Garden Railway Forum

Here we go again, another year, another quarter, another Gallery, another Theme!

Courtesy of SteamGeorge, the Theme for this Quarter is "Signalling" in all its forms.

Rules as always, and entries by 1st March please.

I'll start the ball rolling with:

Bench Junction 3-way bracket signal.

OK, here is mine:

Had good weather today so the class 132 loco went out for a few laps with a short goods train.



5" gauge, 2.13m long, all axles driven.

On the Crowfoot Light Railway we’ve got no signals yet but we do have two signal boxes. Shown here is the Crowfoot Station box.
The off white dressed stonework forming the retaining wall and stairs are made from mosaic tile parts.
Just realised this box needs a name board facing the tracks.

Signalman's 'Rest room'...

Can’t see the signalman – he might be using the rest room? He’s forgotten to rehang the repainted fire buckets, too.

No trains expected for a while on this modest representation of the little known Bere Regis branch. (This picture has appeared elsewhere on the forum before)

I missed the last gallery, as I didn't feel I had a good enough entry. I'm not sure this is either, but it's in theme.
Burton in Gretadale station throat.

Congratulations to all the entrants so far. I must admit, when I saw the title, I couldn't help wondering if it would be a challenge to find any photos to enter. But not only have we got quite a few already, they are all of a really good standard.



Rik

They're good, aren't they? And all but one without a train in so far...

I need to give my entry a little more thought...

Andrew wrote: ↑Wed Jan 12, 2022 9:20 am They're good, aren't they? And all but one without a train in so far...

I need to give my entry a little more thought...

Oh you tease!

Whatever it is I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Andrew wrote: ↑Wed Jan 12, 2022 9:20 am They're good, aren't they? And all but one without a train in so far...

No one told me it would be a "signal box only"-competition......

Scrat wrote: ↑Thu Jan 13, 2022 8:40 am

Andrew wrote: ↑Wed Jan 12, 2022 9:20 am They're good, aren't they? And all but one without a train in so far...

No one told me it would be a "signal box only"-competition......

Not entirely, there are a couple with signals in them. As the theme is "Signalling in all its forms", I was thinking of searching out one of my photos showing a guard with a flag or one with a shunter using hand gestures.

I assumed that the red and green buttons beside the track in your photo were part of your signalling system.

Rik

ge_rik wrote: ↑Thu Jan 13, 2022 8:51 am

I assumed that the red and green buttons beside the track in your photo were part of your signalling system.

I assumed that as well, but only after looking several times. I originally thought they looked like colour coded push buttons, and almost asked if you'd accidentally posted the wrong picture!

ge_rik wrote: ↑Thu Jan 13, 2022 8:51 am

Scrat wrote: ↑Thu Jan 13, 2022 8:40 am

Andrew wrote: ↑Wed Jan 12, 2022 9:20 am They're good, aren't they? And all but one without a train in so far...

No one told me it would be a "signal box only"-competition......

Not entirely, there are a couple with signals in them. As the theme is "Signalling in all its forms", I was thinking of searching out one of my photos showing a guard with a flag or one with a shunter using hand gestures.

I assumed that the red and green buttons beside the track in your photo were part of your signalling system.

Rik

Indeed, they ARE the signalling system. (or better, route setting system). I decided to have the train in the pic so it would not look empty.
(should have added the explanation with the first posting)
Each track has a red and a green button at each end.
So you can set the exit route already when entering the station.
Green one sets all points for normal direction, red for opposite direction.
Black one is for the ash pit track.
Approaching the station there are two sets of buttons to choose which track you want to enter.
The brick signal box houses the electrical "magic" (diode matrix, relays,...)
So you can set any route without even stopping the train.
Point indicators are only lit if the point has a valid position. They are off while the blades are moving and stay off if the blades get stuck underway and do nto reach the final position.

Driving is line of sight. I planned to have signals initially but then I realised that the sections would become too short, so I did not install any.

Scrat wrote: ↑Thu Jan 13, 2022 8:40 am

Andrew wrote: ↑Wed Jan 12, 2022 9:20 am They're good, aren't they? And all but one without a train in so far...

No one told me it would be a "signal box only"-competition......

Sorry! I didn't mean that, just thought it was unusual to have so few entries with trains in.

I remembered about your fascinating signalling system from one of your previous posts, so I understood what you meant. I do love that big diesel of yours, nice looking train too.

All the best,

Andrew

Some really good entries already!

Like a lot of light railways the BWLR doesn't go in for signalling in a big way. However it shares a quirky fact with its near neighbour the Derwent Valley Light Railway in that it has just one signal...

So here is my entry for this month.

"Down mixed train leaving Claxton Percy"

of course when I said "this month", I meant quarter!

I'm also bucking the trend by including a train!

I love the way the driver is hanging out of the cab to see the signal.

Rik

ge_rik wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 8:43 am I love the way the driver is hanging out of the cab to see the signal.

Rik

He has to do that to avoid bashing his head on the gas regulator...

BWLR wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 8:27 pm

ge_rik wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 8:43 am I love the way the driver is hanging out of the cab to see the signal.

Rik

He has to do that to avoid bashing his head on the gas regulator...

Had that on my fathers T3 (prussian 0-6-0 tender loco.
When going clockwise, everything was ok.
Went round couterclockwise one day and suddenly the loco stopped.
Gas was tuned off.
Turned back on, lit up, went again.
Few laps later the loco stopped and the gas valve was firmly shut.
Driver figure leaned against the gas valve handwheel with his head. (he was standing on the tender)
Each time when entering a left turn, he would slip down on the wheel a bit and when the loco went back onto the straight he pushed the valve wheel round a bit.
He was dismissed on the spot.