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friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Found this absolutely fascinating youtube.com/watch?v=UCXav-ptPe…

Why Do We Still Have Semaphore Signals?

Network Rail invited me to take a tour of signalling through the decades, starting with the Littlehampton Signal Box - still operating semaphore signals - th...
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Alexandra Lanes
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Alexandra Lanes
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@Sion [main] Which line's yours?
in reply to Sarah Brown

kæt
glitchsoc - Link to source
kæt
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There's a fascinating video "somewhere on YouTube" showing them building mechanical interlock trays. It's worth a watch, but I can't find it now.
in reply to Sarah Brown

kæt
glitchsoc - Link to source
kæt
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There's a few semaphore signals left on the Hexham line. There's no significant junctions the whole length of the line, but there used to be, and it's double track, so I imagine under normal operation it doesn't need much attention.

A lot of the infrastructure has been reduced to short sidings and the like for engineering work. There's also crossing points between the tracks which spend 99% of their time normal. I suppose if you're at a possession to work, there's no real need to electronic signals.

in reply to kæt

Sarah Brown
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Sarah Brown
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@kæt Quite a few at Thetford, I think
@kæt
in reply to Sarah Brown

kæt
glitchsoc - Link to source
kæt
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Wasn't there something about an accident at a Thetford level crossing because that line was on a special, completely different computer system at Cambridge Power Signal box, which everyone hated using and was confused by? Or am I misremembering?
in reply to Sarah Brown

Alexandra Lanes
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Alexandra Lanes
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@Sarah Brown @kæt Nope, the whole of the Ely-Norwich line was resignalled with coloured lights a few years ago.
@Sarah Brown @kæt
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Alexandra Lanes
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Alexandra Lanes
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@Sion [main] NSTR. Basically as you say but the driver needs permission from the signaller to get the token. Level crossings seem to be either user worked, open, or automatic.
in reply to Sarah Brown

Alexandra Lanes
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Alexandra Lanes
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@Sarah Brown When I was up along the Cumbrian coast with @Ben Harris we got chatting with a signaller somewhere around Drigg. Apparently moves to upgrade the signalling along that route got nixed because it was felt having people on the ground monitoring train movements was better for the security of flask trains. (Both the low level repository and Sellafield are up there.)
@Sarah Brown @Ben Harris
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Alexandra Lanes
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Alexandra Lanes
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@Sion [main] Looking at the sectional appendix all the loop points are motor operated. I don’t know where their operation is initiated though
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Alexandra Lanes
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Alexandra Lanes
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@Sion [main] There’s a delay attribution code EXT ANIMAL for attributing a delay to “animals not under the control of Network Rail”. This begs a question, obviously.
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