Point Clipping Made Easy

 Tuesday 18th May

Another use for some spare point rodding was being developed today to make the  signalman's life a bit easier in the event of motor point malfunction.

If this happens the signalman has to walk from the signalbox to the points in order to wind them over with a hand crank and then the points have to be clipped for safety. Carrying a (not light) point clip over this distance is somewhat tiring. So the plan is to have a secure place at the points to mount a clip and make it vandal proof. 

Here is a mock up of the proposed unit.

Five lengths of rodding have been prepared 

Here John P is cutting the ends with the angle grinder to prepare a point to make it easier to hammer into the ballast

Then they will be made secure with a bed of concrete

A rectangular slot will be cut into the top of rod into which the clip can be locked .

So each motor point will have a secure  local clip for use in emergency with only a key needed for the lock!

The deconstructed back blind has been cleaned up and has been given a coat of green primer

The signal that once had this on Chicken Curve was moved to the other side of the track and visibility of the arm is no longer a problem - so we won't need it now. So once it is all repainted and assembled if anyone has need of it we would be happy for it to go to a new home for a small donation to the GWSR!

And the post holding the keypad at Winchcombe gate has received its cream and brown top coats

Curly

General Stuff

 Tuesday  10th May

The red lenses in two of the ground signals at Toddington  have frosted over significantly reducing their visibility (plastic I'm afraid!)

Easily removable if the clamps haven't been fitted with slotted cheese head screws! Otherwise significant dismantling required. Luckily a pair of stillsons managed to grip and move them. This photo shows what an effect the weather has on the plastic - really ingrained.

One of the other tasks we need to address is the fitting of some additional rodding to the motor operated points north of the station at Toddington (no. 22). We will fit two additional angle cranks to the sleeper ends to connect the two yellow stretchers - this to prevent any flexing movement of the centre of the  blades during the passage of traffic. 

Meanwhile back at base we continue with the refurbishment of various items of signalling - including a facing point lock:

Various pointwork connections and cranks:

And the dismantling of a signal arm sighting board (or quadrant). Needed all its bolts cutting off with an angle grinder - Andy D at work here:

More angle grinding for tomorrow's team!

And finally a bit of tidying up of the post holding the keypad for the gate at Winchcombe which has had a bit if a scraping from passing plant. Green primer doesn't look heritage at the moment! Another job for tomorrow to finish off.

Curly