Signal Wire Re-route Continues

 Tuesday 21st Feb

Today at Winchcombe we continued with the groundwork needed to re-route the signal wire to the outer home signal on the approach to Greet tunnel . This to free up access down the embankment to the trackbed south of the station.

Just to remind you this needs the installation of a vertical pulley wheel at the base of the signal ,  a horizontal crank and two horizontal pulley wheels.

So, stage one was to fill the hole we had previously dug at the base of the signal with concrete to mount the vertical pulley on its steel plate

We use a length of nylon rope to set the height so that the wire will clear the ballast under the rails 

Opposite this on the other side of the track an  angle crank on a steel plate bolted to two large concrete blocks has to be let into the ballast. Luckily we have the assistance of a mini digger to excavate a rather large hole to drop this assembly in.

Again setting the height with the aid of the rope across the track.

Eventually buried and firm.

Then, continuing on this side of the track, to position a horizontal pulley mounted on two similar concrete blocks. Again a large hole using the digger was required:

Then a repeat of this for the second horizontal pulley on the opposite side of the track (this position is between the bracket signal and where the access track comes down the embankment)

(excuse my thumb!)

That concludes today's work . 

Before we disconnect the existing signal wire we need to install a series of stakes along the opposite side of the track to carry the wire -a job for next time.

Just a quick review of last week. You will probably have heard that approval has been given for the construction of a proper workshop for the S * T Dept in Winchcombe yard (exciting news!). So there has been a significant effort (courtesy of Neil C with the telehandler to clear the site and relocate/scrap many pieces of railway "memorabilia" that have found their way to storage here over the years!

We look forward to a start of the earthworks

Curly

Routine Maintenance

 Tuesday 17th Jan

Started on some of the maintenance activity today required in Winchcombe signal box. 

Access to the cams, etc operated by the levers needs a removable section of the floor to be lifted. Malcolm W in the locking room below uses a broom handle to prise it up while 3 of us upstairs lift out. 

John B then sets to with an oil can to lubricate as many parts that he can reach .

And then give the levers a few off/normal movements to get the oil into the less accessible places. 

Tuesday 24 th Jan

Off to Cheltenham today for some more signal box maintenance. 

Here's  the gang ready to go.

The catch handle pivot pins on the levers are getting stiff with continued use so they need removing and lightly greasing. Some resisting split pins to remove first!

And a general clean up with emery paper to remove rust from the mating faces and a smearing of oil 

Malcolm busied himself in the locking room to do some oiling.  Unfortunately the floor in this box is not removable to gain access to the moving lever components, so a degree of contortion is required with the oil can.

Followed by a bit of outdoor activity. 

You may remember from a previous blog that we had prepared some lengths of rodding to provide some secure posts for point clips adjacent to motor points to save the signalman having to carry one in the event of a point malfunction. Must be a good quarter of a mile from the signal box to the motor point at the Cheltenham end of the station.

So John P and myself took a trolley loaded with a wheelbarrow plus aggregate and cement on this journey to the points. Good job we brought a pick axe to loosen the frozen ground . Anyway  a hole was dug and the post knocked in and concreted.

31st Jan

Whilst doing some work on the lineside cabinet at the Cheltenham motor point Neil C brought a point clip and locked it onto the post. 

The key now has a suitable ID which will be retained in the signal box should it ever be needed.  (let's hope not!)

Curly