First Train to Acknowledge New Signals

 First Train to Acknowledge new signals.

With the running season finished at the end of October. It opened up the opportunity to disconnect the old signals on the up line and bring the new ones into use. This has worked out to our advantage with having our friends from Scottish Woodlands on site with various machines. They have been running various course for there staff, gaining experience and operating hours on there machines. With this they have been carrying out various tasks over our railway which has benefited the railway greatly. One training exercise that was carried out was the removal of the old signals, wooden table with detector and wheels still attached. Which was expertly executed saving us lots of time and effort. The second training exercise for them was Manoeuvring in the confined space, back filling the hole that had just been created. Again expertly done, saving us lots of time, bring the project on rapidly.

The old Shunt Signals and associated equipment waiting for removal.

Out with the old! Removed carefully by Scottish Woodlands. Put to one side to be Brocken up another day.

Site cleared and prepared by Scottish Woodland, allowing for the new connections to be made.

New connection rods in and connected. Detection swords marked and then cut. Points are now detected and proven to be correct before the signal can be pulled off.

In the middle of all this work, the Pway ballast train arrives from Aviemore. At this point three of the four signal wires have been completed. Which is why one wire is dropping. But it is the first train to be signalled with the main route. 

With all the work completed on the ground, this is how the driver sees the new signals. Top left, across to the Dn line bottom left, shunt onto an occupied up main. Main arm, into the unoccupied up main. Right hand shunt, into the North Yard.

There is still lots to be done yet. Interlocking changes to be completed, signal lights to be wired up. Diagrams to be updated. The signal box to be cleaned, and the yard too. If you have any free time and wish to help out, please get in contact through the strathspey Railways website.

October S&T Round Up

 

Welcome to the next instalment of the S&T Blog. Lots have been going on, but nothing that shouts out ‘look what we have done!’ Well have a read and see what you think. 

5025 passing the new signal post. Before the arm went on.

To start with we have had two callouts to deal with signalling issues on the railway. Both being with Dalfaber level crossing this summer. One for lighting damage. On a non running day, only our Pway colleagues were affected by this one. Nothing too spectacular. Just the normal problem with Diode track circuits. When lightning strikes the rail the diode goes pop! A simple fix, just a change of component, test and everything is back to normal working. The second, unfortunately. Was an alleged incident of miss use by a motorist. With this, the company’s written instructions were put into use. With a caution given to the drives as they enter section, to approach at caution and stop if required. This was in place until the crossing had been functionally test. Proving that the alleged incident is of no fault of the equipment and that it is operating correctly. The Data recordings were read proving that the crossing operated correctly at the time of the alleged incident and saved if it is required by the courts. The Police attended to download the video recording from the CCTV, that watch the crossing.(This is a Highland Council asset). With all this done normal working was resumed.

The old diode to one side with the new one installed in its heatsink. A cup of tea then back out to install it. 

At Aviemore Lodge our telecoms team have made a visit and have been enjoying digging holes and filling them in again! This job had come about quickly after Open Reach bringing forwards the job of installing fibre to the railway. This is after all the lightning damage that happened in the village at the same time as our problems with Dalfaber. This trench is for the conduit to be installation that will house the fibre under the railway and joining onto the conduit that goes to the lodge connecting use into the network with in Dalfaber estate. This investment will help improving the integrity of the railways systems for the future.

Trench dug to receive the new conduit.

 

One of the cable chambers being modified for the new conduit to be connected in.

Back to Boat of Garten things have been progressing well. The most noticeable being the completion of the new Down direction signal, complete with its new finial on top. This finial was kindly donated to the railway and it was decided that a fitting place for it would be on the top of our new signal. It is originally from the London & South Western Railway. Still it looks great on a highland railway post!

The next day 5025 passing the now completed signal

With the lift bar being completed in the last blog. The next task was to get it all connected up and working correctly from the signal box. Now believe me this was no simple task. Lots of time has been spent fine tuning the movement of all components. Some rodding stools required to be adjusted. Extra stools added where more support of the rodding was required. Cranks adjusted to remove bindings and give better balance. Missed split pins installed. The vertical crank under the box, stoke adjusted so that the movement made by the signal lever is increased to match the movement that is required to lift and drop the lift-bar. In turn, inserting or removing the bolt that locks the points. It is now set up properly and working well allowing us to move on to the next part of the project.

46464 passing on the down, with the completed FPL and lift bar.

Moving onto the signals, all the signal wires have now been run! From the new signals, back to the lead off table in front of the box. Under the box the vertical wheels have been installed, with wires from the lever tails to the lead off table. Everything is now ready for the final connection to be made at the lead of table. This will be done after the Scotsman has made its last visit for the year, on the 1st of November. 

The three flat wheels waiting for final connection.

The decision to wait until after the Scotsman has finished has been made. As it would affect the safe running if done before hand. As the existing signals will need to be decommissioned. Equipment removed, bench removed to allow for the new detector to be connected. Once this is done we will be able to bring the new signal into use. Once the interlocking is done.

The old signals and equipment in the way of the new.

Under the box, new locking trays have been added and some changes have been made to the locking already. Allowing for the points rodding to be swapped onto 20 lever. Then the new FPL to be connected to 19. Then testing could begin. All this done, while continuing to maintain safety and control over train movements.

Three new locking tray added ready to receive the new locking.

So that brings us to the end of the blog for now. As ever if you fancy joining in weather it be with us or any of the other railway departments. Please get in contact through the railways website and we look forwards to seeing you in the future.

S&T August Works Update

S&T August Works Update

By Robert Law

Once again it’s time for show and tell. With the school holidays now just passed. Progress has been slower, but still productive. With works centred around Boat of Garten. The lift bar is now completed and ready for use, once other components of the project have caught up. The yard points have had a make over. Now they comply fully with our specifications for switch openings, free wheel clearance and residual openings. Lots of time and effort has gone into this. Which looking at it, is hard to tell. Thanks must be given to all who have helped. But if you have time to spare, please get in contact. Come along, have a chat. A cup of tea and if you are able to, get involved.

LMS 5025 passing the top of our worksite, with the afternoon run back to Aviemore.

The yard points all striped down. Old stretcher bars removed. Lock bar placed, connected on one side. With the first of the new stretcher bars placed in the four foot ready to be lifted into place. Followed by being, measured, marked and removed to be drilled for fittings.

With the stretcher bar placed in the p-ways Rotabroach. With the first hole drilled and the second one ready to be drilled. A very simple job when you have good tools that are well maintained.

With work continuing on the lift bar. All the parts that make up the bar, have been fishplated together. Holes drilled and attached to the clips, mounted on the rails. At this point, it was time for a test! Which was very successful as you can see. Once oiled, greased and moved a few more time after this recording. It became very light and easy to operate.

As of the 21st of August, this is how the yard points are looking now. The points drive has been reconnected. Lock bar installed, with locks cut for both normal and revers directions. New stretcher bars fitted. All detection rods connected. Lift bar completed. Just the chanel rod to the bolt to be put in at commissioning.

Looking the opposite way from the points. With a full view of the newly finished 50ft lift bar.

That’s everything for now. Hopefully, next time I am writing this. I will be telling you about the signal wires being run. Connected up. And hopefully, some of the new signals being brought into use and old ones removed.

S&T Round Up

 A late S&T update.

By Rob Law

Lots of thing have been happening around the railway, but it’s about time I filled you in on some of ours.

At Aviemore station a small project was started to help with operational issues. I say issues but more enhancements to help ensure that good communications are available at all times. Our Omnibus phone system has been extended to add fixed phone points at both our ground frames. The handheld radios and written procedures for their use, works well. But what about when they don’t? This is why we have added these phones in to the system. It adds an extra layer to the safety for the timely running of the railway.

This phone, in its LNE style box is located at the North Ground frame at Aviemore. New cable had to be run out to joins onto the system at the platform phone. (By the office).

At the South ground frame, we have a typical Highland Railway phone box. Again connected into the system at the platform phone. New cable had to be run using existing ducting and cable routes.

At Boat of Garten South, work is still continuing with making the Up platform fully bi-directional for passenger trains. Work is progressing on the new signals. With more noticeably the ladder, back lamp and signal arm being added. At the signal base, lots of time has been spent working out the best way, and installing the chains. Connecting the signals to the points detectors. It doesn’t look much, but I suppose that means it was worth the extra work. But the main thing is that it works and preforms reliably for years to come.

A view of the new main signal with its shunt signals bagged until they are brought into service.

All chained up! There are probably lots of different ways the routing could have been done, but this is the way we have settled for.

Also at Boat of Garten work is progressing with the lift bar in front of the “North Yard points”. All the holes in the rail have now been drilled. With all the clips installed and lift bar added, the three sections of the bar are now placed and requiring to be fishplates together. Once this is done we will see about connecting it onto the rodding run and the lock bolt. Ready for when the locking changes under the box have been made.

Looking away from the points, with most components placed.

Looking towards the points, with 5025 waiting for the late running Royal Scotsman to arrive from Aviemore.

So once again steady progress is been made. With all this work been completed by our volunteers and supported by our paid staff. If you would like to help and learn new skills! There is lots of volunteering opportunities around the railway. Please make contact through the railways website and we look forward to seeing you in the future.

From ruin to signal

 From ruin to signal

By Robert Law

Over the last few years we have had a goal of making the Up platform bi-directional. We have a good few standard LMS round posts that could have been used. But we decided it would be great to have a more period fitting signal that echoes back to the highland railway days. There are still several signals on the railway which are of this age. Our south distant and home at Boat of Garten. Plus the distant signal at Aviemore.  With the approval of the department heads a refurbished lattice signal post has been installed and below you will find how this has been done.

We are very lucky on the railway to have so many assets available to us, in the yard we have several lattice posts from various modernization projects from the larger railway network. Luckily for us.  Not to sure of its origins but we have a suitable 15ft lattice post. This picture is from over a year  ago.

The signal post then found its way down to Aviemore, were it was sandblasted down to bare metal. Given a coat of rust protective paint, followed by a coverage of undercoat.

Once finished it was transported back to Boat of Garten in on of the P-way ballast trains.

Back at Boat of Garten, it was time to get the foundations in for the signal. We are very lucky to have the foundation casting that goes with the signal available. With a bit of mechanical help the hole was dug, leveled and the casting set. With attention being paid, ensuring that it was vertical, as no adjustments can be made once the signal is placed on top.

The next step was to drop the post on top, with the help of the p-way and the coalmar. Light work was made of dropping the post onto its foundations. Once on it is sercured with two hoops both of different sizes. With the base being tapered, as the hoops are hammered down they become tight onto the casting. 

And that’s it! The signal post is up and the table around it is in place ready to tack the new shunt signals. Still lots of work to do yet, which will take some time but it’s starting to look the part.

S&T Spring Report

S&T Spring Report

By Rob Law

Hello and welcome, to the Strathspey Railways S&T round up.

Sorry for the lengthy time since the last blog entry but we have been busy. There just hasn’t been a place in the work until now that tells the story. Around Aviemore the pre season maintenance and point testing has now been completed. With everything in good order. Also, Dalfaber ABCL has seen its first annual level crossing exam. With permission of Network Rail, Strathspey Railway has adopted there test LX71. During this testing, faults are applied to the crossing to ensure that the crossing responds in the correct way. And that the crossing will only give the driver a proceed indication when the road closure sequence has completed correctly.

Dalfaber ABCL under test.

At Boat of Garten, work is continuing on making the up platform bi-directional. The intermediate table on the wire run is in, with flat wheels installed. Wire run support posts are installed with pullie wheels fitted. ( but most likely will need to be adjusted as work goes on). And the signal bases are in but nothing is tied down yet. So things may change.

The new “main” signal will be a lattice post and this is the base of the lattice post. Sitting 1550mm in height/ depth. There is a good bit of digging to do to get it in the ground.

The signal was taken down to Aviemore shed were the staff and volunteers have sandblasted the structure to bare metal and have given it a coat of red oxide and its first coat of paint before sending it back to Boat. It will receiving a bit more attention before it is put onto its base.

Planning stage. As it is a short structure and is effectively on the wrong side of the track. Attention needs to be given to how the structure will affect the loading gauge. Any structure below 4640mm, must maintain a distance of 1364mm from the rail. In this case the signal arm is below this height so the post must be place out from the line to suite.

The lattice post base half dug in to the ground the new signals have been placed 1400mm forwards of the existing to allow for the new to be installed while the old are still in operation.

A bad picture, but gives you an idea of what work goes into base; Signal post base, stool with ladder base. Two cross members with three timbers on top to take the shunt signals and vertical wheel for the change in direction of the wire.

As the signals are moving over to allow for gauging. The detector base will have to move over to meet it. At first this was a bit irritating. Then we realized that with this, we will be able to keep the old signals in use up to the change over. So overall it’s not a bad thing.

Half way along between the signal box and the yard points detector there is a requirement for the wire run to change direction to line the start up to the destination. 

Completed with its flat wheels installed. This moves the wire run over by 1220mm to line up with the detectors and stops the wire run from running up the middle of the yard, creating a tripping hazard for our staff and volunteers. This also has the use of changing the order of the wires as they are received to what they leave allowing them to be positioned to the correct detector in the correct order without the wires crossing.

The wire run starting to be install with the use of fence posts still to be cut down to size.

A view from the signal box window with the wire run in place.

Still not finalized, but this is the general idea of how it will all look. Some adjustments still to be made, but the shunt signals will have to be removed to allow for the installation of the lattice post. Only once it is in, will any part be bolted/ tied down.

Other small jobs going on. Parts have been looked out and prepared for when we replace the two telegraph poles down the line. A date is still to be confirmed for this work to be done. But it is hoped to be done over the summer months.

The lock stretcher and stretcher bars are to be replaced on the yard point and a replacement lock stretcher is to be fitted to the crossover. Due to points gauging been required. Two lock stretchers have been refurbished by the team in Aviemore shed and are now whiting to be installed.

So once again that is you up to date with the ongoings of the S&T department. As always if you would like to get involved, in any department of the railway pease make contact via the railways website. 

Year Review

Year Review.

By Robert Law

27th December 2023

With so much talk, about things ‘not going’ well on the railway at the moment . I thought it would be good to reflect on the work fulfilled and how productive this year has been for the S&T department.

The first thing that was completed this year was the renewal of the lead off table at Boat of Garten South. This was so rotten and had been put off for a number of years. It had started to cause point’s failure and operational problems. With the investment of new treated Softwood timbers these problems have now all been resolved, with all equipment seems to be working correctly.

The Dalfaber level crossing has been the  biggest project that the railway has undertaken in a long time, allowing us to develop , the road deck, track, level crossing control equipment, road warning lights, barriers, public footpath, street lighting and power supply from the utilities company.

There has only been one operational failure with the crossing repaired within the same day with minimal disruption to the road users. We have taken on and have delivered the Maintenance of the crossing to Network Rail standards for the first year on behalf of the council, who owns and operates the crossing.

In comparison to 2022 where we saw an average of 2 reported level crossing incident's a week, 2023 has had no stated reports, thanks to the updated equipment.

Aviemore Station, North GF: To make operational requirements simpler, removing the need for extra time. The Shunt Key retained in Aviemore Speyside Cabin has been withdrawn and a new electrical release has been installed in its place. This making it easier and more flexible for operations to run an effective railway on event days.

We have also accomplished a the installation of two key token machines in Spey lodge ,this was required as our signalers required refresher courses and practical experience as part of the post COVID development . This year being the first in a while of actively running a two train service, in addition the Aviemore to Boat of Garten Key Token Machines worked the full year with no reported operational issues.

This year has been see us progress , providing much needed face lifts to aging structures and drawing from our colleagues individual strengths.The S&T department has been really productive year and we look to move this enthusiasm in to the year ahead. Wishing you all a very restive festive period and we all look forward to seeing you all in the new year!