Recent content by Tio Terry

One of the tallest I can recall was on the Up East Suffolk at the London end of Beccles station. It was a wooden co-acting signal, designed so that trains approaching the station from Lowestoft around the curve.could see the aspect above the stations buildings and footbridge. In it's latter...

Many years ago, in BR days, there used to be an intermediate tablet instrument point and home and distant signals in both directions at Berney Arms. It split the Reedham - Breydon Junction single line into two sections, so, yes, it can be done and has been done. I don't remember it being used...

Whatever train is choosen it will need to meet the quite stringent fire requirements for operation through the Channel Tunnel. Not many existing HS trains do that.

Then it's probably GSM providing internet for the departure board - it's not as if it's going to be constantly changing - and VoIP for the help line.

A quick look on Google maps confirms that there is no pole route now. At a guess, there is now internet around Berney Arms, either by GSM, Microwave or possibly BT cable. Probably extends to the houses and pub by the pumping windmill. Don't think NR has cabled between Berney Arms and either...

I don't think there is a telegraph pole route between Reedham Junction and Berney Arms now so there can't be any wires between the bridge and where the phone box was.

No, technology has moved on, there's no need for physical lines to telephones now that mobile phone technology has taken over.

" To the East of Reedham station there is a run of splendid telegraph poles with large numbers of crosspieces ..... " They are known as Arms. The normal, 4 position arms are 48" but there is often a top arm of 60" which can accommodate 6 wires, the outer two being power supplies for the...

There is the matter of trackside safety to consider. Up to 100 MPH you need a 1.5M safe cess, above 100mph you need 2.0M. A full risk assessment would be needed to see what infrastructure changes would be necessary or where maintenance access would need to be restricted and special arrangements...

Changing from DC to AC electrification requires changes to the immunisation of Signalling and Telecommunications systems also. Modern resignalling systems usually make provision for AC electrification so if somewhere has recently been resignalled it's quite possible that electrification costs...

Norwich has an analogue clock on the outside of the station cupula, but it's also a listed building so it's not likely to be converted to digital. It was originally a mechanical clock, made in Norwich, but the movement was changed in BR days. The original movement was given to a local museum.

Bit of a problem on a Crossrail train!

If I remember correctly - and it's a very long time since I had anything to do with it - On Train PA announcements can be made via GSMR. So those equipped with the right equipment in signalling centres or the like could make announcements directly to the train, assuming there is still enough...

One thing that may vary with higher speeds is the design of the catenary system. Pantograph interface with the OHEL is critical at higher speeds. There are standard designs that work well for the current HS lines but if you want to go faster the designs may need to be revisited - which costs money!

For anyone wanting to run additional trains via Eurotunnel there are a number of problems to be overcome. Platform capacity at St Pancras is limited, to expand it would be incredibly expensive, but maybe something at Euston would help the problems there? But wherever you go in the UK you have...