Par & Lostwithiel SBs, 07-Feb-2012

[DaveHarries]

Evening all,

Whilst on a train from Penzance to Exeter on Tuesday (7th February) (1644hrs departure from Penzance) I looked out at the windows of the signalboxes we passed. It seemed there were no lights on in the boxes at either Par or Lostwithiel which seemed odd to me. Anyone know why?!

I am certain there were no lights on at Par box as I could see the electric insect killer thingy through the windows. But surely someone would have been there to do the St. Austell signals and Newquay line trains (at Par) and the level crossing (Lostiwithiel)..... :?

Info welcome if anyone has any ideas as to why the lack of lights in the boxes.

Dave

 

[Cliveblackpool]

Years ago when I visited the lighting in Par signalbox was fairly dim. With large shades directing the light down, one over the desk and 2 or so in front of the frame. The signalman needs to have good sight out the windows.
There would also be freight traffic using the junction at this time.
Par to Lostwithiel is a very busy section of track.

 

[TEW]

Both would have been manned, the only signalbox in Cornwall that can be switched out is St Erth, but only when there is no unit on the St Ives branch. It is switched out overnight when the St Ives branch isn't running.

 

[Zoe]

Both would have been manned, the only signalbox in Cornwall that can be switched out is St Erth, but only when there is no unit on the St Ives branch. It is switched out overnight when the St Ives branch isn't running.

It wouldn't be switched out but doesn't Goonbarrow Junction close at all?

 

[Cliveblackpool]

Par signalbox used to be switched out at 11pm. But that was before the St Austell - Grampound Road - Probus etc alterations.
Lostwithiel is a Key signalbox.

 

[Zoe]

Par signalbox used to be switched out at 11pm. But that was before the St Austell - Grampound Road - Probus etc alterations.

So nothing ran to St Blazey overnight then?

 

[Cliveblackpool]

So nothing ran to St Blazey overnight then?

Sorry, meant to say sometimes switched out at 10pm or 11pm, most likely weekends, depending on freight traffic. Goonbarrow closed after the last Newquay train.

 

[83G/84D]

It wouldn't be switched out but doesn't Goonbarrow Junction close at all?

Goonbarrow Jn & St Blazey signalboxes normally close overnight but neither have the facility to switch out.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Evening all,

Whilst on a train from Penzance to Exeter on Tuesday (7th February) (1644hrs departure from Penzance) I looked out at the windows of the signalboxes we passed. It seemed there were no lights on in the boxes at either Par or Lostwithiel which seemed odd to me. Anyone know why?!

I am certain there were no lights on at Par box as I could see the electric insect killer thingy through the windows. But surely someone would have been there to do the St. Austell signals and Newquay line trains (at Par) and the level crossing (Lostiwithiel)..... :?

Info welcome if anyone has any ideas as to why the lack of lights in the boxes.

Dave

They are a shy bunch and don't like being seen after dark!

Don't forget if Network Rail plans go ahead to schedule the signalman will be an endangered species in Cornwall (and elsewhere) in a few years time.

 

[ACE1888]

Interesting and informative posting

 

[DaveHarries]

If St. Erth is switched out then presumably signals there are left at clear with routes set. But having Truro to Penzance as one section - which, IIANM, is what it would be - sounds rather excessive to me.

If Par was switched out then you would have a larger section of Lostwithiel - Truro but surely there would need to be someone at Par for the passage of the overnight FGW London - Penzance trains?

Dave

 

[Cliveblackpool]

Roskear Junction is a key signalbox. Controls the level crossings at Roskear, and Camborne. (Some up stopping trains they press a plunger on the platform to request the barriers)
Switching out bell code 5-5-7 to boxes each side, (line clear given x2) pull off signals on main line, one beat back, receives 5 5 7 from other boxes, closes the switch. Establish all is working by phone, sign out, then home time!!
Reopen, establish by phone that lines are clear, turn switch, 5-5-5 on bell etc. signals on.
(When the switch is closed, bells are then silent, as the other boxes each side communicate directly with each other)
From 40 odd mainline boxes in Cornwall, there are now only 7! (I think!)

 

[TEW]

The signals at St Erth are cleared for the mainline when the box is switched out. There is also the signal box at Roskear Junction, at Camborne which remains open all the time. As Camborne to Truro is already one section and is roughly the same length as Camborne to Penzance it doesn't make much difference to headways.

 

[Zoe]

I believe Liskeard could switch out, possibly right up until St Germans closed in 1998 although maybe not as I'm not sure when Liskeard to Lostwithiel became TCB.

 

[HSTEd]

So when is all this due for resignalling?

I assume these boxes are all doomed to consolidation when this occurs? (Plymouth Traffic Control Centre?)

 

[Zoe]

So when is all this due for resignalling?

I assume these boxes are all doomed to consolidation when this occurs? (Plymouth Traffic Control Centre?)

In the period 2019 to 2024 and the area will then be controlled from Didcot.

 

[cogload]

Par signalbox used to be switched out at 11pm. But that was before the St Austell - Grampound Road - Probus etc alterations.
Lostwithiel is a Key signalbox.

Par has never had a facility for "switching out". The box may have shut overnight from time to time, but it has never switched out to my knowledge.

 

[Cliveblackpool]

Par has never had a facility for "switching out". The box may have shut overnight from time to time, but it has never switched out to my knowledge.

In the early 70's I saw the signalman switch out.
Boxes each side left open were Lostwithiel & Truro.
At the time Par controlled the mainline Lostwithiel to St Austell & junction to St Blazey, plus the up IBS at Treverrin tunnel. (Lostwithiel controlled the down IBS)
Quite a din with the 2 bells each giving the 5-5-7 back just before he closed the switch. Trains were still running afterwards.
The box had sequential locking. In other words the levers could only be pulled in the correct order!! Eg This stopped the signalman pulling in lever order - advanced starter to distant!
We expected the modernization to happen in the late 70's!
They completed the Plymouth signalling scheme and a panel at St Germans, which has now been removed.

 

[cogload]

In the early 70's I saw the signalman switch out.
Boxes each side left open were Lostwithiel & Truro.
At the time Par controlled the mainline Lostwithiel to St Austell & junction to St Blazey, plus the up IBS at Treverrin tunnel. (Lostwithiel controlled the down IBS)
Quite a din with the 2 bells each giving the 5-5-7 back just before he closed the switch. Trains were still running afterwards.
The box had sequential locking. In other words the levers could only be pulled in the correct order!! Eg This stopped the signalman pulling in lever order - advanced starter to distant!
We expected the modernization to happen in the late 70's!
They completed the Plymouth signalling scheme and a panel at St Germans, which has now been removed.

One helping of humble pie eaten here. You learn something new everyday, this was before the panel and the closure of St.Austell and Burngullow Junction boxes presumably?

Anyway, Par cannot switch out now, let us put it like that.....

 

[Cliveblackpool]

Thanks for the update.
Burngullow & St Austell were still open. Grampound Road closed a year or so before, leaving a long section between Burngullow & Truro.
Burngullow was open from 4/5 am and had 2 shifts.
Now it is double track again between Burngullow and Probus, they could have designed Par to switch out?

 

[cogload]

They could have done, but to be honest to all intents and purposes it is meaningless to do so. Now, the boxes would just close over night. Occasionally this is threatened (especially on saturday nights when Par used to switch out along with the likes of Truro) to save money.

It would require fully automating the panel for a start.