Rochdale re-signalling

[radamfi]

I passed Castleton station today and saw a Network Rail sign pointing to the site office for 'Rochdale re-signalling'.

What does this mean? End of semaphore signalling on that stretch? No more stopping just outside Rochdale? What signal boxes are being replaced?

 

[strange6]

I passed Castleton station today and saw a Network Rail sign pointing to the site office for 'Rochdale re-signalling'.

What does this mean? End of semaphore signalling on that stretch? No more stopping just outside Rochdale? What signal boxes are being replaced?

Probably getting rid of the rusty , old semaphore signals around that part of the woods and replacing them with colour lights. Terminating services will still be approach controlled on approach to Rochdale most probably.

 

[driver9000]

Signalling will controlled by the new Rochdale West signal box. Castleton will be abolished and Smithy Bridge will become a gate box, I'm not sure of any of the finer details though.

 

[strange6]

Signalling will controlled by the new Rochdale West signal box. Castleton will be abolished and Smithy Bridge will become a gate box, I'm not sure of any of the finer details though.

Will that new box be an upgrade of the current box at Rochdale station?

 

[driver9000]

I don't know to be honest, although I have been told they were building a new signal box up there but I haven't seen the works for myself.

 

[strange6]

I don't know to be honest, although I have been told they were building a new signal box up there but I haven't seen the works for myself.

I'll be going up there myself on Monday to have a look. Certainly nothing started 4 weeks ago when I was last down there.

 

[The Planner]

It is in two phases, first lot in August this year then the rest next year. Removes all the AB working from Vitriol and Rochdale. I think the new Rochdale West box is more or less at Castleton Jn.

 

[strange6]

It is in two phases, first lot in August this year then the rest next year. Removes all the AB working from Vitriol and Rochdale. I think the new Rochdale West box is more or less at Castleton Jn.

Thanks. It will be a shame to see the Rochdale station box go. Is Vitriol still staying then or will the Rochdale box be directly connected to manchester North Power box?

 

[driver9000]

I think Vitriol works is being abolished too.

 

[strange6]

I think Vitriol works is being abolished too.

No surprise then. It's jurisdiction between MNPB and Castleton is tiny. Vitriol is an old name for fuming sulphuric acid - was there a chemical works or something near there at one time?

 

[Tomnick]

No more stopping just outside Rochdale?

Unless RE2 (Down Home 1) is exempt from TS1 4.6.1 (below), then terminating trains (for which RE3 - Down Home 2 - would be approach controlled for the move onto the former Oldham branch) would need to be brought quite or nearly to a stand. I doubt there'll be any need to check terminating trains on the approach to Rochdale in the resignalled layout.

4.6 Clearing a stop signal when the next
signal is at danger
4.6.1
If you cannot clear a stop signal, you must not clear any
associated signals on the approach to it until the train has stopped
or nearly stopped at each signal in turn.
4.6.2
You do not need to apply this instruction if the stop signal on the
approach to the stop signal at danger is a colour light that can
show a yellow aspect, and:
• is controlled by the occupation of a berth track circuit, or
• requires the line to be clear up to and including the overlap track
circuit of the signal at danger.