WestCAD and points within yards

[Aictos]

I understand that the WestCAD system can set points (motor) into and out of sidings and yards however if the existing hand points within any yard is replaced with motor points then can the signaller responsible can just easily set any route within that yard without needing a shunter using a mini panel to control the movements within the yard?

I'm sure a NX panel can only control the entrance/exit points to yards unless I'm wrong?

 

[Get-Pulled-Off]

The type of signalling system in place has no bearing. It is HOW somewhere is signalled that is the key point, generally sidings will be either controlled by hand points or a sidings panel. The signaller will only contol the entrance and exit (often in conjunction with a slot from the sidings panel).

The method of controlling the entrance to the sidings can be NX/Lever/WestCAD, anything... In rare examples where the signaller controls the sidings it can be again done my any method.

 

[9K43]

Seems rather a lot of money to move points when the driver/shunter can pull a set of points without problems.
At Europort all the points are hand operated apart from the points off the mainline.
Before you go home on a night, you have to leave the slot on so the signalman can put the train into the arrival roads from the main line.
The train can access entry into the yard and stops at a stop wait instruction board at the end of the long fence, till a member of staff comes to deal with the train.

 

[GB]

I understand that the WestCAD system can set points (motor) into and out of sidings and yards however if the existing hand points within any yard is replaced with motor points then can the signaller responsible can just easily set any route within that yard without needing a shunter using a mini panel to control the movements within the yard?

I'm sure a NX panel can only control the entrance/exit points to yards unless I'm wrong?

With the amount of shunting that usually gets done in yards and depots the workload would be to large for signallers to do it all.

 

[142094]

Also means that one person is responsible for everything. The Fleet Duty Manager at Gosforth is the one who controls all the movements in the Depot and everything goes through him. IIRC there are only two hand controlled points in the depot, so means that drivers/shunters can't set the wrong route or shunt where they are not supposed to.

 

[Intermodal]

Isn't a yard/depot by definiton an unsignalled area, hence why a signaller wouldn't control it?

 

[33056]

Isn't a yard/depot by definiton an unsignalled area, hence why a signaller wouldn't control it?

Not necessarily, I can think of at least three examples where the Network Rail signaller mostly works to the instructions of TOC / FOC staff. I would not be surprised if there were plenty more, especially as part of larger panels.

 

[Metroland]

Most yards are under the control of Shunters/train operating staff. The limit of control under signalboxes is the exit points/signals to the yards, with stop boards protecting going in. In some cases there are slots, where a release needs to be given before trains are signalled in.

There are a few yards where it is mostly powered points under the control of signalboxes, but these tend special situations where the traffic justifies it and it makes more sense. These days they tend to be small intermodal type yards.

In the later days of large mashalling yards, there tended to be some sort of power operation to automatically sort traffic with large signalboxes at the yards: Tees, Gateshead (Tyne) and Healy Mills spring to mind.

 

[Hydro]

What's the deal with Dollands Moor? Is that controlled by Ashford or is there a yard panel there?