Difference between revisions of "Kidderminster Station signal box (1987 onwards)"
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[[File:Kidderminster box diagram.gif]] | [[File:Kidderminster box diagram.gif]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Levers and Lever Leads == | ||
+ | |||
+ | === List of levers === | ||
+ | |||
+ | {| class="wikitable" | ||
+ | ! style="text-align:left;" | No. !! style="text-align:left;" | Colour !! style="text-align:left;" | Description !! style="text-align:left;" | Lever Sequence | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 1 || Red/Brown || Acceptance lever from Bewdley south || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 2 || Red || Up Main Home || 17 13 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 3 || Red || Up Main to No1 Platform Inner Home || 17 35 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 4 || Red || Up Main to No1 Platform Calling On || 17 35 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 5 || Red || Up Main to up loop Home || 29 14 13 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 6 || Red || Up Loop to No2 Platform Inner Home || 29 40 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 7 || Red || Up Loop to No2 Platform Calling On || 29 40 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 8 || Red || Up Loop to No1 Platform Inner Home || 30 29 35 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 9 || Red || Up Loop to No1 Platform Calling On || 30 29 35 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 10 || Red || Up Main to Exchange Line Inner Home || 19 17 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 11 || || SPACE || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 12 || || SPACE || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 13 || Red || Disc at 14 || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 14 || Black || Up Main Facing || Up Loop | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 15 || Red || Up Main to Engine Line No1 Inner Home (Disc) || 17 37 35 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 16 || Red || Up Main to Exchange Line Calling On || 19 17 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 17 || Blue || FPL for 18 || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 18 || Black || Up main Facing || Exchange Line | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 19 || Black || Exchange Line safety (Facing) || 18 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 20 || Blue || FPL For 19 || 19 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 21 || Red || Exchange Line to Down Main Starting (Disc) || 20 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 22 || || SPACE || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 23 || Red || From Carriage Shed Sidings Starting || 24 40 Or 31 35 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 24 || Black || Up Loop || Carriage Shed Sidings | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 25 || Blue || FPL For 24A || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 26 || Red || No2 Platform to Carriage Shed Sidings Starting (Disc) || 24 25 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 27 || Red || Up Loop to No2 Engine Line Inner Home (Disc) || 29 42 40 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 28 || Red || Up Loop to No1 Engine Line Inner Home (Disc) || 37 30 29 35 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 29 || Blue || FPL for 30B || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 30 || Black || Up Loop & Down Main Facings || To Cross | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 31 || Black || Compound points in Up & Down Loop || 24 30 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 32 || Blue || FPL for 31A || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 33 || Blue || FPL for 30A || Nil or 30 32 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 34 || Yellow || No1 Platform to Carriage Shed Sidings Starting (Disc) || 31 33 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 35 || Red || Disc at 37B || 36 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 36 || Blue || FPL for 37B || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 37 || Black || No1 Platform Facing || No1 Engine Line | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 38 || Red || Disc for 37A || 33 37 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 39 || || SPACE || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 40 || Red || Disc at 42B || 41 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 41 || Blue || FPL for 42B || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 42 || Black || No2 Platform Facing || No2 Engine Line | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 43 || Red || Disc for 42a || 25 42 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 44 || Red || || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 45 || Blue || No2 Platform || No2 Engine Line | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 46 || Red || Disc at 45b || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 47 || Red || Carriage Works siding to/from Exchange Line Shunt || 48 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 48 || Red || Disc for No. 18 || 16 18 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 49 || Blue || Interlocking Lever with WMSC for DR724 Points || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 50 || Red || From Network Rail to Exchange Line Shunt (Slot) || 49 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 51 || Blue || F.P.L for 52B || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 52 || Black || No1 Platform || No1 engine Line 51 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 53 || Red || Disc at 52B || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 54 || || SPACE || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 55 || || SPACE || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 56 || Red || Down Main Outer Advanced Starting || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 57 || Red || Down Loop to Down Main Advanced Starting || 14 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 58 || Red || No1 Platform to Down Loop Starting || 30 33 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 59 || Red || No2 Platform to Down Loop Starting || 25 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 60 || Red || Down Main Advanced Starting || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 61 || Red || From Network Rail To down Main Home (Slot) || 21 49 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | 62 || Red || No1 Platform to Down Main Starting || 33 | ||
+ | |} | ||
==Connection to Network Rail== | ==Connection to Network Rail== |
Revision as of 21:57, 19 April 2016
Not to be confused with the original Kidderminster Station signal box (c.1882-1973), whose nameplate the current box bears.
A signal box at Kidderminster, working to Bewdley South. The box also communicates with Network Rail's West Midlands Signalling Centre (WMSC) at Saltley.
Kidderminster Town had no signal box when it opened in 1984, resulting in an 'only one engine in steam' restriction on operations which were controlled by a simple ground frame. The signal box was built between July and December 1986, the design being based on a typical GWRGreat Western Railway medium-sized box. Extensive measurements of Abbey Foregate and Sutton Bridge Junction signal boxes at Shrewsbury ensured authenticity. Installation of the signalling equipment took place throughout 1987. The installation work involved an estimated 8,000 man hours. producing a fully assembled 62 lever frame complete with all mechanical locking, fitting to the frame of 35 electric locks and 5 combined locks and circuit controllers, and installation of a 22 ft long block shelf complete with instruments. The box was commissioned in December 1987 following installation of the most vital piece of equipment, the signalman’s leather armchair. The lever frame is a 5-bar vertical tappet frame of very late manufacture, being built in the late 1950s for Acton Yard signal box which had a short life. Evidence of its lateness may be found in the spring housing on the catch handle drop rods, which are of a much plainer hood design than previously used by the GWRGreat Western Railway/BRBritish Rail or British Railways(W).
During the morning of Saturday 3 March 2013, the signal box suffered a small fire in the roof at the point where the stove flue passes through the ceiling. The signalman was able to leave the box without injury. A small section of the roof was destroyed, and there was some damage to the telephone system and the domestic wiring caused by the water used by the Fire Brigade, although the signalling equipment was largely unaffected. Kidderminster station was initially closed. Once access to the box was regained, the water was mopped up to prevent it falling into the frame room and its electrics. By 4pm the debris had been cleared and the roof made weather-proof with a plastic sheet supplied by Bewdley C&WCarriage & Wagon Department. Rapid work by the S&TSignals & Telegraph and PWPermanent Way departments then saw normal service resumed by commencement of operations on the following day.
Signalling diagram
Levers and Lever Leads
List of levers
No. | Colour | Description | Lever Sequence |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Red/Brown | Acceptance lever from Bewdley south | |
2 | Red | UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Main Home | 17 13 |
3 | Red | UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Main to No1 Platform Inner Home | 17 35 |
4 | Red | UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Main to No1 Platform Calling On | 17 35 |
5 | Red | UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Main to up loop Home | 29 14 13 |
6 | Red | UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Loop to No2 Platform Inner Home | 29 40 |
7 | Red | UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Loop to No2 Platform Calling On | 29 40 |
8 | Red | UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Loop to No1 Platform Inner Home | 30 29 35 |
9 | Red | UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Loop to No1 Platform Calling On | 30 29 35 |
10 | Red | UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Main to Exchange Line Inner Home | 19 17 |
11 | SPACE | ||
12 | SPACE | ||
13 | Red | Disc at 14 | |
14 | Black | UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Main Facing | UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Loop |
15 | Red | UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Main to Engine Line No1 Inner Home (Disc) | 17 37 35 |
16 | Red | UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Main to Exchange Line Calling On | 19 17 |
17 | Blue | FPLFacing Point Lock, equipment that physically locks points so that they cannot move. for 18 | |
18 | Black | UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) main Facing | Exchange Line |
19 | Black | Exchange Line safety (Facing) | 18 |
20 | Blue | FPLFacing Point Lock, equipment that physically locks points so that they cannot move. For 19 | 19 |
21 | Red | Exchange Line to DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Main Starting (Disc) | 20 |
22 | SPACE | ||
23 | Red | From Carriage Shed Sidings Starting | 24 40 Or 31 35 |
24 | Black | UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Loop | Carriage Shed Sidings |
25 | Blue | FPLFacing Point Lock, equipment that physically locks points so that they cannot move. For 24A | |
26 | Red | No2 Platform to Carriage Shed Sidings Starting (Disc) | 24 25 |
27 | Red | UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Loop to No2 Engine Line Inner Home (Disc) | 29 42 40 |
28 | Red | UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Loop to No1 Engine Line Inner Home (Disc) | 37 30 29 35 |
29 | Blue | FPLFacing Point Lock, equipment that physically locks points so that they cannot move. for 30B | |
30 | Black | UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Loop & DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Main Facings | To Cross |
31 | Black | Compound points in UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) & DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Loop | 24 30 |
32 | Blue | FPLFacing Point Lock, equipment that physically locks points so that they cannot move. for 31A | |
33 | Blue | FPLFacing Point Lock, equipment that physically locks points so that they cannot move. for 30A | Nil or 30 32 |
34 | Yellow | No1 Platform to Carriage Shed Sidings Starting (Disc) | 31 33 |
35 | Red | Disc at 37B | 36 |
36 | Blue | FPLFacing Point Lock, equipment that physically locks points so that they cannot move. for 37B | |
37 | Black | No1 Platform Facing | No1 Engine Line |
38 | Red | Disc for 37A | 33 37 |
39 | SPACE | ||
40 | Red | Disc at 42B | 41 |
41 | Blue | FPLFacing Point Lock, equipment that physically locks points so that they cannot move. for 42B | |
42 | Black | No2 Platform Facing | No2 Engine Line |
43 | Red | Disc for 42a | 25 42 |
44 | Red | ||
45 | Blue | No2 Platform | No2 Engine Line |
46 | Red | Disc at 45b | |
47 | Red | Carriage Works siding to/from Exchange Line Shunt | 48 |
48 | Red | Disc for No. 18 | 16 18 |
49 | Blue | Interlocking Lever with WMSC for DR724 Points | |
50 | Red | From Network Rail to Exchange Line Shunt (Slot) | 49 |
51 | Blue | F.P.LFacing Point Lock, equipment that physically locks points so that they cannot move. for 52B | |
52 | Black | No1 Platform | No1 engine Line 51 |
53 | Red | Disc at 52B | |
54 | SPACE | ||
55 | SPACE | ||
56 | Red | DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Main Outer Advanced Starting | |
57 | Red | DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Loop to DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Main Advanced Starting | 14 |
58 | Red | No1 Platform to DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Loop Starting | 30 33 |
59 | Red | No2 Platform to DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Loop Starting | 25 |
60 | Red | DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Main Advanced Starting | |
61 | Red | From Network Rail To down Main Home (Slot) | 21 49 |
62 | Red | No1 Platform to DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Main Starting | 33 |
Connection to Network Rail
Until 2012 Kidderminster Station Signal Box worked to Kidderminster Junction signal box, 'over the fence' and operated by BRBritish Rail or British Railways, RailTrack and finally Network Rail. The connection between the SVRSevern Valley Railway and national rail was somewhat limiting, requiring staff on the track for any movement between railways. This all changed when Kidderminster Junction signal box closed in 2012 (its lever frame was saved for spares by the SVRSevern Valley Railway) and extensive work by Network Rail and SVRSevern Valley Railway S&TSignals & Telegraph technicians installed one of the most comprehensive connections between the national rail network and a private heritage railway in existence, with movements from the SVRSevern Valley Railway onto the DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Main and movements from the UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) & DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Mains onto Network Rail being completely locked and signalled movements overseen by the cooperative efforts of the SVRSevern Valley Railway signalman and NRNetwork Rail signaller at Saltley. This upgrade also saw the first non-GWRGreat Western Railway/BRBritish Rail or British Railways(W) signal installed on the SVRSevern Valley Railway, in the form of a colour light signal reading from the SVRSevern Valley Railway's 'exchange' line onto the national network or into the SVRSevern Valley Railway's North Star Carriage & Wagon Works.
Signalling controlled from the box
All signals at Kidderminster excepting the colour light signal (see above) are of late GWRGreat Western Railway/BRBritish Rail or British Railways(W) steel tubular post and enamel arm design. The large gantry originates from Taunton East, although the layout of signals upon it is quite different to how it was when it was there. As part of the 2012 resignalling of the network connection, the 'exchange line' (see diagram) was upgraded from a siding to a running line, requiring derailers to be installed on the three siding roads leading out of the North Star Carriage & Wagon Works, as there was insufficient space for a trap point. These are worked from a lever in the box, possibly the only example of worked derailers installed on a heritage railway. There are also levers to provide a 'slot' (release) to the Network Rail signaller to allow trains to proceed from Network Rail onto the SVRSevern Valley Railway.
Signals 2, 5 and 56 are motor worked.