SVR S&T Dept.
http://www.svrsig.org/svr/Iss217.htm

S & T Notes - issue 217

SIGNALLING NOTES - Chris. Hall

The last set of notes brought us up to date to the end of October 2021 - since then we have compled a few jobs and have some new members. Dan Salter has joined the department as a full time trainee technician (he already volunteers on the MPD at Bewdley so is used to hard work). Bradley Windridge has left us after 4 years on the S&T as his apprenticeship period is complete and he moves on to the C&W maintenance team with our best wishes. Andy MacBeth has also joined the ranks as a regular volunteer and brings some electronic wizardry skills. The paths of the regular Sunday volunteers (Dave Stowell, John Smith, John Taylor, Thomas Franklin, Paul Marshall, Fred Cotterell and myself) and of the mid-week volunteers (Geoff Finch, Brian Graystone, Paul Rowley and Tom Boyns) do occasionally cross.

The Kidderminster footbridge work is now expected to start with a lift out on 12 February - the crane contractor was struck by the dreaded Greek letter on the original date. The S&T are providing a Possession Manager for these works and doing the necessary disconnections. We have some roller castings in stock in case of damage during the work and may persuade the accountant that we should order some more. The other parts (nuts, bolts and tubes) we have obtained. The running disc at the points for Engine Line 1 (no. 35) is now surrounded by a blue paint mark indicating that it will have to be removed for one of the four crane feet to stand.

Dave Stowell and John Taylor have been working on a replacement location cupboard (no. 56) for the Main to Loop motor points at Kidderminster (no. 14) and testing is continuing in parallel by Fred Cotterell, Matthew Morgan and Dan. This cupboard will need to be installed in February 2022 with attendance in numbers on 20th February for testing. A new cable trough will need to be laid between locations 55 (Down Outer Advanced Starting Signal) and 56 (motor points) and we really need some young enthusiastic help with this.

Temporary power supplies were connected up on 9 January under Kidderminster box which power all circuits to WMSC in order to allow changeover work in the relay room without disturbing the dome. Dave and John are making up new 110V bus bar and fuse holders to replace the current exposed arrangement. As well as being a H&S improvement it also makes some space in order to mount an N12 TJ which replaces an older larger model below which has gone duff.

At Foley Park we have re-bedded the last compensator and cannot do any more until the siding end of the crossover is laid.

The post for the replacement bracket signal for Bewdley South has been drilled for the various fittings and moved to Bewdley car park and has just had its last coat of black and white gloss so the poly tunnel can be removed and the bracket steelwork, dolls and fittings installed. We are hoping it will be ready for lifting into place on 21 March, for which the 30 ton crane has been booked.

The steelwork has all been shot blasted by Pukkablast and spray primer applied. Since then a coat of red oxide and black gloss has been applied - having seen only 15 years use since a major refurbishment, the steelwork was in quite good condition. A special train has been arranged to move the steelwork from Kidderminster to Bewdley on 31 January in between test runs of Britannia.

The lifting plan for 21 March 2022 showing the lifting adapter.

Picking up the replacement signal in May 2006. This is what we plan to do, again, on 21 March 2022. [Photo: C. K. Hall]

The previous lift on 2 May 2006.

The cranks at the base of the Down Main Inner Homes at Bewdley North need refurbishing but our work list has no vacancies at present!

Track circuit 23T at Arley, the berth track circuit for the Down Homes, has been commissioned - it is 180 yards long and indicates that the Driver can now clearly see the Signal. Signalmen will be able to use this and be able to pull off once the Driver whistles - previously it was difficult to tell whether the train was at Victoria Bridge or in the cutting approaching the signal. If both trains arrive together the Regulations still require them both to be brought to a stand at the Home signal. Kevin Simpson has made a sympathetic amendment to the signal box diagram.

The footbridge at Highley obscures the view of the Down Home from the box and a repeater has been fitted to this signal due to popular request and the lamp repeater for the Down Distant now includes the Down Home and has been relabelled South Lamps. A signal lamp problem here highlighted about three interconnected issues. The lamps are burning brightly now, but a cable between the station and the Down Distant will need to be replaced soon.

Contractors at Alveley Woods have severed our main signalling cable which will require re-jointing and full testing with teams in Highley, Hampton Loade and Bridgnorth boxes before normal working can be restored.

At Hampton Loade the P-Way have cunningly rearranged the position of some sleepers, having renewed some timbers on the north end points (no. 6). We were also expecting rails to be renewed but this bit of the work is deferred, so we wont have to remove and replace the locking bar this Winter. One days work turned into three as the rodding lengths had to be adjusted - many thanks to the Bridgnorth Boiler Shop who helped us with bending cranks and cutting big holes which saved huge amounts of time for us on this job and on the Boiler Shop GF.

The timbers supporting the Bridgnorth Boiler Shop GF have been replaced and the rodding and cranks repositioned and renewed. We are looking for a willing carpenter to help restore the GF release cupboard which is showing signs of age.

Bridgnorth Boiler Shop GF after renewal of the timbers. [Photo: M. Morgan]

A reminder that this article, as well as other information on Signal Engineering, can be viewed in full colour here on the unofficial Signal Engineering web site.

issue 216 -- return to main page -- issue 218