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Title: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on August 21, 2013, 10:59:03 Just discovered this website http://www.swindonpanel.org.uk/index.php (http://www.swindonpanel.org.uk/index.php)
Looks like an exciting project to preserve Swindon panel after it is taken out of service next year and I will be following it with interest. They have a meeting at 11am on Saturday 14th September followed by a visit to Swindon panel. I think it is great that some of the more modern infrastructure is being preserved and the plan to make it "work" with a computer simulator running behind it is something I'd love to see happen. Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on September 14, 2013, 19:23:06 The group held a meeting today to outline their plans and allow people a chance to see the panel in action.
The group have "bought" the panel from Network Rail for a nominal ^1 and will take possession as soon as it is taken out of use (expected to be during 2014). Negotiations with an unnamed heritage site to install and run the panel are at an advanced stage. It was a fascinating three hours both hearing their plans and seeing the work of the signallers. Two men controlling all movements between Uffington and Thingley Junction, Kemble and Hullavington assisted by a clerk. No doubt more pictures will be appearing on the preservation group's website. However here are a handful of ones I took. (http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/swigen.jpg) Looking along the length of the panel - Chippenham in the foreground looking towards the London end (http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/swiswi.jpg) Swindon Station area (http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/swimkm.jpg) Just for grahame, a diverted West of England service (top) coming off the Melksham line at Thingley, just after a Bristol bound train has passed on the main line (http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/swrelay.jpg) A view of the relay room which makes it all work! Even though it was lunchtime on a Saturday it was pretty busy with freight trains and engineers' trains on the move and technicians working on the line at Hullavington needing to contact the panel to carry out routine work. However all dealt with calmly and without fuss. Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Trowres on September 17, 2013, 19:11:23 Glad to see you left me out of the photographs, Bobm. I must have been standing behind you at the Melksham end of the panel! :D
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on September 17, 2013, 20:15:11 I probably have you in "unpublished" photos then. I tried, where possible, to keep faces out of it!
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Chris from Nailsea on September 17, 2013, 21:32:48 Hmm. ::)
Having met both of you, I can only comment that if you were standing behind bobm, Trowres, you probably wouldn't have been able to see much of the panel. :o ;D Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on September 17, 2013, 21:41:41 You cheeky so and so. ;D
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Phil on September 18, 2013, 13:06:43 No personal attacks, please gentlemen.
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on November 14, 2013, 11:24:16 The group has announced it has secured an agreement to put the panel into a purpose built building at the Great Western Society at Didcot.
http://www.swindonpanel.org.uk/resources/updates/Swindon_Panel_Update_4.pdf (http://www.swindonpanel.org.uk/resources/updates/Swindon_Panel_Update_4.pdf) Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on May 24, 2014, 07:08:42 Network Rail has announced a delay in the closure of Swindon Panel and the transfer of control to Didcot. It was originally going to be the August Bank Holiday weekend but will now be Christmas this year or Easter 2015.
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Chris from Nailsea on May 24, 2014, 18:19:03 Blimey! That's a fair bit of slippage in the dates - four months, or possibly eight months? :o
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on May 24, 2014, 20:04:07 At face value it does seem a long delay but I guess you need more than an ordinary weekend to do it and after August the next bank holidays are not until Christmas or Easter.
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Railfriend on May 25, 2014, 15:34:41 bobm, where did you read about the delay in closing Swindon Panel? I can't find any references to it on Network Rail sites. Was it something that someone at NR mentioned to you and isn't yet announced? Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on May 25, 2014, 21:05:06 It was an announcement given to members of the Swindon Panel Preservation Society last week.
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: ellendune on May 26, 2014, 16:25:13 Swindon Advertiser now has the story: (http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/11236480.August_closure_of_signal_system_is_derailed/)
Quote August closure of signal system is derailed NETWORK Rail announced this week that the closure date for the Swindon Panel, the outgoing signalling system at Swindon train station, has been postponed. It was originally due to be removed during the August bank holiday but has been postponed for either three months to Christmas 2014 or seven months to Easter 2015. The panel was due to go on display in Didcot after the signalling system for the South West is centralised later this year, but that time-frame has now been extended. Danny Scraggins, of the Swindon Panel Society, said: ^While it is disappointing that we won^t gain possession of our panel asset as soon as we would have liked, this does actually work fairly favourably for the Society. ^The building at Didcot will be a lot further progressed, if not completed, by the time the panel closes. The extra time allows us further breathing space in fundraising for the move. ^It^s possible that it could even give us the time to raise enough to secure the ^whole lift^ option, which would bring great benefit to the speed and ease of the move and the reinstatement. ^It would almost certainly be true to say that securing a ^whole lift^ operation in December 2014 or Easter 2015 will see the panel working at Didcot earlier than if it was a ^dismantle^ job in August 2014.^ Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: JayMac on May 26, 2014, 16:38:36 A reminder of the Swindon Panel Society's website, which contains a wealth of information about the panel, and also a link to the membership and donations webpages managed on behalf of SPS:
http://www.swindonpanel.org.uk/index.php Membership: http://www.heritage-ops.org.uk/product/205/ Donations: https://www.heritage-ops.org.uk/product/207/ Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: JayMac on November 11, 2014, 06:57:46 RailUK Forums are currently conducting a poll to see which preservation project, from a list suggested by forum members, will get a donation of ^500 from RailUK's surplus funds.
One of those listed projects is the Swindon Panel Preservation. Obviously posting here will give folk a fair idea of who I've voted for! Members of this forum, who are also members over there, are of course free to chose whichever project they think would benefit most from the donation. ;) http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=108104 Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Chris from Nailsea on November 11, 2014, 18:31:56 As a member of RailUK Forums, I, too, have voted over there. :-X
Their poll closes on 16 November 2014, by the way. ;) Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: ChrisB on November 14, 2014, 13:33:35 yup, I've voted. :-)
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: JayMac on November 15, 2014, 22:04:59 A final bit of canvassing on my part. I think The Swindon Panel Society would really appreciate the ^500 being offered by RailUK. Swindon Panel is a little different from the usual preservation appeals that go on in the railway heritage sector.
The vote closes on 17th November 2014 at 00:18. Any members here, who are embers over at RailUK, please do vote. http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=108104 Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: John R on November 15, 2014, 22:20:20 I've voted too for the Panel.
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: JayMac on November 17, 2014, 00:56:27 Swindon Panel missed out by one vote! :o
At least 50 votes, by my reckoning, were excluded with a retrospectively added rule that new members with a zero post count were ineligible to vote. A very real danger of accusations of rigging for doing that. I've certainly expressed my disappointment at the removal of a fair number of votes. ::) Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: grahame on November 17, 2014, 01:57:09 Swindon Panel missed out by one vote! :o At least 50 votes, by my reckoning, were excluded with a retrospectively added rule that new members with a zero post count were ineligible to vote. A very real danger of accusations of rigging for doing that. I've certainly expressed my disappointment at the removal of a fair number of votes. ::) * Logic suggests that there would have been a different winner had there not been a last minute rule change - otherwise there would have been no point in going to the trouble of changing the rules. * If a vote with a substantive outcome such as this one has a problem, the fair convention is to declare it null and void and to rerun the vote with the problem / rules sorted. * I am a little surprised that who voted for what is published, and the voting isn't secret. Railforums has left itself open to accusations of vote rigging, and of running a vote in which peer pressure takes a role that it shouldn't. Reminds me of a recent local test of opinion ... several comments of "I support your 'yes', Graham, but I dare not say so in public because the 'no' leader is part of my close business community". Congratulations to the Loughborough Gap project; it will be interesting to see if they accept the money or ask for the vote to be rerun in these circumstances. Although Swindon Panel came second, we should not come to any foregone conclusion that it's that project that would have won without the rules being changed after voting. Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: grahame on November 18, 2014, 08:42:39 Following up on my own post, there has been considerable activity on the other forum on this topic. Hindsight is a marvellous thing ... and they appear to have sorted things out which looked rather ugly and perhaps unfair yesterday morning.
I'm somewhat re-assured by the statement that the extra votes which were discounted were for none of the top three projects; it seems like they accounted for some 20% of the votes and brought a project which had little support from the regulars out on top. And there is a suggestion that the sign-up-to-vote elements weren't genuine. But only somewhat re-assured; a vote such as this should help encourage new posters (one of our prize competitions was won by someone who signed up to take part ... and has since become a regular, occasionally-posting member) and voting should be secret - not only for the people who vote, but also for the members who choose not to vote and so don't appear on the lists. Contrary to my post as this developed, I now feel that it's reasonable for the Loughborough folks to accept the forum's donation without considering it to be seriously tainted money. We seem to have moved from a possible "rigged vote" scenario to one that's had its problems, but seems reasonably fair in outcome. Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: John R on November 18, 2014, 09:52:38 I think it was a reasonable action to take when it became clear that there was an element of vote rigging going on, but it might have been better had the rules been changed once that became clear. Remember that the people running Nat Pres are (I presume) volunteers, have day jobs, and set up the competition in good faith not being experts on ballots. It was clear that some people were looking to take advantage of that lack of expertise, and so it was right to block them.
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Chris from Nailsea on November 18, 2014, 21:16:58 It seems to me that the Swindon Panel Preservation project can take heart from the fact that two moderators and two administrators on RailUK Forums voted for them - a very good level of moral support, even though they were ultimately pipped by just that one vote! ;)
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Chris from Nailsea on February 18, 2015, 20:48:49 A video news update, from the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-31517814):
Quote All change as Swindon's 1960s signal box departs for museum A signal box, which has kept trains in the West of England on track for the past 50 years, is to be preserved as a piece of railway history. The panel, at Swindon railway station, controls trains over more than 200 miles of track. But from the end of May, a computer in Didcot will take over and the panel will head to a transport museum. Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on March 27, 2015, 22:08:05 News today that the closure of the panel may well be delayed for unspecified reasons.
http://www.swindonpanel.org.uk/2015/03/27/swindon-panel-decommissioning-deferred-again/ (http://www.swindonpanel.org.uk/2015/03/27/swindon-panel-decommissioning-deferred-again/) Quote Unfortunately we have to report that we have been advised by Network Rail today that it is highly likely that the Swindon Area Signalling Renewal, and associated decommissioning of Swindon Panel, will be deferred for a third time. It is not yet clear when the work would be deferred until, this is something that Network Rail will no doubt need to work out. We will report further details as soon as we know them and report as soon as we can on how this affects our plans and expectations for the future. (more in the link above) Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: TonyK on March 30, 2015, 21:16:18 News today that the closure of the panel may well be delayed for unspecified reasons. Doesn't sound like a disaster to me, more a blessing in disguise. Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on March 30, 2015, 21:18:04 For those preserving the panel I'd agree but, as their news release says, I do feel for the Network Rail staff working there who are in limbo a bit.
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: ellendune on November 13, 2015, 18:28:50 From the Swindon Advertiser (http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/14027797.No_trains_through_Swindon_during_weekend_railway_shut_down/) Quote Network Rail plans major signalling works on November 21 and 22 TRAINS will be replaced by buses next weekend when the railway is closed around Swindon to allow Network Rail to carry out signalling works. Replacement bus services will run from Swindon to Chippenham, Didcot and Kemble during the 48-hour shut-down over Saturday, November 21, and Sunday, November 22, which will see no trains run through or to Swindon. During this time Network Rail will be installing and testing a new signalling system which will replace equipment dating from the 1960s and 70s. This, they say, will pave the way for greater reliability and fewer delays for passengers and is necessary for the arrival of the new electric trains expected from 2017. Paddy Gregg, Network Rail^s signalling project director for the Western and Wales routes, said: ^This project forms part of our programme to re-signal the whole of the Great Western route, providing passengers with greater reliability, fewer delays and smoother journeys. ^Our work to increase reliability, together with the ability of the new electric trains to reduce journey times and accommodate more passengers, will also help to drive economic growth across the Thames Valley, west and south west England.^ The work taking place over the weekend of 21 and 22 November is the second stage of the Swindon re-signalling project, which has already seen the installation of more than 700km of signalling and power cables. Around 250 members of Network Rail^s ^orange army^ will be working along 80 miles of railway over the weekend, with testing of the new signalling system being carried out before control of the railway moves from the mechanical signal box at Swindon to the state-of-the-art Thames Valley signalling centre in Didcot early next year. Network Rail said that all signallers who used to work at the Swindon signal box have been moved into other signalling roles, predominantly at the Thames Valley signalling centre. Paddy said: ^Replacing and upgrading 40-year-old signalling equipment is very complex and for safety reasons must be carried out when trains aren^t running. "I would like to thank passengers in advance for their patience and understanding while we complete this essential upgrade that will lead to greater reliability and fewer delays, and pave the way for the advantages electrification and the new electric trains will bring to both passengers and those who live close to the railway.^ The third and final stages of the Swindon re-signalling project will take place early next year, the details of which will be provided later this year. All passengers are advised to check travel information before leaving by visiting www.gwr.com. ------ To date, the Swindon re-signalling project has included the installation of: Eight new under-track crossings Three new under-road crossings Under-track and under-road crossings are large ducts that allow power, signal and telecoms cables to run from equipment on one side of the track/road to the other. 740km of new signalling and power cables 80km of telecoms cables 165 new signal post telephones, enabling train drivers to contact signallers if needed. 109 new signals Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: ellendune on November 13, 2015, 18:30:44 Will this mean Swindon 'A' Panel will close then or will that only happen after a further stage? If so what will this stage cover?
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: SandTEngineer on November 13, 2015, 18:45:42 This stage covers Uffington to Rushey Platt (West of Swindon). This will leave Wooton Bassett and West therof on the existing Swindon panel until the final stage which was going to be Christmas/New Year 2015/2016 but it looks if its slipping back again (now I wonder why ::)).
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on November 13, 2015, 19:33:32 Will the work in a fortnight's time also include the small bit of the Kemble line that Swindon still controls?
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: SandTEngineer on November 13, 2015, 20:03:22 Will the work in a fortnight's time also include the small bit of the Kemble line that Swindon still controls? Yes Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: ChrisB on November 14, 2015, 08:25:00 A week's time? Next weekend...
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on November 14, 2015, 08:26:42 It was two weekends away (just) when I wrote it ;D
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Chris from Nailsea on November 14, 2015, 17:19:40 ... until the final stage which was going to be Christmas/New Year 2015/2016 but it looks if its slipping back again (now I wonder why ::)). Shaw-ly not? :P ::) ;D Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: SandTEngineer on November 14, 2015, 18:25:57 Dates from a post on the WNXX forum (not sure of the original source for the dates as I haven't seen any official notification yet confirming them):
Uffington to Rushey Platt (excl) - 22/23 November Rushey Platt to Wootton Bassett - 23/24 January Wootton Bassett to Corsham/Hullavington - 20/21 February Different plan to what I understood to be the case. Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Adelante_CCT on November 14, 2015, 20:52:57 Quote Uffington to Rushey Platt (excl) - 22/23 November I assume this should read as 21/22 November, otherwise good fun for commuting next Monday! Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: SandTEngineer on November 18, 2015, 15:14:26 The latest news can be found here on the Swindon Panel Preservation website:
http://www.swindonpanel.org.uk/2015/11/18/swindon-panel-update-11-out-now/ Note: The de-commissioning dates and arrangements are more accurate than those published on the WNXX forum :P ::) We seem to have two topics discussing Swindon Panel/Resignalling. Perhaps I could kindly ask one of the moderators to merge them into one (the other is at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=12821). Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Chris from Nailsea on November 19, 2015, 22:57:02 Thanks for your constructive suggestion, SandTEngineer. ;)
Yes, the two topics were in danger of duplicating input on the ongoing subject, so I've now moved one topic from 'the wider picture' and merged both of them here. I think this helps with 'continuity and ease of future reference'. CfN. ;D Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: SandTEngineer on November 19, 2015, 23:30:36 Thanks CfN. Being a Moderator on another forum I know that sometimes it can be a pain having to move things around ;)
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on November 19, 2015, 23:32:34 Oh he loves it really. Gets him out of doing the washing up! ;D
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Chris from Nailsea on November 19, 2015, 23:46:36 Cheeky git! :o ::) ;D
It's really no problem, merging topics in response to any constructive suggestion from a Coffee Shop member: I merely have to look at where best to put the merged topic, and how best to rename it. (I'd far rather spend my time doing that than have to move any topic as a 'damage-limitation exercise', where a member has possibly posted inappropriately, for example - but that happens only once in a blue moon, thankfully!) :-X Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on November 22, 2015, 09:04:57 Just a small update.
The new signals at the west end of Swindon station are lit ready for their first trains, including SW1201 on the end of platform 4. (http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/swisig1.jpg) The old gantry, which was too low for the wires, has been taken down and now lies in the car park. (http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/swisig2.jpg) Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: ellendune on November 22, 2015, 09:11:16 The old gantry, which was too low for the wires, has been taken down and now lies in the car park. That's sets the time the car park will fill even earlier. Hope they move it away today! Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on November 22, 2015, 09:12:51 As I left a low loader was arriving which I suspect was going to be used to move it. ;)
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: SandTEngineer on November 22, 2015, 19:30:30 Hot off the press:
http://www.swindonpanel.org.uk/2015/11/22/uffington-to-rushey-platt-decommissioning-goes-ahead/ Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: JayMac on December 09, 2015, 22:21:13 RailUK Forums are currently conducting a poll to see which preservation project, from a list suggested by forum members, will get a donation of ^x from RailUK's surplus funds. One of those listed projects is the Swindon Panel Preservation. Obviously posting here will give folk a fair idea of who I've voted for! Members of this forum, who are also members over there, are of course free to chose whichever project they think would benefit most from the donation. ;) Another poll is being run by RailUK Forums at the moment (December 2015), and again Swindon Panel Society made the shortlist for a donation. This time round two worthy rail preservation projects are in line to receive donations. Poll winner gets ^1000, runner-up ^500. Again, by posting here I've nailed my colours to the mast, but don't let that sway you. If you are a member over at RailUK Forums (with at least 5 posts made before 24th November 2015) take a look at the list of projects and cast your vote. All shortlisted projects were chosen by RailUK Forums' members, and all are worthy recipients. Each project has a link to its website and a link to a post by the forum member who first proposed it. http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=124061 Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Chris from Nailsea on December 09, 2015, 22:52:19 I am indeed also a member of Rail UK Forums (it's a long story ::) ), but weren't there some issues on a previous occasion over there, when the rules were changed while voting was still in progress? :-X
I'd be happy to cast my vote on this one - provided nobody moved the goalposts in the middle of the game again, so to speak. :-X Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: JayMac on December 09, 2015, 23:26:55 I am indeed also a member of Rail UK Forums (it's a long story ::) ), but weren't there some issues on a previous occasion over there, when the rules were changed while voting was still in progress? :-X I'd be happy to cast my vote on this one - provided nobody moved the goalposts in the middle of the game again, so to speak. :-X Moving goalposts eh? Have you read my post 'over there'? :P ;) ;D Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Chris from Nailsea on December 09, 2015, 23:41:42 No, not yet - but I will! ;)
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: JayMac on December 16, 2015, 17:22:27 The result of the poll is in.
Swindon Panel Society came first and gets a donation of ^1000. http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=124061&page=2 ;D Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Chris from Nailsea on December 20, 2015, 00:53:46 Congratulations to the Swindon Panel Society! ;) :D ;D
Posted quite impartially, obviously. :P Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: ellendune on January 24, 2016, 13:01:32 Dates from a post on the WNXX forum (not sure of the original source for the dates as I haven't seen any official notification yet confirming them): ... ... Rushey Platt to Wootton Bassett - 23/24 January Wootton Bassett to Corsham/Hullavington - 20/21 February I have seen a tweets from NR about recovering redundant equipment at Thingley Jn and testing at Westbury. How far is this weekend's commissioning going? Is it going all the way to the interface with the Bristol and Westbury Panels towards Bath and Trowbridge (Not sure where the interfaces are)? Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on January 24, 2016, 13:10:33 As I understand it, after this weekend the only signalling Swindon Panel will be responsible for will be between Alderton Tunnel and Hullavington on the Badminton route. That will then be handed to Didcot over the weekend of the 20/21st February when Swindon Panel will finally close.
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on January 27, 2016, 11:29:07 The map at Open Train Times (http://www.opentraintimes.com/maps/signalling/swindon) has been updated following last week's resignalling works.
By combining two maps you can now see the signal aspects from east of Reading to Thingley Junction if that's what you want. Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: SandTEngineer on February 16, 2016, 20:39:17 Just a small reminder that Swindon Panel closes for good this coming Saturday (20 February 2016). RIP :( .......but not quite as the actual panel will then be moved into preservation for all to see at Didcot Railway Centre ;) :)
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: John R on February 20, 2016, 09:59:06 Looks like the honour of being the last train controlled by it fell to the 2245 Paddington to Swansea (according to RTT). RIP.
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Red Squirrel on February 20, 2016, 14:37:42 7 - 5 - 5
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Western Pathfinder on February 20, 2016, 16:15:23 Ding Ding.
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: TonyK on February 20, 2016, 17:14:18 3-4-2-2
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Western Pathfinder on February 21, 2016, 01:09:43 7-5-5 I think as I'm not aware of what 3-4-2-2 means.
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Billhere on February 21, 2016, 10:51:52 7-5-5 Box switching out.
Local bell codes took all shapes and forms (sounds!). They were used as route describers for Signalmen at junction boxes. That one may be one that was used in the Swindon area. At Oxford in the 60's trains going North for either the Bletchley line or the Cotswolds were belled as 1-3 (branch train) regardless of which route they going on. Station North Box used to initiate the bell code for the information of North Junction (for the Bletchley line) or Wolvercot for the Cotswolds. They then reverted to their proper bell code from there on. It was information and saved phone calls. Freight trains for those lines ran as 1-2 instead of the class of freight code used once they cleared Oxford. I used to go to boxes in the Paddington area in the mid 60's where there were special codes for virtually everything. Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Stroud Valleys on February 22, 2016, 14:51:58 Now that Swindon has finally closed now :D, what's next on the list of signalling networks to transfer to the Didcot Signalling Centre
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on February 22, 2016, 16:08:16 I read somewhere that part of Bristol Panel moves in the next few months.
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: IndustryInsider on February 22, 2016, 16:14:44 To concur with 'Bobm', I believe it was supposed to be Oxford, but I have a feeling that part of Bristol has now leapfrogged the queue and will be done in several stages starting this year.
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: SandTEngineer on February 22, 2016, 16:50:05 Bristol is next. I had started a new thread here: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=16746.0
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: IndustryInsider on February 22, 2016, 17:27:29 I knew I'd read that somewhere. Just forgotten I'd read it here! Thanks, 'SandTEngineer'!
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: TonyK on February 22, 2016, 20:59:02 7-5-5 I think as I'm not aware of what 3-4-2-2 means. I cheated. I'm a former tin miner, not railwayman. At South Crofty mine, Redruth, IIRC from 1974, 3 bells signalled that there were men in the cage, 4-2 was for 380 fathom level, and 2 indicated that the direction of travel was down, as a sort of check digit. So 3-4-2-2 meant "down to 380 level, men on board". Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Billhere on February 22, 2016, 22:01:58 In another lifetime I was escorting a transformer at 4 mph towards Didcot Power Station. 297 tons of load on a 64 wheel trailer, 1 Scammell Contractor at the front pulling, 2 at the back pushing. 64 gears each in a straight line down the middle of the cab.
The head man was in the front tractor and he communicated with the others by bell code. Fascinating day, and a privilege to see true experts moving that sort of weight about. Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on April 02, 2016, 08:52:45 Important day for the Swindon Panel Society. The control desk has been taken from the panel building and put on a lorry to take it to the Didcot Railway Centre.
After removing all the control switches and tiles over the last few weeks, the desk was lifted onto a metal frame and slid out onto the adjacent roof. Then, just after 8 this morning, it was successfully hoisted from the roof to the lorry. (http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/panlift.jpg) Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Chris from Nailsea on April 03, 2016, 23:28:01 It's good to see a Mercedes Sprinter van in that scene - although in what capacity I really cannot work out. ;) ::) ;D
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: JayMac on April 03, 2016, 23:53:48 Looks to be a works van for the lifting/haulage company. Logo on the side of the van matches that on the hi-vis of bloke on the left.
Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Chris from Nailsea on April 04, 2016, 00:00:10 Oh. :(
I was rather hoping that the blue crane arm was actually mounted in the back of that van. In which case, I'd have liked one like that in my van. :P Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: JayMac on April 04, 2016, 00:03:00 More detail on the panel move from the Swindon Panel Society website:
http://www.swindonpanel.org.uk/2016/04/02/history-in-the-making/ From that story one learns that the move of the panel was handled by P&D Specialist Services (http://www.p-dspecialistservices.co.uk/). That's their logo on the van. Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: JayMac on April 04, 2016, 00:05:50 Oh. :( I was rather hoping that the blue crane arm was actually mounted in the back of that van. In which case, I'd have liked one like that in my van. :P To facilitate shopping delivery without missing Radio 2's Popmaster with Ken Bruce perchance? ;) :P ;D Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Chris from Nailsea on April 04, 2016, 00:08:04 Certainly not! :o
Classic FM for me. :-X Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: bobm on August 20, 2018, 21:59:03 Been a while since I updated on the progress of the Swindon Panel Society.
This was the scene at Didcot in June 2015 (http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/spsjun15.jpg) Roll on to last Saturday's AGM and the building is constructed and in use (http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/swipandid3.jpg) (http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/swipandid2.jpg) (http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/swipandid1.jpg) The panel now "works" thanks to a computer simulation and in the near future it will be open for would be signallers to try their hand at "controlling" trains from Uffington in the east to Melksham in the west as well as part of the routes to Kemble and towards Hullavington. Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: Red Squirrel on September 22, 2019, 21:11:51 Spent a very enjoyable day at Didcot Railway Centre today. I thought I'd pop in and have a look at the Swindon Panel Box exhibit, and it was fascinating - there were very friendly folk on hand explaining how it all works, and letting you set routes and generally play.
Even more fascinating to me, though, was this, which I had no idea had survived into preservation. I could have spent hours staring at it: (https://zemblanity.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_20190922_143449_crop1_scaled.png) If, like me, you haven't been to Didcot for a while (or - heaven forfend - you've never been!) do go again soon - there is so much to see. Highlights included rides in clerestory and toplight carriages behind 2999 Lady of Legend, and a look at the double twist lever frame under Radstock North Signal Box (OK, I didn't understand how it works - but you had to enjoy the enthusiasm of the poor chap who tried to explain it to me...) Title: Re: Swindon resignalling, closure and preservation of Swindon Panel box (merged topic) Post by: TonyK on September 23, 2019, 11:21:41 I could have spent hours staring at it: Looks like you did, if that clock is right! ;D This page is printed from the "Coffee Shop" forum at http://gwr.passenger.chat which is provided by a customer of Great Western Railway. Views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that content provided contravenes our posting rules ( see http://railcustomer.info/1761 ). The forum is hosted by Well House Consultants - http://www.wellho.net |