The train that had been assembled at North Weald brought me to Ongar, where I headed straight for the signal box:
Signal box, Ongar, 19.8.2013
Also here, a Saxby & Farmer frame is installed:
Lever frame detail (Saxby & Farmer), Ongar, 19.8.2013
Here, the 4141 had to run around its train. The following picture shows a track diagram that helps us to track(!) its movements—unfortunately, I cut off the rightmost part with the important crossover at the end of the tracks (a complete diagram is available at the EOR website, if you go to Departments ⇒ Signalling ⇒ Ongar and scroll down about two thirds of the page):
Track diagram, Ongar, 19.8.2013
In this picture, 4141 has already been uncoupled and used the crossover at the east end of the station to the loop track, where it now appears behind the coaches:
4141 runs around its train, Ongar, 19.8.2013
Points 22a and 22b have been reversed and the shunting signal 24 has been cleared so that the engine can return to the main track:
Lever frame, Ongar, 19.8.2013
Here, 4141 whizzes by the signal box in the background, while I captured a happy signalman who tried in vain to get out of my camera angle (sorry for the distortion—it's my camera's fault!):
Lever frame, a happy signalman, and 4141, Ongar, 19.8.2013
4141 reaches the main track, and on the lever frame one can see many of those levers about which the signalman told me: "These are the ones I love most!"—of course, he was speaking of the white spares:
Lever frame and 4141, Ongar, 19.8.2013
After it has reached the main track, 4141 backs up against its train:
4141 moves to train, Ongar, 19.8.2013
4141 moves to train, Ongar, 19.8.2013
4141 moves to train, Ongar, 19.8.2013
... but here I get lost: The only lever reversed is number 11, "release lever"—I did not ask what this lever is for, so I cannot explain it here:
Lever frame, Ongar, 19.8.2013
Anyway, a short time later 4141 is coupled to its train, ...
People and steam engine, Ongar, 19.8.2013
... and by pulling lever 20, the starter can be cleared:
Lever frame with up main starter cleared, Ongar, 19.8.2013
Up main starter, Ongar, 19.8.2013
It is, however, a little unfortunate that this signal is located right behind the signal box, so that the driver on the main track has no chance to see it!
Up main starter, Ongar, 19.8.2013
Luckily, there is a simple remedy: Repeat the signal at a place where it can be seen. Here it is—a small colour light signal mounted to the box's right side repeats the starter's aspect:
Up main starter cleared – repeater shows it, Ongar, 19.8.2013
As in North Weald, also this signal box has as yet non-operational Tyer's instruments, although I'm not sure why two will be needed at this terminal station in the future:
Tyer's instrument, Ongar, 19.8.2013
On the back wall, there is the electric lock for the token or staff or, actually, key currently used for block working:
Key lock for block working, Ongar, 19.8.2013
And finally, on the block shelf there is a set of track occupation indicators (the photos of the track diagram above show that, in contrast to North Weald, track occupancy is not shown in the diagram) as well as repeaters for signals and also (no.22!) points:
Track circuit indicators and signal repeaters, Ongar, 19.8.2013
However, there is still some work to be done until signalling at Ongar is complete, and hence a number of instruments is labelled "not in use:"
Track circuit indicators and signal repeaters, Ongar, 19.8.2013
My visit at Ongar was actually rather short, as I returned on the same train with which I had arrived. Here is a last photograph of the platform and the station buildings:
Ongar station, 19.8.2013
... and then 4141 pulled my coach back to North Weald!
One set of tablet instruments will be for long section working - Ongar to Epping; the other for short section - Ongar to North Weald. The tablets will be of different patterns to prevent the mistakes inserting the single line tablets back into the machine.
ReplyDelete