Resignalling between Woking and Havant (updates?)

[Islineclear3_1]

I can't find a recent thread for this but wondered how long Farncombe, Haslemere and Petersfield signal boxes have got left before Basingstoke ASC takes over

Many thanks

 

[ls2270]

I can't find a recent thread for this but wondered how long Farncombe, Haslemere and Petersfield signal boxes have got left before Basingstoke ASC takes over

Many thanks

Evening,

Planned to switch over in early November. And to be pedantic it’s Basingstoke ROC rather than the ASC which is taking over. They’re two different locations approximately 15 minutes walk apart.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Evening,

Planned to switch over in early November. And to be pedantic it’s Basingstoke ROC rather than the ASC which is taking over. They’re two different locations approximately 15 minutes walk apart.

Thank you :

 

[DelW]

There was an article on the Surrey Live website a day or two ago about a local group planning to establish Haslemere signal box as a museum. I'm not quite clear how access will work as it's on the down platform and Haslemere is gated.

Surrey Live is a Reach site, so you have to pick out the occasional fact from all the waffle, adverts and pop-ups, but a Google search will find it if interested.

History-making steam train makes final journey through Surrey

History has been made this weekend

www.getsurrey.co.uk

Once decommissioned, the Haslemere signal box which first opened in 1895 will be used as a small museum, run by the Haslemere Community Station and Signal Box Trust. Ken Griffiths, Chairman of the Haslemere Community Station and Signal Box Trust, added: "We are determined to preserve the Haslemere Signal Box as an educational facility for future generations to enjoy and celebrate the railway's heritage in this year of Railway 200.

"We would like to thank Network Rail for their constructive support in our endeavour, and look forward to being able to open the signal box up to the public in the very near future."

 

[zwk500]

There was an article on the Surrey Live website a day or two ago about a local group planning to establish Haslemere signal box as a museum. I'm not quite clear how access will work as it's on the down platform and Haslemere is gated.

As the signalbox would no longer need direct access to the platform, given the position of the stairway from images on this site: https://www.haslemereinfohub.co.uk/signalbox.html it doesn't look imposible to rejig the fencing to have thee stairs outside the platform fencing.

 

[Meerkat]

As the signalbox would no longer need direct access to the platform, given the position of the stairway from images on this site: https://www.haslemereinfohub.co.uk/signalbox.html it doesn't look imposible to rejig the fencing to have thee stairs outside the platform fencing.

Wow, I would never have thought Haslemere had a mechanical frame driving the colour lights!

 

[godfreycomplex]

Wow, I would never have thought Haslemere had a mechanical frame driving the colour lights!

Quite common practice on the South Western Division, Wokingham, Havant (old) and the Dorset Coast boxes were the same

 

[Jimini]

Given the line has been messed up for pretty much the entirety of this week, maybe they could expedite the upgrade

 

[Gloster]

Quite common practice on the South Western Division, Wokingham, Havant (old) and the Dorset Coast boxes were the same.

I worked a box with a normal lever frame that controlled both colour light and electro-pneumatic signals.

Lots of boxes all over the country have colour light signals worked from lever frames: the Western Region converted many Distant signals to two-aspect colour lights. The lever just becomes a big switch, but the interlocking can still function as before with only minimal alterations.

 

[John Webb]

......Lots of boxes all over the country have colour light signals worked from lever frames: the Western Region converted many Distant signals to two-aspect colour lights. The lever just becomes a big switch, but the interlocking can still function as before with only minimal alterations.

The LMS also had a policy of converting 'Remote Distants' (i.e. those standing on their own and not part of a gantry of signals) to colour-lights from the mid-1920s onwards. (Although St Albans didn't get altered until 1938!)

The advantages were:

• Elimination of a possibly a mile or more of signal wire and all its supporting pulleys, reducing maintenance costs and improving reliability.
• Clear indication in fog/smog (a lot more of that about in those days before the 1950s Clean Air Act).
• The elimination as a consequence of sending out permanent-way staff on overtime as 'fog-men' to sit by semaphore distant signals to reinforce the signal's indication with fog signals (detonators) and hand lamps.
• It also reduced the effort needed by the signalman, but I suspect that was the least of the reasons for making the change.

 

[DelW]

Signs have appeared on Portsmouth Direct stations in the last few days, warning of a nine-day closure at the end of October (half-term week plus the weekends at either end). This is claimed to be the final phase of the Guildford to Petersfield resignalling.

It remains to be seen whether or not this allows any improvement to the current post-Covid timetable, arguably the worst on the line for several decades. I expect not, since there seems to be no attempt to encourage passengers back onto SWR.

 

[Phillipimo]

After the week long closure trains started running this morning 3rd November under the new signalling system. Headlines are more signals for closer headways, level crossing upgrades to full barriers with obstacle detection and some ground position light signals replaced with main aspects to enable more reversing moves at Petersfield and Haslemere.

 

[GW43125]

If nothing else, should help the headways when you're stuck behind the late stopper, there's a lot of extra signals gone in.

 

[Gloster]

The extra signals on the Down between Witley and Haslemere are welcome. All to frequently the fast has been held up while a late stopper gets through the signal section and into the middle road.

 

[zwk500]

The extra signals on the Down between Witley and Haslemere are welcome. All to frequently the fast has been held up while a late stopper gets through the signal section and into the middle road.

Have a feeling the S&C at Haslemere may also have had a slight speed upgrade. But not 100% sure, it's been a long time since I worked on anything to do with the project.

 

[takno]

Have a feeling the S&C at Haslemere may also have had a slight speed upgrade. But not 100% sure, it's been a long time since I worked on anything to do with the project.

At Haslemere crossovers and the loop are now 40, and the through lines are 60/85

 

[Matt Taylor]

That's correct, the speeds have increased from 30 to 40 accessing platforms two and three.

 

[GW43125]

That's correct, the speeds have increased from 30 to 40 accessing platforms two and three.

Have they gained flashing yellows?

 

[takno]

Have they gained flashing yellows?

They have

 

[GW43125]

They have

Excellent, can see that making a difference.

 

[DelW]

... Headlines are more signals for closer headways, level crossing upgrades to full barriers with obstacle detection and some ground position light signals replaced with main aspects to enable more reversing moves at Petersfield and Haslemere.

Sadly not much benefit when there's only 2tph south of Haslemere. There seems to be no ambition to improve on the poor and uneven post Covid timetable.

 

[Gloster]

Sadly not much benefit when there's only 2tph south of Haslemere. There seems to be no ambition to improve on the poor and uneven post Covid timetable.

Up to 4tph the peaks. However, it is the Haslemere terminator getting in the way of the (semi-)fast that is the nuisance.