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| Swindon Panel Preservation 30/07/2013 at 12:09 #47728 | |
TomOF
452 posts |
Hi All I'm involved in the future preservation of Swindon panel and conversion into a working simulator. I'm sure there will be a few of you that will hopefully find the following of interest. Please visit our website at http://swindonpanel.org.uk/ to learn how to get involved or contact me by PM. Some background information follows:- There are seven original Western-Region "turn-push" type panels left in operation. Network Rail has plans to close most, if not all, of them within the next few years. A small group has convened with the aim of preventing this panel design, that has been the staple panel of the Great Western since the 1960s, passing into history unpreserved. Our examination of the feasibility of doing this has, so far, produced the following results: Our attention is focussed on Swindon Panel, which is in good condition and has a good number of interesting and varied infrastructure features on it. Network Rail have agreed to our obtaining the panel when it is taken out of use in May 2014. The plan is to remove the panel from the current Swindon Panel building (which is to be demolished) and reconstruct in a secure location off-site. We have agreement for us to use a SIMSIG to build (and people with experience to program) a simulator back-end for the Panel. This will enable it to function and be operated realistically, for the interest and education of those interested in railway signalling and MAS technology. Our final plan, when we've achieved this, is to start 'winding the clock back' and reinstating some long-gone infrastructure on the panel fascia, back to a period in about 1982-84, when the layout was at its most interesting and most complex! We ultimately intend to supplement the exhibit of the panel with other explanatory items such as explanations of colour light signals, junction sequences, remote controls, etc. That's all a little way off though. We are still very much in the early stages, but we believe we are able to say with confidence that the technical and physical aspects of the project overall are feasible. Western Region Panels More notes on WR panels: The seven remaining original turn-push panels are at Slough, Swindon, Bristol, Gloucester, Cardiff, Port Talbot, Plymouth, all of which except Plymouth have a closure date in the next few years. There is also a very small one at Didcot Power Station. Three new small ones have been installed recently at Ascott-under-Wychwood, Evesham and Chard Junction (Chard only lasted a very short time and has now closed). A 1970's push-push style of WR panel exists at Oxford. WR turn-push panels that have already closed include Old Oak Common (original), Old Oak Common (1960s) (two panels), Reading (two panels), Newport (two panels), Birmingham, and numerous smaller ones and stagework panels. The panels utilise square 'dominos' of the Integra pattern to construct the panel diagram (as depicted in our illustrations on the website), supplied in the UK by Henry Williams in Darlington. Last edited: 30/07/2013 at 12:12 by TomOF Reason: erronous emoticon Log in to reply The following users said thank you: Ginger, UKTrainMan, Jezalenko |
| Swindon Panel Preservation 30/07/2013 at 15:23 #47740 | |
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Firefly
521 posts |
Hi Tom This is great news. Having carried out testing on Reading, Swindon, Cardiff and Newport panels over the years I'd love to see one of these panels preserved. If the object is to allow future generations to see this in action I wonder if there would be any chance of getting hold of a couple of the relay racks as part of the acquisition. It would be good to be able to show people what it was that drove this kit. It would also be useful to acquire some of the diagrams, particularly control tables so that the controls can be accurately simulated. If I can be of any help just ask. Kev Log in to reply |
| Swindon Panel Preservation 30/07/2013 at 16:30 #47746 | |
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Stephen Fulcher
2080 posts |
A relay rack or two would definately make any finished exhibition more interesting as it would be possible to explain to people how each process happens rather than just a computer doing it all as a simulation. If the computer somehow provided the feed to some of the relays then the whole interlocking could still be made to function as if a train was passing. The panels themselves are essentially just an arrangements of switches and LEDs, and are only a part of the full signalling system. Log in to reply |
| Swindon Panel Preservation 30/07/2013 at 17:15 #47751 | |
DriverCurran
688 posts 
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Have signed upto the email list for this, long may this project prosper Paul You have to get a red before you can get any other colour Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Ginger |
| Swindon Panel Preservation 30/07/2013 at 19:29 #47756 | |
andyb0607
260 posts
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" said:Have signed upto the email list for this, long may this project prosperSame here. Sounds like an excellent project. Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Ginger |
| Swindon Panel Preservation 30/07/2013 at 20:59 #47759 | |
Ginger
30 posts |
Great project sign up too?
Log in to reply |
| Swindon Panel Preservation 31/07/2013 at 02:22 #47767 | |
GeoffM
6376 posts |
" said:A relay rack or two would definately make any finished exhibition more interesting as it would be possible to explain to people how each process happens rather than just a computer doing it all as a simulation. If the computer somehow provided the feed to some of the relays then the whole interlocking could still be made to function as if a train was passing.I guess it's viable as there is wholesale Smartlocking going on throughout the scheme, rather than any half-hearted recontrol, even though the whole signalling plan is virtually identical (apart from Kemble re-doubling). Do they recover relays that are in good condition for use as spares elsewhere though? SimSig Boss Log in to reply |
| Swindon Panel Preservation 31/07/2013 at 04:14 #47769 | |
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Stephen Fulcher
2080 posts |
They do upto a point, but the demand for some of them will dwindle as boxes of the same type grow. I know when Reading Panel closed some of the PO3000 sets were redistributed around the country, but not sure about a lot else. Log in to reply |
| Swindon Panel Preservation 31/07/2013 at 10:00 #47772 | |
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Firefly
521 posts |
Quote:Do they recover relays that are in good condition for use as spares elsewhere though?Yes but as Steve says PO3000 and P-Type relays are rarely used anywhere other than WR boxes. If they're smartlocking the whole lot and recovering all of the remote interlockings as well as Swindon's interlocking there will be masses of redundant relays so I would imagine they will be specific about which relays they actually want kept rather than just keeping the whole lot. Even if they don't allow them to have the relays straight away, thy should become available as more and more E10k interlockings get recovered. Log in to reply |
| Swindon Panel Preservation 31/07/2013 at 10:31 #47773 | |
moonraker
370 posts |
This sounds very interesting. Is it being kept in Swindon ? Or moving out of town. I will definitely be interested if it's being kept in the town as it's where I live :). When I was a Senior Railman in Cockleberry and the Transfer Yards shunting I used to communicate regularly with the Panel to open various ground frames etc
Last edited: 31/07/2013 at 10:35 by moonraker Log in to reply |