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Wakefield Kirkgate Signalling Centre

You are here: Home > Forum > Miscellaneous > The real thing (signalling) > Wakefield Kirkgate Signalling Centre

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Wakefield Kirkgate Signalling Centre 21/05/2014 at 09:19 #60748
Andrew G
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552 posts
These pictures might be of interest.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/llangollen_signalman/sets/72157644075879620/

Quite an extensive control area for one signaller.

I did see mention of this area (and Healey Mills) being considered as candidates several years ago.

Would definitely make a nice solo simulation.

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Wakefield Kirkgate Signalling Centre 21/05/2014 at 10:17 #60754
Hooverman
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306 posts
A small but complex area, after a quick check with my trackmaps atlas about 10 routes miles. The panel looks to be physically the same size as our panel 7 after they added the Arun valley extension to it and that is supposed to be a single person panel.
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Wakefield Kirkgate Signalling Centre 21/05/2014 at 14:19 #60770
Andrew G
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552 posts
" said:
A small but complex area, after a quick check with my trackmaps atlas about 10 routes miles. The panel looks to be physically the same size as our panel 7 after they added the Arun valley extension to it and that is supposed to be a single person panel.
Suspect there isn't as much traffic you have and the far left section doesn't have too much traffic, although it does have 2 CCTV crossings with no auto lower.

Still a fair amount of walking about, especially if there are any line blockages to deal with.

The other interesting thing on this panel is the area Wakefield took over is SSI while the original area of control is RRI, so some of the panel has TORR and some of it doesn't. And the new area has 'R' replacement Auto Signals which can be relied upon for Line Blockages, whereas the original section only has 'E' Emergency replacement which can't.

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Wakefield Kirkgate Signalling Centre 21/05/2014 at 18:50 #60781
jc92
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3685 posts
certainly gets a +1 from me. I've always thought Healey Mills+Horbury Jcn (chain to barnsley/Woolley?)+ Wakefield + Castleford would make a good sim. Or indeed three separate mini sims.
"We don't stop camborne wednesdays"
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Wakefield Kirkgate Signalling Centre 10/06/2014 at 18:41 #61534
belly buster
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368 posts
Thanks for posting this. I also enjoyed the Stafford collection which reminded me of a question I meant to ask.

The Wakefield signalling centre looks very pristine as a recent installation. But I was quite surprised they still make panel signal boxes given electronic signalling has been around for 25 years or so. Given this is a fringe to York IECC, why not just extend York?

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Wakefield Kirkgate Signalling Centre 11/06/2014 at 07:11 #61540
Andrew G
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552 posts
You'd need to ask the designers, but I suspect part of the logic is the Wakefield end has been retained as a Relay Interlocking in effect with the new panel section just being a replacement. The element added is SSI.

It might also be the powers that be have decided to leave York as it is in terms of Work Station numbers until the new ROC building opens.

There are recent examples down south of where NX panels have recently been commissioned - Basingstoke comes to mind.

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Wakefield Kirkgate Signalling Centre 11/06/2014 at 14:36 #61550
Hooverman
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306 posts
" said:
" said:
A small but complex area, after a quick check with my trackmaps atlas about 10 routes miles. The panel looks to be physically the same size as our panel 7 after they added the Arun valley extension to it and that is supposed to be a single person panel.
Suspect there isn't as much traffic you have and the far left section doesn't have too much traffic, although it does have 2 CCTV crossings with no auto lower.

Still a fair amount of walking about, especially if there are any line blockages to deal with.

The other interesting thing on this panel is the area Wakefield took over is SSI while the original area of control is RRI, so some of the panel has TORR and some of it doesn't. And the new area has 'R' replacement Auto Signals which can be relied upon for Line Blockages, whereas the original section only has 'E' Emergency replacement which can't.

On our panel 7 it is a mixture of RRI, electromechanical and Smartlock SSI, in fact to be precise we have 1 RRI area and 1 electromechanical interlocking area that are indicated back via 2 PIIUs and 4 virtual SSI (VIXLS) areas indicated back to the panel via 2 PMUXS plus an extra PIIU for our MDC-OD, the result of all that amazing computer programming and hardware (lol) is that even the replacements in the RRI and electromechanical areas are proved and can be used for protection. It's all good stuff until the computer says "NO" or the national grid sends a power spike down the wires then it all goes blank and as dead a dodo or all goes red but either way it's just sit back and wait for the techs. :-) We have TORR on all of the panel apart from on some of our new Single Button Control Signals SBCS (non interlocked) all of which are located on the panel extension in the new VIXL area, they can all be set in auto which is good, but if you pull the blue auto button up and after a train has passed the signal, the signal button will still stay alumimated and as there are no route lights from them, it is a job to spot when they need re-setting and a many train has come to a stand at them.

PIIU = Panel and Interlocking Interface Unit
PMUX Panel Multiplexer
VIXL = SSI Virtual Interlocking

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