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| Par & Lostwithiel SBs, 07-Feb-2012 08/02/2012 at 00:59 #29044 | |
DaveHarries
1285 posts |
Evening all, Whilst on a train from Penzance to Exeter on Tuesday (7th February) (1644hrs departure from Penzance) I looked out at the windows of the signalboxes we passed. It seemed there were no lights on in the boxes at either Par or Lostwithiel which seemed odd to me. Anyone know why?! I am certain there were no lights on at Par box as I could see the electric insect killer thingy through the windows. But surely someone would have been there to do the St. Austell signals and Newquay line trains (at Par) and the level crossing (Lostiwithiel)..... :? Info welcome if anyone has any ideas as to why the lack of lights in the boxes. Dave Log in to reply |
| Re: Par & Lostwithiel SBs, 07-Feb-2012 08/02/2012 at 01:01 #29045 | |
jc92
3685 posts |
one reason could be becuase not everyone (myself included) bothers to have the lights on- you cant see anything outside the box if you have them on
"We don't stop camborne wednesdays" Last edited: 08/02/2012 at 01:02 by jc92 Log in to reply |
| Re: Par & Lostwithiel SBs, 07-Feb-2012 08/02/2012 at 01:11 #29046 | |
UKTrainMan
1803 posts |
Have known Lostwithiel SB to have those 'office blinds' (like these) shut sometimes whilst someone was in there working it - perhaps you passed it and didn't see that they were like that at the time? Can't recall if it was particularly sunny at the times or if there was another obvious reason for doing that. Also can't recall if they had some parts 'not shut' so they could see the signals and level crossing, but one would assume they did.
Any views and / or opinions expressed by myself are from me personally and do not represent those of any company I either work for or am a consultant for. Last edited: 08/02/2012 at 02:29 by UKTrainMan Log in to reply |
| Re: Par & Lostwithiel SBs, 07-Feb-2012 08/02/2012 at 02:35 #29048 | |
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Stephen Fulcher
2078 posts |
When I used to work Highley and Hampton Loade on the SVR late at night (or through the night on one occasion) I would only ever have one small light on in there.
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| Re: Par & Lostwithiel SBs, 07-Feb-2012 08/02/2012 at 10:51 #29089 | |
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Late Turn
699 posts |
How can you sleep with all the lights on? 
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| Re: Par & Lostwithiel SBs, 07-Feb-2012 08/02/2012 at 13:59 #29112 | |
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Danny252
1461 posts |
" said:When I used to work Highley and Hampton Loade on the SVR late at night (or through the night on one occasion) I would only ever have one small light on in there.Even with both lights on in Highley, it's still pretty dim in there! Log in to reply |
| Re: Par & Lostwithiel SBs, 07-Feb-2012 08/02/2012 at 14:16 #29122 | |
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Zoe
252 posts |
Last time I was in a signal box (it was on a heritage railway) the signalman only had some dim lights on, not the main lights.
Last edited: 08/02/2012 at 14:32 by Zoe Log in to reply |
| Re: Par & Lostwithiel SBs, 07-Feb-2012 08/02/2012 at 14:24 #29123 | |
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Stephen Fulcher
2078 posts |
Having too many lights on can severely impair your ability to spot tail lamps on passing trains, although this is far more the case with the old paraffin tail lamps than the modern LED clusters.
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| Re: Par & Lostwithiel SBs, 07-Feb-2012 08/02/2012 at 14:30 #29126 | |
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AndyG
1842 posts |
I guess if you know your box, you only need a bit of light to write up the register. After all, the levers can't go far away, and the kettle is where you last left it - sorted.
I can only help one person a day. Today's not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look too good either. Log in to reply |
| Re: Par & Lostwithiel SBs, 07-Feb-2012 08/02/2012 at 14:40 #29127 | |
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jc92
3685 posts |
also helps observe poorly lit illuminated diagrams
"We don't stop camborne wednesdays" Log in to reply |
| Re: Par & Lostwithiel SBs, 07-Feb-2012 09/02/2012 at 10:52 #29187 | |
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kbarber
1742 posts |
I always worked with minimal lighting (one over the desk) on nights, with two exceptions: When there was a long gap between trains and I wanted to read a book/the evening paper A cold night at North Pole Junction; as the lighting was by gas (even though there were colour light signals!) it gave just a little bit more warmth, to add to the heater, both rings the grill and the oven of the gas stove; with that lot on it was just about bearable in an overcoat (or in my case full bike leathers). Log in to reply |