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| Whitland TRTS plunger - purpose? 25/09/2019 at 00:12 #120579 | |
DavidSplett
142 posts |
Something which mildly intrigued me whilst on holiday in west Wales: On the down platform at Whitland, there’s a TRTS plunger, which down trains bound for the Clarbeston Road direction must operate when ready to depart, but not trains for the Pembroke branch. Can anyone give the definitive reason for this arrangement? I initially guessed it might simply be because the signaller can’t readily see if a train is ready, but another reason could be some kind of arrangement relating to Llanboidy AHB crossing, which is close to the station but does have a further signal in the rear of it. Thanks in advance for any thoughts. Log in to reply |
| Whitland TRTS plunger - purpose? 25/09/2019 at 01:43 #120580 | |
GeoffM
6376 posts 
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Without knowing the specifics of this particular location (apart from a quick look at Google Maps), I suspect you hit the nail on the head with the AHB. Another crossing I know has a TRTS plunger that the guard operates. This starts the lowering sequence for the crossing which would otherwise be too close to give enough road warning and lower the barriers, even for a train accelerating from a stand. In this case the signaller also has non-stopping (and stopping) controls to avoid slowing a train that isn't stopping at the station - the train strikes into the crossing well before the station.
SimSig Boss Log in to reply |
| Whitland TRTS plunger - purpose? 25/09/2019 at 02:53 #120581 | |
jc92
3689 posts |
GeoffM in post 120580 said:Without knowing the specifics of this particular location (apart from a quick look at Google Maps), I suspect you hit the nail on the head with the AHB. Another crossing I know has a TRTS plunger that the guard operates. This starts the lowering sequence for the crossing which would otherwise be too close to give enough road warning and lower the barriers, even for a train accelerating from a stand. In this case the signaller also has non-stopping (and stopping) controls to avoid slowing a train that isn't stopping at the station - the train strikes into the crossing well before the station.Bradford on Avon does on Westbury sim. "We don't stop camborne wednesdays" Log in to reply |
| Whitland TRTS plunger - purpose? 25/09/2019 at 16:19 #120598 | |
headshot119
4869 posts |
DavidSplett in post 120579 said:Something which mildly intrigued me whilst on holiday in west Wales:Having checked the control tables I have for the area, I would agree that TRTS plunger is for Llanboidy AHB. The sectional appendix was fairly conclusive given that it's only to be used for trains destined for Clarbeston Road Junction, and not towards the branch. "Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer Log in to reply |
| Whitland TRTS plunger - purpose? 25/09/2019 at 16:26 #120600 | |
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GeoffM
6376 posts
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jc92 in post 120581 said:GeoffM in post 120580 said:Funnily enough that was the one I had in mind. Plenty of time spent there watching the guard mash the button upon arrival.Without knowing the specifics of this particular location (apart from a quick look at Google Maps), I suspect you hit the nail on the head with the AHB. Another crossing I know has a TRTS plunger that the guard operates. This starts the lowering sequence for the crossing which would otherwise be too close to give enough road warning and lower the barriers, even for a train accelerating from a stand. In this case the signaller also has non-stopping (and stopping) controls to avoid slowing a train that isn't stopping at the station - the train strikes into the crossing well before the station.Bradford on Avon does on Westbury sim. SimSig Boss Log in to reply |
| Whitland TRTS plunger - purpose? 26/09/2019 at 00:58 #120616 | |
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Phil-jmw
675 posts |
Before the Merseyrail resignalling in 1994, guards of all Up trains had to press a 'Train Ready to Start' plunger on the platform wall at Birkdale for Crescent Road AHB's (there were a number of plungers along the platform for this purpose to allow the guard to press the nearest one to where his van stopped (think Class 502/503 units with the van towards the centre of the unit, not 507/508 where the guard was always in the rear cab, which doesn't always appear to be the case these days). Pressing the plunger did not in itself start the barrier sequence, what it did do was illuminate an indicator on the block shelf. Once this indicator was illuminated (the platform TC also had to be occupied for the TRTS indicator to illuminate), the signalman operated the clasp on the Up Section signal lever and this initiated the Crescent Road barrier sequence. When the barriers were down the electric lock was released allowing the section signal to be cleared. Stopping/Non-Stopping buttons were not provided. I don't know if the TRTS buttons are still there but if they are there is nothing in the Sandhills sim to indicate any involvement of the signalman with regard to ML?? Signal on the Liverpool end of the Up platform. Log in to reply |
| Whitland TRTS plunger - purpose? 27/09/2019 at 14:25 #120646 | |
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Chromatix
190 posts |
Video evidence shows a southbound train at Birkdale arriving to a red signal. The signal head has the extra warning stripes of a high SPAD risk signal (ie. "ding ding and away"). The signal then clears just as station work is completed, leaving just about enough time since the train occupied the platform TC for the Crescent Road AHB to lower. So I don't think there's a plunger any more, instead the crossing is struck-in by the train arriving at Birkdale. And of course there is no non-stop facility, because essentially all trains on that line are all-stops passenger services. Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Phil-jmw |