Birmingham New Street PSB

[The Planner]

Don't always trust traksy, see the highlighted part of the screenshot I took today.

The Class 506 bit? That is the data fed from NR as is down to how the trains timing load and running times are pulled, nothing to do with Traksy.

 

[william.martin]

The Class 506 bit? That is the data fed from NR as is down to how the trains timing load and running times are pulled, nothing to do with Traksy.

Apologies, I only discovered it yesterday!

 

[RailAleFan]

Ironically New Street PSB has been "used" on TV (ok, the outside of it has been used) on a BBC Drama called Hustle - it was used in season 7 as the Headquarters for "Do$h4You" (the interiors were filmed from nearby Alpha Tower)

And here is the view of Birmingham New Street and the now retired PSB from Alpha Tower...

 

[takno]

Don't always trust traksy, see the highlighted part of the screenshot I took today.

The 506 thing I can't do much about. The schedules feed generally has got quite unreliable since everybody started cancelling and reinstating trains en-masse, which I've got an upgrade in the works for.

Mapping the signal aspects is a bit of a mission. I went through a chunk of the country a couple of years ago, but I ran out of time and don't have a copy of the code I was using to do it, so progress has ground to a bit of a halt. If anybody has or is able to do accurate S-class mappings for anywhere then I'm happy to get them into the system.

I'm pretty happy with the map as it stands now, although aspects and TRTS would be really nice. The information from @Railsigns filled in a couple of gaps, and I think everything is now solid, except that I've piled all the additional signals to the east of monument lane and Blake st, which is quite possibly incorrect

 

[Watershed]

Don't always trust traksy, see the highlighted part of the screenshot I took today.

I don't think you can blame Traksy for the slightly misleading description you highlight. The only bit that's out of date is the name of the TOC; the reason it's showing 110mph class 506 is due to the way the train's timing load has been interpreted (it really means "timed for 110mph class 350").

 

[william.martin]

I don't think you can blame Traksy for the slightly misleading description you highlight. The only bit that's out of date is the name of the TOC; the reason it's showing 110mph class 506 is due to the way the train's timing load has been interpreted (it really means "timed for 110mph class 350").

I apologies for my mistake, I was new to traksy and never realised that this is not the fault of traksy.

 

[takno]

I apologies for my mistake, I was new to traksy and never realised that this is not the fault of traksy.

I wouldn't worry about it. Overall I'd say it's the most common question I get asked!

 

[MadMac]

I wouldn't worry about it. Overall I'd say it's the most common question I get asked!

Are you our Traksy man, so to speak? If so, could I drop you a message with a couple of "corrections"?

 

[Signal Head]

And those sidings got ripped out a few years back to put new equipment for the resignalling on.

I think they were fairly obviously OOU when I last saw them, which is a while ago.

 

[the sniper]

I'm pretty happy with the map as it stands now, although aspects and TRTS would be really nice. The information from @Railsigns filled in a couple of gaps, and I think everything is now solid, except that I've piled all the additional signals to the east of monument lane and Blake st, which is quite possibly incorrect

I don't think it needs doing as you've made a good job of it, but I've heard the middle sidings at New Street might see more use next year/in future, so they might be worth including in time.

 

[takno]

I don't think it needs doing as you've made a good job of it, but I've heard the middle sidings at New Street might see more use next year/in future, so they might be worth including in time.

They've certainly spent a decent amount of money on fully signalling them if they aren't going to see more use. The addition of turnbacks on the proofhouse junction and stour routes also suggests they could see some use for stabling, or as a through route when one of the approach lines is closed.

I've added in (hopefully all) routes and aspects, and I'm working on the TRTS indicators, so should be a pretty solid upgraded.

 

[_toommm_]

Out of curiosity, what do the brown 'path lines' mean in this screenshot - specifically 2A45 being routed into P6? I know they normally show as green, so I wasn't sure if the brown was unique to BHM.

(The below screenshot is of Birmingham New Street on Traksy, showing trains departing in and out on a signalling diagram)

 

[takno]

Out of curiosity, what do the brown 'path lines' mean in this screenshot - specifically 2A45 being routed into P6? I know they normally show as green, so I wasn't sure if the brown was unique to BHM.

(The below screenshot is of Birmingham New Street on Traksy, showing trains departing in and out on a signalling diagram)

View attachment 126212

There are different colours for main, calling forward and shunt paths. I don't have the info to do them in most places. The one that's pictured appears to be faulty tbh - it's been set ever since I set that part of the routing table up.

 

[louis97]

I've got an attempt up at https://traksy.uk/live/M+10+BHAMNWS . I'm a bit confused by all the extra signals. It looks like there are additional signals on most platforms at the east end which the trains pass through for 30 seconds or so on departure. Whether these are actually signals or just additional tracked berths is debatable. There are also possibly similar signals in a westerly direction on 6 and 9. No idea what they are about so I've left them lying around on the platforms.

Those additional signals at the platform ends were always there, it's just every signal has a berth now. Previously not every signal had a berth.

I don't think it needs doing as you've made a good job of it, but I've heard the middle sidings at New Street might see more use next year/in future, so they might be worth including in time.

Once they sort out a safe walking route that is!

 

[snowball]

Press release

Iconic railway signal box to open its doors for one-off public tours

A two-week ballot has opened for members of the public to get the chance to be on a rare tour of a Birmingham city centre railway landmark.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

A two-week ballot has opened for members of the public to get the chance to be on a rare tour of a Birmingham city centre railway landmark.

For one day only, Network Rail will open the doors to the Grade II-listed Birmingham New Street power signal box (PSB) after it finished 56 years of duty in December.

A total of 60 places are on offer on five, 45-minute tours starting every hour from midday on Friday 31 March*.

Due to anticipated high demand, tickets will be allocated by a random ballot which can be entered here.

It will close on Friday 17 March and then the lucky people who have been successful will be contacted.