Swindon to Kemble re-doubling - ongoing discussion and updates

[whole diary]

[TonyK]

Anyone tell me what class ran the 1739 CNM^» (Cheltenham Spa - next trains) to SOU last night? I ask here because my sister-in-law made her first journey from KEM to BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) via SWI^» (Swindon - next trains) last night. She said the line has been doubled, but she didn't see any train on the other line, and that it took longer than usual to SWI - all of which I could explain using knowledge gained here. But she said it was a much nicer train than usual. Real Time Trains shows the code as 2O00, but is not specific about type. Just for fun, I would love to know.

BTW^▸ (by the way), the CNM to SOU via SWI was one neither of us were aware of. Is it new?

[ellendune]

BTW^▸ (by the way), the CNM^» (Cheltenham Spa - next trains) to SOU via SWI^» (Swindon - next trains) was one neither of us were aware of. Is it new?

Not new at all. I have always assumed it was convenience for stock movements. It is quite often a 158 and is useful to get the hired in SWT^▸ (South West Trains) 158 back to Salisbury. The outward train through Melksham is the balancing working to get the stock in position.

[grahame]

That service is very often run by a South West Trains unit (158 883 is (?) quite common) based at Salisbury.  There's been a similar service since 2006 - starting back a Worcester and even Great Malvern for a while.  Because there are many other Glouchester / Cheltenham to Trowbridge / Westbury services via Bristol that occasional traveller between these points use, the two services via Swindon come as a bit of a surprise if they happen to come across and use those journeys.

[grahame]

It is quite often a 158 and is useful to get the hired in SWT^▸ (South West Trains) 158 back to Salisbury. The outward train through Melksham is the balancing working to get the stock in position.

It's rather more than just a stock move 

It allows the train operator to meet the current government franchise requirement of what was intended to be a peak train from Westbury (07:02) to Swindon (07:48) in the morning and from Swindon (18:44) to Westbury (19:24) in the evening, and use the same train to provide a truly peak service from Swindon / Kemble / Stroud into Gloucester and Cheltenham, and back in the evening. 

[quedgeley2002]

As we are coming to the end of the first week of operation after the reopening then I thought a travellers view of the work done so far might be of interest. So here we are!

Starting at Kemble no work has been done at all other than some preparatory work to relocate lineside cabinets. The line continues in the 'Up' alignment for the first mile on the single line where the slewing comes into effect. The line sits on the 'Up' formation all the way to Purton where it moves over to the 'Down' as far as Loco Yard Junction. As at the time of writing there is a 75mph restriction from Kemble to Purton where a 50mph limit covers the rest of the line to the Junction. It would seem that just about the entire line has been renewed. However there are a number of rough sections that will presumably be tamped out over this weekend.

It is clear that a lot of work has been done on the embankments notably at Minety, just of Bremhill and at Moredon. The new cross-over set has been installed at Moredon by B&Q with the switches secured out of use. Trains use the down alignment and the existing points to regain the double line. The signal protecting the exit from the single line to the double in the down direction has been relocated to the right hand side of the track as it previously sat in what will become the Up cess!

As for the second track and trackbed it is evident in isolated locations only. There is still a lot of work to do especially around Purton where the line switches from the Up to the Down. Some basic excavations have been done to prepare and in some areas bottom ballast has also been dropped. Presumably this work can proceed overnight. It seems that only short stretches of the pre-blockade track remain and so presumably the rest will be new sleepers and track.

The derailment damage has left discarded lengths of track and sleepers crudely dumped either side of the formation near Purton. The state of some of those sleepers shows just how bad the damage was! Hopefully the mess will be cleared up at some stage?

From Kemble to Standish junction the new signal blocks have been brought into use effectively doubling the capacity. The new structures look very odd! They are of the latest lightweight design and seem to have little or no substance about them. They are single LED headed. The older signals have been refitted with single LEDs too. 

So still much to be done in anticipation of the final (we hope) nine day shutdown next Easter.

[Railfriend]

Does anyone know if the re-opened Swindon-Kemble track is in the final position of the up track or down track all the way from Swindon to Kemble?  Or is the re-opened track still assuming the up track position at some locations and the down track position at others?  I had thought that the point of the three-week closure was to place one track in its final position, with the second track being worked on over the coming months so that further closures of the track would be only minor.

[Railfriend]

It seems quedgeley2002 must have been reading my thoughts!

[TonyK]

Thanks, Ellendunne and grahame, later enquiries have confirmed that it was in fact a SWT^▸ (South West Trains) train. Her point was that it was a nicer train than her usual chariot.

[Sapperton Tunnel]

Was out and about yesterday (Sunday 8th Sept) for some further photos which echo Quedgers' report of September 6th.

Firstly, starting at Stroud. In the distance, looking towards Kemble is the new signal UK101:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9708496709



and a close up:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9708488331/in/photostream/



and at the East end of Sapperton Short Tunnel are the 2 new section signals DK94 on the down and UK94 on the Up:

DK94:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9708478577



UK94:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9711707520


The fourth new signal is on the down between St.Mary's Crossing and Stroud at about mileage 100 or 101, but I have not been able to photograph it. Before these changes, the section signals between Swindon and Kemble would normally show red as the default, changing to green when a train was about. Now they seem to be green as the default.




Next, onwards to Wick Bridge. Firstly, looking towards Kemble. In the last month or so the final clearing out of loose material and scree in the cutting has taken place.
The black cross on the yellow board is an AWS^▸ (Automatic Warning System) Cancellation sign. I'm sure someone will be able to explain the technicalities of this one.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9711698682



Still at Wick Bridge, looking South towards Oaksey. Here is the advance warning board for the temporary 75mph limit. There are some really old sleepers - they pre-date Pandrol clips and must be from the 1960's. Note also there are lineside cabinets and a staircase to move before the second track can go in:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9711680320



Still looking in the Oaksey direction. Just beyond the orange cable pipe is the former structure for signal SN158R, which was the distant for SN158 situated at the Swindon end of Kemble Tunnel. This has now been repositioned on the other side of the track just around the bend.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9711689056



Moving on to Oaksey, and looking back North to Wick Bridge and Kemble with a telephoto shot.The original single track which was had been slewed to the down formation on the left has been taken up. In the distance on the right is new signal SN158R and you may be able to discern the old signal post in far distance just as the track curves out of sight. New sleepers have also been laid.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9711671194



Also looking North towards Kemble normally. New rails for the Down line have been dropped in the 4 foot of the Up line. The original track which had been slewed to the Down formation is being removed


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9711662378



And finally at Oaksey Bridge, looking South towards Swindon; the new Up line in use and the new rails for the Down line dropped in the 4 foot of the Up.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9708414959



Next, on to Minety Crossing. I was unable to get any closer than this due to the roadworks as Tarmac was being laid. To the left of the machine you can see that the old 'Farm Gates' have been reinstated. Presumably this will still be a manually operated crossing until the signalling is transferred to Didcot from Swindon 'A' at Easter 2014


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9711810426



At Minety Askew Bridge, the ground anchors more or less seem complete. The Armco barriers have been fixed to the H beam piles near the top:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9708405845


At Minety Bridge, looking North towards Kemble with a telephoto lens. The Single line track has been slewed from the centre to the left onto the Down Line formation and the new Up line laid on the right. Presumably the slewed track will be removed and replaced with new track, as new rails have been dropped in the 4 foot. The signal is for Minety Crossing.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9708388273


More dismantling of the old slewed track, this time looking South towards Swindon at Minety Bridge:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9708379555



At Black Dog Bridge, looking North towards Kemble, where old joins the new:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9711599120



Next, at Purton Common Crossing, with a bit of excitement in the form of 158 763 forming a Swindon to Cheltenham service:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9708343429


Onto Widham Bridge, Purton Station. Very little work has taken place in this area. As Quedgers notes, this is where the single line changes from the Up side on its route from Kemble to the Down side for the rest of the way to Swindon. Purton Collins Lane Crossing is in the back ground and I could not see any changes there at all:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9708316361

Finally, Bremhill Bridge, where again the old track after being slewed and used as access for the construction of the new Down line has been removed. Firstly, looking North towards Kemble; also about half way along the track note the treadles for Purton Collins Lane Crossing:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9712848078



Close up of the treadles for Purton Collins Lane Crossing:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9708287797



and lastly, still at Bremhill Bridge, looking South towards Swindon; again the old slewed track has been lifted:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9711544514



In all I guess they are more or less on schedule. There are some 30 weeks until next Easter when there is the 9 day shutdown to transfer control of Swindon 'A' to the TVSC^» (Thames Valley Signalling Centre - about) at Didcot and commission the new second track. I suppose there is about 10 miles of new track to install, plus the new crossover at Kemble to go in and all the associated signalling. The crossings at Minety and Purton Collins Lane seem a bit scrappy, possibly not all of the intended scope of works has been completed. I think Industry Insider did make a remark about the Signalling scope a bit back.

I don't intend to do a full photo session of line until Christmas or thereabouts, but if anyone notes anything of interest I'll see if I can get out to snap it at a weekend. First on the list are some photos of Minety Crossing when it is back in use.


ST

[TonyK]

Thanks ST, those are great pictures, and really show the methodology of this project in detail. I didn't realise that the old line would be renewed in such quantity, thinking that the British way of doing it as cheap as possible would hold sway. It does make perfect sense to start afresh with both tracks in the same new condition, I just wasn't expecting it. A couple of questions arise - was the single line becoming too old, or will it be reused elsewhere?

The new signals will change the look of the railway as they appear more commonly. I assume that they are three-colour LEDs, so will last for a long time and save power. What happens for double-yellow - a second lamp on the post?

You said the crossings looked a bit scrappy - presumably, they will be finished at the end, when it is clear they won't be damaged by further works.

Again, though, thanks for an excellent set of detailed pictures of both the progress so far, and the work left to do.

[Railfriend]

Thanks for all of your effort, ST.  Seems to be an awful lot more work involved in relaying a second track than in removing one!  It's difficult to see how there won't be a number of further closures before Easter 2014 since some of track presently in use is in the up position and some in the down position, and some photos show no work has yet been done at various locations.

[SandTEngineer]

The new signals will change the look of the railway as they appear more commonly. I assume that they are three-colour LEDs, so will last for a long time and save power. What happens for double-yellow - a second lamp on the post?

See page 2 here: http://www.unipartrail.com/WebPDF/ProductBulletins/Dorman-iLS.pdf

[TonyK]

See page 2 here: http://www.unipartrail.com/WebPDF/ProductBulletins/Dorman-iLS.pdf

Thanks STE, I  had no idea that you could buy signals at Unipart. They make it look so simple.

[Red Squirrel]

The new signals will change the look of the railway as they appear more commonly. I assume that they are three-colour LEDs, so will last for a long time and save power. What happens for double-yellow - a second lamp on the post?

See page 2 here: http://www.unipartrail.com/WebPDF/ProductBulletins/Dorman-iLS.pdf

That's a real eye-opener for me too. All they need to do is add a push-button and have it show a green man/red man aspect to the side, and they could do away with expensive footbridges!

Actually, for those who think things can move rather slowly in the rail environment, I do recommend this history of the pedestrian road crossing. Note that it took about 30 years to decide to adopt the principles of the 'Forest City' crossing, in which time a lot of money and time was spent trying out more or less daft alternatives.

[Sapperton Tunnel]

Did a few more photos this weekend and here are some of Oaksey, Minety Crossing and Minety Askew Bridge.

At Oaksey, they have now dismantled the old track. The rails have been taken away and the steel sleepers stacked up and banded ready for removal:
 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9894212123



Moving on to Minety Crossing.

Here is the approach from the North Side. The original Gates, Lamp and Call-button have been reinstated. The separate Pedestrian Gates have gone, though. Compare with bobm's photos taken back in April on page 9:
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3266.msg131278#msg131278


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9894033454



The Crossing Keepers Hut is back in use again. The crossing has been lowered and the approaches raised, making it all much flatter to try and stop any vehicles or trailers or caravans from grounding.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9894094174


The Gates themselves still open outwards into the road, hence the white line in the picture above

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9894046245


And here is a close up of the gate locking mechanism. As I understand it, if no train is approaching, the keeper can turn the signals to red which then releases the gate key from a frame in the crossing cabin. The key then goes in the slot at the top right, which slides the bar, so that the round handle can be lifted upwards, which in turn releases the gate.

When the line was singled, all the crossing keeper had was an indicator as to whether a train was approaching or not. Unfortunately there was a fatal accident between a car and a train in the early / mid 1970s killing both occupants. As a results, 4 signals were installed (MX1, MX1R, MX2 and MX2R), 2 either side of the crossing acting as a 'distant' and a 'home', plus the gate interlocking.
 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9894064154



And finally, here is a very large equipment cupboard, presumably to control the new barriers etc when they are installed:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9894037116



Work is starting to get up together at Minety Askew Bridge. Along the line, some foot crossings have reopened, as has this one at Minety Askew Bridge, but others are still closed. All the lineside photos have been taken from behind blue barriers. At some crossings they have put blue plastic fencing across the down line; I have kept within those boundaries.

Handrailing has now appeared:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9894073483



And new steps, complete with posh new handrails as well:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9894087783



More Ground Anchors, just a further bit towards Kemble than the ones in the photo above. Taken from the new steps:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9893984515



And finally, from the other side of the track, looking towards Minety Crossing and Kemble:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/99295362@N07/9893990406





If anyone notices activity in a particular area, please post on here and I'll do my best to take photo next time I'm out and about.


ST