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Author Topic: Westbury North Junction Renewal December 2018 - January 2019  (Read 28386 times)
ellendune
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« Reply #90 on: January 05, 2019, 21:16:12 »

So while Westbury was up to this, we on the CPRR have just commissioned the largest - and possibly tallest - ground frame in GWR (Great Western Railway) history to work the Platform 4 run-around loop at our mainline terminus. The new 'Princes Risborough North Ground Frame' is about 6 metres above rail level; 5 levers - 121 spare and 6 spaces!

How does it qualify as a ground frame rather than a signal box?
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Dispatch Box
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« Reply #91 on: January 05, 2019, 21:19:03 »

So while Westbury was up to this, we on the CPRR have just commissioned the largest - and possibly tallest - ground frame in GWR (Great Western Railway) history to work the Platform 4 run-around loop at our mainline terminus. The new 'Princes Risborough North Ground Frame' is about 6 metres above rail level; 5 levers - 121 spare and 6 spaces!

How does it qualify as a ground frame rather than a signal box?

Always thought a Signalbox had block codes, and between other boxes, a ground frame in my mind, works a local area, am I right?.
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Oxonhutch
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« Reply #92 on: January 05, 2019, 21:53:28 »

How does it qualify as a ground frame rather than a signal box?

A signalbox controls entry on to the railway either through [say] absolute block working or the issuing of a single-line token. A ground frame is merely a slave - its working is released by either a controlling signal box, or in our case at present, the unlocking of the frame using the single-line token. One of my jobs today was assembling the frame release lock using the token.
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Witham Bobby
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« Reply #93 on: January 05, 2019, 22:07:22 »


How does it qualify as a ground frame rather than a signal box?

Generally, we were taught, a signalbox is a place at which trains can be given or denied permission to approach or depart by communication with another such place.  In general terms, a ground frame has no routine means to allow a train to arrive or depart, other than with the permission of  the signalman(er) at its controlling signalbox.
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« Reply #94 on: January 05, 2019, 23:02:00 »

... I also spent many 'happy' hours at the top of a ladder making all the soldered connections on the tag blocks.... Roll Eyes Grin

Yes it did surprise me that such a key piece required a ladder to access it. In today's world it should never be designed like that as the designer is required to take into account the health and safety of the person constructing (and maintaining) the asset. 


Westbury signalling dates back to 1990, I believe (when Bradford North Curve was taken out) ... suggestion (but a few years back) that it was/is due to be replaced in 2026. So you're looking at outdated racks which would not be allowed new today?

Remembering it being installed in 1984, when I was going to Bristol to government centre, for unemployed people, that turned out to be a waste of public money.
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rogerw
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« Reply #95 on: January 06, 2019, 14:08:55 »

I agree.  Most of the Westbury area resignalling took place in 1983/84
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bradshaw
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« Reply #96 on: January 06, 2019, 14:51:11 »

May 1984 Westbury area stage 1
Signalling notice on this link
http://www.signallingnotices.org.uk/scans/96/1984%20-%201%20Westbury%20Stage%201.pdf
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Witham Bobby
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« Reply #97 on: January 06, 2019, 15:04:11 »

I agree.  Most of the Westbury area resignalling took place in 1983/84

Arguably, the fisrt step was the abolition of Westbury South Box in (I think) 1978.  The 99 lever frame was removed by volunteers from the West Somerset Railway, including me.  We drove a truck onto site, worked inside and outside the 'box (without PTS (Personal Track Safety) and other H&S (Health and Safety) related procedure and gear) over the space of a weekend to dismantle and remove the frame.  33 levers are now in use at Bishops Lydeard, 33 at Minehead, and I can't account for the other third of the frame.

Control of the junctions at Westbury South was transferred to a small panel contained in Westbury North Box.  This survived until replacement by the 1984 and present Westbury Power Box.
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bradshaw
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« Reply #98 on: January 07, 2019, 17:30:21 »


Explanation of what happened at Westbury
Problem in the signalling system which needed a change to the design and retesting. It took several attempts to correct it. Video on Twitter

https://twitter.com/networkrailwest/status/1082273112031457281
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SandTEngineer
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« Reply #99 on: January 07, 2019, 17:53:21 »

Its all OK then as lessons will be learnt...... Roll Eyes Embarrassed
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ellendune
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« Reply #100 on: January 07, 2019, 18:53:31 »

Intriguing.  So why did it need a design change and why did that need several attempts.  Were the records wrong?
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bobm
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« Reply #101 on: January 08, 2019, 11:19:51 »

A few pictures from the new look Westbury taken yesterday







The signal at the country end of platform 2 is among those which has been moved to allow for longer platforms
Before


Now
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Dispatch Box
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« Reply #102 on: January 08, 2019, 13:18:41 »

What a pile of rubbish they have left on the slope of that platform?. Looking at the pictures, Is it right to have a signal right on the platform, thought they would of moved it to the end near to that concrete path, and in that area of ballast. Could be a spad risk where it is. Then there is time to change them during the time that the station is eventually prepared for eventual resignalling.
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bobm
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« Reply #103 on: January 08, 2019, 13:24:28 »

Are you talking about the third picture down?   I assume it cannot be moved any further as it would then be too close to the set of points it protects.
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TonyK
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« Reply #104 on: January 08, 2019, 14:03:59 »

Remembering it being installed in 1984, when I was going to Bristol to government centre, for unemployed people, that turned out to be a waste of public money.

Ah, Winterbourne!
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