Automatic Train Control
Michael L Roach
Michael L Roach
As developed by the Great Western Railway
The GWR started to experiment with a system of automatic train control in 1906 and devised a system consisting of a ramp between the running rails located at distant signals which lifted a shoe on the locomotive causing a bell to sound in the cab if the distant signal was at caution. The GWR system remained in use until the 1970s when it was superseded by the BR system. Ninety years ago today on 2 September 1931 the Company finally finished installing the ATC system on all its main lines. The equipment had been installed at every distant signal on 2,130 miles of track and 2,500 locomotives at a total cost of £250,000. The GWR Magazine of the time waxed lyrical about the system and the fact that “in the event of a distant signal being passed at caution, it would stop the train automatically before it reaches the next signal.
ADDENDUM
After writing the above in July 2021 I came across a further news item, probably culled from a GWR press release years later, on exactly the same subject. It appeared in the Railway Observer for November 1939 and reported that the scheme of installing its own system of automatic train control throughout the main line between Paddington and Penzance, Fishguard and Chester was completed by the fitting of the last ramp at Penzance on 9 November 1939. This time the report said that 3,250 engine had been fitted, and 2,114 ramps installed, but the cost was still in the region of £250,000. The GWR claimed that “tests have proved that at 60mph a train can be brought smoothly and automatically to a standstill in 900 yards or 450 yards before reaching a stop signal.”
1316 In this view of 2-8-2 tank 7211 passing through Newport Station we see no less than three GWR style ATC ramps in close proximity. The date is Thursday 6 September 1962. Copyright Michael L Roach.
Many thanks for your extensive research Michael
Changing engines at
Exeter St David's
Michael Forward
Exeter St David's
Michael Forward
Hello Roger, I hope your operation went well and that you are on the start of getting back on the road, or platform! I know you will be determined and do all your exercises. I send the first of two shots from a dull day at Exeter 0n 7 November 1982.This shows 31286 coming off a down parcels train and you can just see 50027.All the best, Michael
Now 50027 ‘Lion’ draws forward to take over the parcels train, many thanks, Copyright Michael Forward
Many Thanks Michael
Oath
Blll Elston
Blll Elston
Observations at Oath, 1st September 2021
Hope they are of interest, Cheers, Bill
Hope they are of interest, Cheers, Bill
Voyager 220028 on the diverted 1V42 Derby - Newton Abbot. Copyright Bill Elston.
HST 43239, with 43304 on the diverted 1V44 Leeds - NA at Oath 1st September 2021. Copyright Bill Elston
66560 on the diverted 4E18 Fairwater yd - Doncaster woodyard. at Oath 1st September 2021. Copyright Bill Elston
66715 GBRf 66715 t/t 66750 on 6G72 Credton - Westbury empty ballast. at Oath 1st September 2021. Copyright Bill Elston
66750 at Oath 1st September 2021. Copyright Bill Elston
Many thanks Bill