Swindon - facilities, improvements, signalling, events and incidents, including GWR history - merged posts

[whole diary]

[bobm]

Been a while since I updated on the progress of the Swindon Panel Society.

This was the scene at Didcot in June 2015



Roll on to last Saturday's AGM^▸ (Annual General Meeting) and the building is constructed and in use







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.

[bradshaw]

It seems the electric service operates as far as Swindon from today. BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Wiltshire in attendance.

[ellendune]

Already posted on Electrification Thread

[grahame]

Already posted on Electrification Thread

At http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=18592.msg250161#msg250161

I will leave this thread here - a valuable milestone record for this particular board - but lock it so that discussions and follow ups are all in the one place

[Lee]

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/17566057.new-paving-in-swindons-gateway-has-to-be-torn-up-and-relaid/

Wellington Street is one of the main gateways into the town centre from Swindon’s railway station.

And work on it was a significant part of Swindon Borough Council’s attempts to give the area a bit of a facelift and make it more welcoming for visitors.

That work has been delayed through a combination of damaged water pipes under the road and the council’s contractors being asked to take-up and relay paving they’ve already put down, because the authority is not happy with what they have already done.

It means the work, which was meant to be finished by early next month, has been delayed significantly.

[bobm]

There is currently a diversion for pedestrians which makes even the old Wellington Street look welcoming.....

[CMRail]

I was in Swindon today and noticed these works.

Opted for the bus to the outlet.. is the underpass still closed?

[grahame]

I was in Swindon today and noticed these works.

Opted for the bus to the outlet.. is the underpass still closed?

Nope - open again (daytime)

[grahame]

I was in Swindon today and noticed these works.

Opted for the bus to the outlet.. is the underpass still closed?

Nope - open again (daytime)

[grahame]

From This is Wiltshire

Railway Village, which was last year voted the country's favourite conservation area, is getting a boost today

Swindon Borough Council and Historic England are, at this moment, formally launching launched a Heritage Action Zone to protect and revitalise Railway Village, an area of Victorian housing and institutional buildings centred around the railway station and lines.

The five-year scheme will bring heritage expertise and £1.6 million of funding from Historic England, who will work with the council and other partners to revitalise

...

Positive comment from the Mechanics Institution Trust later in the article, but no indication that the Institute is within scope

[bobm]

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/17566057.new-paving-in-swindons-gateway-has-to-be-torn-up-and-relaid/

Wellington Street is one of the main gateways into the town centre from Swindon’s railway station.

And work on it was a significant part of Swindon Borough Council’s attempts to give the area a bit of a facelift and make it more welcoming for visitors.

That work has been delayed through a combination of damaged water pipes under the road and the council’s contractors being asked to take-up and relay paving they’ve already put down, because the authority is not happy with what they have already done.

It means the work, which was meant to be finished by early next month, has been delayed significantly.

After the slight over-run outlined above, Wellington Street finally re-opened (without ceremony) last week.

It is excellent to see the old very uneven pavement replaced by something much safer.

[froome]

Definitely an improvement, and I'm very pleased to see that a contra flow cycletrack has been installed.

[Red Squirrel]

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:



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...)

[TonyK]

I could have spent hours staring at it:

Looks like you did, if that clock is right! 

[grahame]

From This is Wiltshire

A new foot crossing under, or over the tracks at Swindon Railway Station, more car parking and improved information screens at the station are all on the council’s wishlist.

Two members of the borough council’s cabinet went to parliament to speak to senior staff at Network Rail which owns tracks and stations and railway service providers Great Western Railway.

The member for transport and the environment Maureen penny, and for the town centre, Dale Heenan had discussions with Mark Hopwood, the managing director of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and Mark Langham, boss of Network Rail Wales & Western at the House of Commons.