GAP
G Scale Model Trains, 1:1 Sugar Cane Trains
Rik I did notice that the LED behind the glass was flickering is that something to do with the control?
Peckforton Light Railway - video library
- Thread starter ge_rik
- Start date
Great vid Rik, love the signals. However I am sure your signalling chum will tell you, if a signal is at danger train must stop and only move when cleared. 8.38 big no no signal clearing as train approaches! Please excuse my old railwayman’s operator need for prototype reality. Happy Xmas and New Year to you as well.
ge_rik
British narrow gauge (esp. Southwold and W&LLR)
Hi John
So are you saying the signalman is a fault in clearing the signal as the train approaches? He must wait until the train stops before clearing it?
Rik
Yup driver also at fault for approaching signal at that distance without stopping or at least preparing to by being at a very slow walking speed.
The SLR had Stop Signals with Staff and Ticket working relying on acceptance and clearing of the Signals after Bell Signals had been exchanged between the Station in Advance. This would generally rely on the Train coming to a complete stand at each Station for the Staff/Ticket to be collected and exchanged for the authority to the next Station. A read if Page 151 in Peter Paye’s book on the SLR would help understanding. This is serious life saving stuff on the real railway, though not in use at many places these days.Ah! But Rik's railway is partially run along Southwold ways of working..
A different interpretation of (some) of the rules.
PhilP
ge_rik
British narrow gauge (esp. Southwold and W&LLR)
Ah well, in this case the train had just finished shunting at the station. It had already been there some time and was just pulling into the loop from the siding. A Down ore train had just departed and so there would have been plenty of time to exchange the token (says he clutching at straws).
See from 10:40 onwards of the video from which that clip was taken -
Rik
I do like the dual movement of the ore train departing and the other shunting, often something forgotten particularly if operating alone. One of the highlights in my Alexisbad station is the triple departure, one in the Down direction the other two Up, one the Gernrode the other to the Harzegerode branch leaving the station to it’s slumbers for a while.
Ok back to your departure, assuming the signalman had clearance with the line clear to the next Station, once this had been obtained the signal could be pulled off allowing the train to depart once the brake van has been attached and the guard given the ‘right away’. But as always superb to see your operations, my comments only given to help in that regard.
Is you line assumed to have “block bell and token” working or “staff and ticket” as the real SLR was? If the former there would be token release equipment in each station at a signal box, the later much simpler with just a bell and a responsible person at each station to authorise movement.
It can get complex with staff and ticket, though many trains can pass before the staff nothing can go the other way without the staff which could be a few tickets away. I had to re-plan my Timetable somewhat when I implemented staff and ticket working, a system not so far as I am aware prototypical for a German Railway but found essential to stop ‘cornfield meets’ with multiple inexperienced operators. A couple of workings were added just to return the staff as it only proved practical to have 1 ticket train and 1 staff train then a train or two the other way. Tricky when the 3 trains on the line start from the same station.
Ok back to your departure, assuming the signalman had clearance with the line clear to the next Station, once this had been obtained the signal could be pulled off allowing the train to depart once the brake van has been attached and the guard given the ‘right away’. But as always superb to see your operations, my comments only given to help in that regard.
Is you line assumed to have “block bell and token” working or “staff and ticket” as the real SLR was? If the former there would be token release equipment in each station at a signal box, the later much simpler with just a bell and a responsible person at each station to authorise movement.
It can get complex with staff and ticket, though many trains can pass before the staff nothing can go the other way without the staff which could be a few tickets away. I had to re-plan my Timetable somewhat when I implemented staff and ticket working, a system not so far as I am aware prototypical for a German Railway but found essential to stop ‘cornfield meets’ with multiple inexperienced operators. A couple of workings were added just to return the staff as it only proved practical to have 1 ticket train and 1 staff train then a train or two the other way. Tricky when the 3 trains on the line start from the same station.
ge_rik
British narrow gauge (esp. Southwold and W&LLR)
Thanks. When operating alone, I mostly have only one train running at a time but, when the camera is rolling, I try to vary the shots to maintain the viewers' interest - that's probably why I decided to pull the signal in the foreground while the train was in motion.
I'm working on the assumption it was a staff and ticket system like the SR's - sorry, I sometimes get the terminology wrong in my videos and refer to tokens. I am wondering though, with the complexity of the train movements on the PLR, the BoT might have insisted that a more sophisticated system ought to have been installed. I've never really looked into the workings of the various systems but you have piqued my interest. I might have to get my signalman chum back again to advise.
Rik
I'm working on the assumption it was a staff and ticket system like the SR's - sorry, I sometimes get the terminology wrong in my videos and refer to tokens. I am wondering though, with the complexity of the train movements on the PLR, the BoT might have insisted that a more sophisticated system ought to have been installed. I've never really looked into the workings of the various systems but you have piqued my interest. I might have to get my signalman chum back again to advise.
Rik
JimmyB
Now retired - trains and fishing
I have to admit, when running my trains (battery powered), regardless of the RC type, running more than one train can be difficult, even on a continuous loop, take your eye off one train, and almost guaranteed something will go wrong!!