swindon opened in 1968 and was staffed by two signalmen operating the station area, and Wootton Bassett and Thingley Junctions, whereas the rest of the area from Uffington to Badminton could be set to automatic. In the 1980s bidirectional working was installed, and the WR mechanical train describers were replaced by LEDs, and later by VDUs. The system was not immunised against electrification so was replaced by the Thames Valley Signalling Centre aka Didcot ROC (Rail Operating Centre) in 2016.
Network Rail sold the panel for a pound, and the Society has set up a computer simulator so that the panel can be operated in real time. Ironically, they've also sold sessions back to NR to train professional signalmen. The current panel layout predates the new Down Platform at Swindon, so it's easy to lock up the route waiting for a Down HST to stop at the Up Platform, a Down Freight crossing Wootton Bassett, or an Up Westbury crossing Thingley. Great fun - maybe an idea for a CRS visit?
It was great to catch up with everyone at the November meeting and good to see the Society bouncing back from the Covid closures. Season's greetings, John.
Keith, on Wednesday 30th November 2022 I joined an IRSE (Institution of Railway Signal Engineers) visit to Didcot where the Railway Centre has built a small signalling museum which includes an exhibit by the Swindon Panel Society.
During resignalling mania in the 1960s, most of the contractors were busy with West Coast Electrification, so the Western Region signal works at Reading designed its own Turn & Push NX (Entrance-Exit) Panels based on the Swiss Integra system. They used the Domino mimic panels manufactured by Henry Williams and were installed at Old Oak Common, Slough, Reading, Swindon, Gloucester, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Port Talbot. Birmingham and Plymouth were the precursors to all of these, designed in the 1950s. In the 1970s BR imposed standardisation and Oxford was a later addition with a Push-Push Panel, while Westbury and Exeter were provided by Westinghouse. This substantially completed the conversion of the WR from Absolute Block to TCB (Track-Circuit Block) with MAS (Multiple-Aspect Signalling), and resulted in the closure of about 90% of some 2000 GWR mechanical signalboxes which were extant at nationalisation.
Swindon opened in 1968 and was staffed by two signalmen operating the station area, and Wootton Bassett and Thingley Junctions, whereas the rest of the area from Uffington to Badminton could be set to automatic. In the 1980s bidirectional working was installed, and the WR mechanical train describers were replaced by LEDs, and later by VDUs. The system was not immunised against electrification so was replaced by the Thames Valley Signalling Centre aka Didcot ROC (Rail Operating Centre) in 2016.
Network Rail sold the panel for a pound, and the Society has set up a computer simulator so that the panel can be operated in real time. Ironically, they've also sold sessions back to NR to train professional signalmen. The current panel layout predates the new Down Platform at Swindon, so it's easy to lock up the route waiting for a Down HST to stop at the Up Platform, a Down Freight crossing Wootton Bassett, or an Up Westbury crossing Thingley. Great fun - maybe an idea for a CRS visit?
It was great to catch up with everyone at the November meeting and good to see the Society bouncing back from the Covid closures. Season's greetings, John.
Swindon Panel Box - opened 1968 Picture copyright John Roberts
Swindon panel - taken during IRSE visit 30th November 2022. Copyright John Roberts.
Many thanks indeed John for your report on your Swindon visit plus the detailed history of signalling in the area.
Salisbury
Paul Barlow
Paul Barlow
33015 Salisbury on 16.15 Cardiff to Brighton service. 11th December 1982. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks Paul - it looks like a cold evening.
1st Santa Specials
Bodmin & Wenford
Jon Hird & Mark Lynham
Bodmin & Wenford
Jon Hird & Mark Lynham
I spent an hour around Bodmin today (cunningly tied in with the weekly shopping trip) and managed to grab a few photos of 47306 and visiting London Transport Pannier tank L92 which were working the Santa by steam/Santa by Sulzer trains.
I was especially pleased with the picture of the steam loco in the sun, with the crew waving back at my son in the field. That will be a nice one for him to look back on when he’s older.
All the best, Jon Hird
I was especially pleased with the picture of the steam loco in the sun, with the crew waving back at my son in the field. That will be a nice one for him to look back on when he’s older.
All the best, Jon Hird
Jons son gets a wave. 3rd December 2022. Copyright Jon Hind.
47306 'The Sapper' passes Coleslogget Halt. 3rd December 2022. Copyright Jon Hird.
L92 bursts from under the bridge at Coleslogget. 3rd January 2022. Copyright Jon Hird.
Today saw the first of the Santa Specials at the Bodmin & Wenford railway, hauled by L92 (5787) Hired in from the South Devon Railway and resident diesel 47306 "The Sapper". Thanks, Mark Lynam.
1. 47306 pulls into Bodmin Parkway with 10.00 Bodmin General to Bodmin Parkway with 5 coaches behind. 3rd December 2022. Copyright Mark Lynam
2. L92 on the Bodmin end, waiting to work 10.30 Bodmin Parkway to Bodmin General. Taken with permission. 3rd December 2022. Copyright Mark Lynam.
3. 47306 departing Bodmin General working 11.30 Bodmin General to Bodmin Parkway. 3rd December 2022. Copyright Mark Lynam
4. Bagnall 0-4-0ST "Judy" at Bodmin General being topped up with water, I'm presuming this was being used to provide heating to the carriages where Santa was based on the cold day?. 3rd December 2022. Copyright Mark Lynam.
5. L92 arriving at Bodmin General working 12.00 Bodmin Parkway to Bodmin General. 3rd December 2022. Copyright Mark Lynam.
6. 37142 in the workshop currently being overhauled. Taken with permission. 3rd December 2022. Copyright Mark Lynam.
7. Shortly after arrival with 12.00 Bodmin Parkway to Bodmin General. Taken with permission. 50042 is also in the steam shed as a backup in case 47306 runs into problems. 3rd December 2022. Copyright Mark Lynam.
Many thanks Mark - 'full marks' for your pictures.