Bodmin Parkway signaling

[whole diary]

[chrisoates]

Waiting in the dark there tonight I realised that there aren't any signals - spoke to the Station manageress who confirmed there are non and that their controlling signalbox is at Lostwithiel (he must get lonely.
 

[winterbourne]

Hi there,

Lostwithiel does take care of Bodmin Parkway via our little panel. The signals are a few miles away.



The ground frame is electronically released by this Panel.

[chrisoates]

Hi there,

Lostwithiel does take care of Bodmin Parkway via our little panel. The signals are a few miles away.



The ground frame is electronically released by this Panel.

Excellent - being just a passenger what's a ground frame ?
Also why are there none of those home/starter signals , are drivers cleared to go by radio or in cab signalling ?
Also do you know why there's work going on between Gwinear road and Hayle - wondering if and extra signalling block is being added - would help with connections at St Erth.

Thanks.

[winterbourne]

A ground frame is a set of lever(s) out on location near a set of points. These are worked by staff on the ground (sometimes traincrew). They are normally released by the signalbox (as at Bodmin) or by a staff or key (Falmouth or Coombe on the Looe line).

I'm not aware of any signalling improvements between Gwinear & Hayle. It could be cable work of some sort. There is a scheme in the pipeline for the small user crossings at Trenowin to receive red / green lights  - but dont know if this is progressing at the moment.

The line between Lostwitiel & Paddington (!) is controlled under the Track Circuit Block system. Only stop signals are provided where appropriate - no homes / starters etc... The red lights on the panel show the progress of the train. Only one train in a section at once. So a long section from the golf course at Lostwithiel to Largin single line.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Not wishing to tread on your toes, winterbourne (particularly as you have such an absolutely brilliant selection of railway related photos on your website, ) but may I just offer this, as an illustration: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lever_frame#Ground_frames

C. 

[thetrout]

Not strictly related but I know they have an old fashioned style signal at Liskeard, with, (if I remember correctly) a 3 Aspect signal just before the tall bridge heading for Plymouth about 400 yards afterwards the old style signal.

They have a signal box at Liskeard as well

[chrisoates]

Not strictly related but I know they have an old fashioned style signal at Liskeard, with, (if I remember correctly) a 3 Aspect signal just before the tall bridge heading for Plymouth about 400 yards afterwards the old style signal.

They have a signal box at Liskeard as well

Do you mean the upside down back to front one that looks like someone sawed the bottom off a door painted it shortened it hung it off a strange gantry and called it a semaphore - that one 
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/51/158066583_9bd05dfc57.jpg?v=0

[eightf48544]

Waiting in the dark there tonight I realised that there aren't any signals - spoke to the Station manageress who confirmed there are non and that their controlling signalbox is at Lostwithiel (he must get lonely.
 

I have often thought that in most places the most logical place for a signal is at the end of a station platform this has the advantage if a  train has to stop either if the line ahead is occupied or in an emergency it will be by a platfrom so if necessary passengers can be evacuated. It's also a logical place for a driver to look out for a signal. Not in the middle of the countryside.

I know that it is current practice to site MAS signals at even intervals thus you get the absudity of several banner reapers on the Down Main out of Paddington. The most obvious one being at the London end of Ealing Broadway Down main Platform with the signal a 100yds beyond the station bridge. I'm sure with a little jiggling the signal could be put at the end of the down Main platfrom and other siganls moved to eliminate  the other banner reapeaters.

As Lostwithial to through Bodmin Parway is track circuited it would appear logical to have signals at he paltform ends and move other signals this would give more sections and less delays clearing teh single line sections. But it's only money, so won't happen

 

[chrisoates]

As Lostwithial to through Bodmin Parway is track circuited it would appear logical to have signals at he paltform ends and move other signals this would give more sections and less delays clearing teh single line sections. But it's only money, so won't happen

 

If only !

Infuriating to leave Plymouth 1/2 hour behind a down HST^▸ (High Speed Train) that stops everywhere and picks up small delays with door closing which can leave you behind in these long sections in Cornwall losing more and more time only to reach St Erth and the branch has gone.

 

[thetrout]

Not strictly related but I know they have an old fashioned style signal at Liskeard, with, (if I remember correctly) a 3 Aspect signal just before the tall bridge heading for Plymouth about 400 yards afterwards the old style signal.

They have a signal box at Liskeard as well

Do you mean the upside down back to front one that looks like someone sawed the bottom off a door painted it shortened it hung it off a strange gantry and called it a semaphore - that one 
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/51/158066583_9bd05dfc57.jpg?v=0

I think they've changed it since that photo was taken, but it looked very similar to that

Although it's a double gantry signal, which the one at Liskeard isn't, it looks similar to this from memory

[devon_metro]

I'm pleased to say Liskeard still has that same signal!

Its worth noting that all "panel" signals visible to signallers are either on/off (red/green) so regardless of whether it shows yellow/double yellow it will be green. Not that there is any 4 aspect signalling in Cornwall.

I've got a feeling IECCs^▸ (Integrated Electronic Control Centre) maybe different, perhaps winterbourne can clarifiy judging by the fact that he has experience at Swindon.

[welshman]

For loadsa pictures of proper signals have a look at Adrian the Rock's website.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I'm pleased to say Liskeard still has that same signal!

Indeed: it's evident here - http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/5329002.jpg 

[thetrout]

I'm pleased to say Liskeard still has that same signal!

Indeed: it's evident here - http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/5329002.jpg 

Thats the signal I used to live near there, I took the train to plymouth most weekends was good fun.

You can just make out the 3 Aspect Signal I mentioned in the photograph, look for a red dot just after the bend

[winterbourne]

Hello

The colour light at Liskeard (LD4) is a two aspect stop signal. The next signal is the repeater for the signal at St Germans on the Up line - so it has no yellow aspect.

IECC^▸ (Integrated Electronic Control Centre)'s do show the Signaller the exact aspect shown. Great fun - ground signals / flashing aspects  n'all. Older style boxes and panel do show a red / green - regardless of whether the main aspect has cleared or the dots (subsidiary aspects).

LD3 the up signal on the bracket is an absolute gem, unique to Cornwall. There are similar ones at Shrewsbury & Droitwich, but not on such elaborate posts.