Friday, November 15, 2013

Nene Valley Railway - a train comes through

Deutsche Version dieses Postings

After I had been at Wansford's signal box for some time, a train was due. Setting the route is not armchair work—reversing the points, closing the gates, and finally clearing the outer home signal (called "up first home" here) is physical work, as can be seen in this video:



Both home signals are now clear—the inner (or "second") one can be seen from the signal box:

Home signal cleared for loop, Wansford (NVR), 22.8.2013

Quite slowly, the train pulls in. The driver has the staff in his hand to pass it to the signalman:



And here is the hand-over of the staff:



The signalman takes a look at the tail lamps (which are just moving by outside!) and then inserts the token key into the lock—now, the line to Peterborough is officially clear:

Staff key is inserted into Annett's lock, Wansford (NVR), 22.8.2013

Of course, the gates need to be opened:

Opening the gates, Wansford (NVR), 22.8.2013

Opening the gates, Wansford (NVR), 22.8.2013

Opening the gates, Wansford (NVR), 22.8.2013

And now all is back to normal:

Gates, Wansford (NVR), 22.8.2013

10 minutes or so later, the train continues to Yarwell Junction. Lever 43 for the crossover points has already been reversed:

Electric lever locks, Wansford (NVR), 22.8.2013

Lever 43 plate, Wansford (NVR), 22.8.2013

The lever for the starter is already pulled, as can be "seen" here by its absence:

Lever 47 (start to Yarwell) is pulled, Wansford (NVR), 22.8.2013

The signalman's duty is to carry the token for the next section of the line to the driver:

Carrying the token to the train, Wansford (NVR), 22.8.2013

Carrying the token to the train, Wansford (NVR), 22.8.2013

Here is the cleared starter on platform 2:

Starter cleared, Wansford (NVR), 22.8.2013

The driver checks his wristwatch—it's almost time to leave!

Train to Yarwell Junction, Wansford (NVR), 22.8.2013

And here we go:

Train leaves Wansford (NVR), 22.8.2013

Train leaves Wansford (NVR), 22.8.2013

Train leaves Wansford (NVR), 22.8.2013

The next posting of the NVR will contain a set of pictures from a ground frame: It was my next attempt to understand how interlocking is established in a tappet frame. Stay tuned!

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