Update 22.12.2017: Two more posting noe show pictures made by Andrew Waugh with a small exhibition of interlocking frames at Simpelveld and a series from post II.
This is my last posting about the signal boxes of the ZLSM in the Netherlands. In it, one can see some details of barriers, and I more or less solve the puzzle how the starting signal CKR3 can be cleared by two different levers.
The next two pictures show the cranks for the barriers at post I. There is a separate crank for each barrier, which seems to have been typical for Dutch grade crossings (but was never seen in Germany or Austria):
Barrier cranks, post I, Simpelveld, 16.8.2015
Barrier cranks, post I, Simpelveld, 16.8.2015
Many wire lines leave the signal box—the two on the leftmost are the ones for the barriers:
Wire lines, post I, Simpelveld, 16.8.2015
Sheep keep the grass short near post I:
Sheep near post I, Simpelveld, 16.8.2015
And here is the simple gear for moving the barriers. Similar to the shunting signal, the chain roller is at the dead center both when the barrier is open or closed, so that the barrier cannot be lifted or lowered by simple pulling. This is similar to Austria, but different from Germany, where mechanically operated barriers could be opened manually to escape in case of danger:
Barrier, Simpelveld, 16.8.2015
The wire for moving a barrier must turn around a few bends:
Deflection roller for barrier wire, Simpelveld, 16.8.2015
To the left and right of this joint rail, fastenings that lift the rails an inch or two above the ties:
Rail fasteners, Simpelveld, 16.8.2015
Rail fasteners, points, Simpelveld, 16.8.2015
At these ground-operated points, one can see again that blade locks are missing in the Netherlands:
Blades of ground-operated points, Simpelveld, 16.8.2015
On my way to post II, I took a few photos of the starting signals towards Wijlre-Gulpen:
Starting signals D1 and D2, Simpelveld, 16.8.2015
Starting signals D1 and D2, shunting signal S1-2, 1040, Simpelveld, 16.8.2015
Starting signals D1 and D2, shunting signal S1-2, 1040, Simpelveld, 16.8.2015
Finally, at post II, the battery of my camera ran out. Therefore I have only these two photographs from this signalbox:
Post II, Simpelveld, 16.8.2015
Lever frame and block instruments, post II, Simpelveld, 16.8.2015
Two days later, I returned for a short visit to take a look inside the gear for operating starting signal CKR3. As can be seen in the previous posting, this signal can be cleared by either of two levers, depending on whether the train leaves track 3 for Kerkrade or for Bocholtz. In earlier times, two arms were provided, as can be seen on the track plan shown also in that posting. Nowadays, however, a single arm is used for both directions. The necessary gears are located a short distance from the signal inside a metal box:
Signal drive for starting signal CKR3, Simpelveld, 18.8.2015
One can see that two (double) wire lines enter the box, each of which is moved by a lever at the signalbox. On the other side, a single wire line exits and leads to the signal:
Signal drive for starting signal CKR3, Simpelveld, 18.8.2015
Inside, there are three wheels. The two outer ones are moved by the two wire lines coming from the levers, the middle one moves the signal arm. Unfortunately, one cannot see the details of the apparatus, but most probably each outer wheel has a finger or the like which turns the middle wheel with a rotating lever. I would guess that the signal arm is not returned to its horizontal position by force, but simply by its own weight, but I am not sure about this:
Geöffneter Signal drive for starting signal CKR3, Simpelveld, 18.8.2015
And finally, here are three pictures from Simpelveld in the evening:
Post I in red light, Simpelveld, 18.8.2015
Starting signals D1 and D2, Simpelveld, 18.8.2015
Dusk setting in, Simpelveld, 18.8.2015
This concludes my series of pictures and text about mechanical Dutch interlocking technology, which has survived at Wijlre-Gulpen and Simpelveld thanks to the ZLSM. In the next postings, I will again return to the 1980s—1988, to be exact—with pictures from Swiss signalboxes.
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