Hastings railway station hangs on to its steam age signalling

[editor]

A post about one of my more obscure interests!

http://www.urban75.org/blog/hastings-railway-station-rattles-to-steam-age-semaphore-signals/

*unzips anorak

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Ever been to Shrewsbury? If not, go, you'll love it...

 

[Puddy_Tat]

did you get to Lincoln before it got resignalled a few years ago?

 

[editor]

Ever been to Shrewsbury? If not, go, you'll love it...

Shrewsbury rules! It' s the largest surviving mechanical signal box in the world and is, apparently, staying in operation until 2030

 

[editor]

Ever been to Shrewsbury? If not, go, you'll love it...

Missed that - but I did get to Banbury. In the snow!

http://www.urban75.org/blog/banbury-railway-station-fog-semaphore-signals-and-trainspotters/

 

[agricola]

Missed that - but I did get to Banbury. In the snow!

http://www.urban75.org/blog/banbury-railway-station-fog-semaphore-signals-and-trainspotters/

The WSMR used to serve both Shrewsbury and Banbury.

 

[Roadkill]

Near Gilberdyke Junction, on the Hull-Selby line.

I did hear that that stretch of line is up for resignalling fairly soon, and I wish Network Rail would get on and do it. The semaphores are quaint, but AFAIK they are a constraint on speed and capacity on an increasingly busy line, and equipment failures seem to be all too common as well. I've been slightly delayed by signalling problems twice in the last week - not ideal, when the train back gets into Hull at 11pm anyway.

 

[davesgcr]

Hull - Selby is an incredible signalling working museum...the "plan" says 2020 or so for modernisation but I reckon it will be earlier than that.

During fog and poor visibility they still use "double blocking" working - (2 section clear ahead of any train) , due to still having mechanical semaphore distant signals) - this in the 21stC on quite a busy route section.

 

[WWWeed]

without trying to sound too anoraky, anyone know why they haven't been replaced with more modern signals?

 

[Roadkill]

Hull - Selby is an incredible signalling working museum...the "plan" says 2020 or so for modernisation but I reckon it will be earlier than that.

I hope so. Much as it's an amusing clash of ancient and modern, watching the driver of a modern DMU leaning out of his cab for a quick shouted conversation with the signalman at Oxmardyke box, for an increasingly busy route serving a major city and port it really is a bit too much of an anachronism!

 

[davesgcr]

A cunning plan would be to resignal (thus saving lots of operational costs in manning all these boxes - (sad though it is for the signalling fraternity and afficionados) - which opens the door for extension of Selby to Hull electrification.

Not an immediate option - but one within 5 -10 years I reckon. Hull is too big a city not to have access to electric trains , - giving journey time improvements and lower operating cost for infrastructure and train operations. I think it is 5 trains per hour now on the corridor - well into consideration for e/ication

 

[Roadkill]

Yes, I can imagine the signalling buffs being up in arms about the disappearance of semaphore distants and signalboxes in the middle of nowhere, such as Oxmardyke and Crabley Creek, but it really is long overdue. Electrification to Hull would be most welcome as well, especially if it meant faster trains. The city suffers from its isolation, and faster services to the Midlands, the west Riding and London could only be a good thing there. Paragon station would be a bit quieter and less full of diesel fumes too!

 

[Puddy_Tat]

they are a constraint on speed and capacity on an increasingly busy line, and equipment failures seem to be all too common as well.

I'm aware that the bit near Swinderby (between Newark and Lincoln) never used to work properly if it was raining - think it is / was the track circuiting...