Big thanks for doing all this so we can watch from the comfort of our armchairs - very much appreciated
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Stevenage platform 5
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malc-c
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Yup, when I visited site last week the plan was to have the track down and joined last Thursdsay.
Finally I've had the approval from the Directors of Spencer Engineering to release my latest update, recorded last Wednesday 12th February
I was made to feel very welcome by the staff, and having been provided with PPE, and sat through a safety briefing I was escorted by the project manager to site. My claim to fame is being the first member of the public to set foot on the platform, climb the stairs and stand on the new bridge
As explained in the video description, I was privy to some confidential information which is not for general public knowledge which is why the audio is muted at times and the background music boosted. Please don't ask me if I know when key events are scheduled, or when items will be commissioned because even if I do know I won't be braking that trust and confidence they have placed in me.
So make yourself a cuppa, sit back for twenty minutes and let me take you for a walk along the new Stevenage Turnback
Finally I've had the approval from the Directors of Spencer Engineering to release my latest update, recorded last Wednesday 12th February
I was made to feel very welcome by the staff, and having been provided with PPE, and sat through a safety briefing I was escorted by the project manager to site. My claim to fame is being the first member of the public to set foot on the platform, climb the stairs and stand on the new bridge
As explained in the video description, I was privy to some confidential information which is not for general public knowledge which is why the audio is muted at times and the background music boosted. Please don't ask me if I know when key events are scheduled, or when items will be commissioned because even if I do know I won't be braking that trust and confidence they have placed in me.
So make yourself a cuppa, sit back for twenty minutes and let me take you for a walk along the new Stevenage Turnback
malc-c
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Thanks for the support. To be honest I don't know what damaged the train suffered. I put a post up on the forum ( https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/bird-strike-between-knebworth-and-stevenage-12-2-20.200263/ ) asking if this was the train involved, which others confirmed, but the screen looked OK from the video. Not sure if the imitation of a steam engine is something that the 800's do normally, but it was loud as if a leak of compressed air or gas was happening, maybe this was the area the bird strike caused damage.
D365
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Very nice to see your video up and great editing too. The background music was set at a great volume, not too loud but not quiet either.
malc-c
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Thanks. I still wanted people to hear the sounds such as walking on the ballast or ducting, but needed to have it loud enough so that it would obscure any conversation... pleased to hear I seem to have got it right
Aictos
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As there only seems to be a single aspect signal on the line to Platform 5, would I be right in thinking because it’s a terminal platform it would only ever show a yellow aspect because it looks to be past the junction to the Down Hertford?
Because the buffers serve as the stop signal.
I did enjoy the video still a fair way to go to complete the track into the platform including the tamping needed.
Other then that looked quite interesting so thank you.
Because the buffers serve as the stop signal.
I did enjoy the video still a fair way to go to complete the track into the platform including the tamping needed.
Other then that looked quite interesting so thank you.
That isn't normal for an 80x, definitely an air leak.
malc-c
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The section under six-hills way bridge was due for completion 13/14th Feb, and then they just need to lay the rails, I've not been able to get to site yet to confirm this. I'm sure with the next three night blockade happening 29th Feb to 1st March that a lot of work will be done to complete the ballasting and tamper the line.
Modern LED signals can show multiple colors in the same "lens".
Correct see my signalling sketch here (fixed distant signal highlighted with yellow circle :
Also correct but not in this case where the signal in question will only be able to show a single yellow. Note from the video, the parallel signals on Down Slow and Down Fast have been replaced in the same form. The DS signal is 3 aspect with a three colour (r/y/g) main lamp unit above a position light. The DF signal is 4 aspect, with a three colour unit below and a yellow only unit above to display a double yellow. This signal also has a junction indicator for the divergence left into platform #4.
edwin_m
Veteran Member
In normal working the only reason for this signal to show a red aspect would be if there was a train between it and the P5 buffer stops, in which case another train wouldn't be approaching the signal because by doing so it would be blocking the exit of the train in the platform. About once in a hundred years there might be a need to stop a train approaching the platform in an emergency, but otherwise no train would ever see that signal at red even if it was capable of displaying it. If the P5 line was ever extended to join the Down Slow then this signal would have a good reason to display red, yellow or green.
Just a gentle reminder this thread is an infrastructure & stations discussion regarding Stevenage platform 5
This covers the work that is actually happening.
People are very welcome to post ideas, suggestions and speculation regarding what changes they think might or should happen, but these do belong in Speculative Ideas.
Some posts have been moved to: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...form-5-be-turned-into-a-loop-platform.200938/
Thanks
This covers the work that is actually happening.
People are very welcome to post ideas, suggestions and speculation regarding what changes they think might or should happen, but these do belong in Speculative Ideas.
Some posts have been moved to: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...form-5-be-turned-into-a-loop-platform.200938/
Thanks
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malc-c
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I noticed that Open Train Times has updated their map for Stevenage
I'm guessing that as OTT gets the info from network rails (or wherever) that the track is fully circuited but obviously not commissioned ?
I'm guessing that as OTT gets the info from network rails (or wherever) that the track is fully circuited but obviously not commissioned ?
bramling
Veteran Member
Had the platform been designed with 313s in mind then presumably it might have been necessary to provide a signal there in order to accommodate a calling-on aspect?
In slightly different circumstances presumably a fixed distant board would have been sufficient at this location, if indeed these are still used for new installations?
Aictos
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edwin_m
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IIRC there's a subsidiary on the adjacent Down Slow. But with 313s extinct there is no current use for it, and all this is planned to be overtaken by ETCS anyway so there's no need to think about any facilities that might be needed in the long term.
I think the risk is of "reading across" to the adjacent signals on the Down Slow and Down Fast, and momentarily forgetting about being on the dead-end line instead of one of those through lines. I think distant boards are OK in certain circumstances but an unlit board alongside brightly-lit aspects probably isn't.
Because I have a bit of a 'green aspect' when it comes to signalling can someone help please with signal 935.
I assume it will be amber if platform 5 is empty and red when it's full?
What then happens if the train in platform 5 breaks down - is the rescuing engine allowed over a red 935.
Sorry to be 'green'
I assume it will be amber if platform 5 is empty and red when it's full?
What then happens if the train in platform 5 breaks down - is the rescuing engine allowed over a red 935.
Sorry to be 'green'
Brissle Girl
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Surely in many instances a rescuing engine / unit will either have to reverse wrong line or pass a danger signal to get to a stranded train, so I’m not sure why this situation would be any different?
In the past detonators would be laid to protect a stationary train being approached in such a manner, though not sure if that is still the case. (They quite alarmed me momentarily the one time our emu approached a failed train from behind, though that was about 20 years ago at Knebworth. )
In the past detonators would be laid to protect a stationary train being approached in such a manner, though not sure if that is still the case. (They quite alarmed me momentarily the one time our emu approached a failed train from behind, though that was about 20 years ago at Knebworth. )
swt_passenger
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“Yellow” or Red as you have worked out.
A hypothetical Rescue loco (or assisting EMU) would not need to be allowed for by the signalling system, other rules would be followed.
My bet is on 935 being a fixed distant that can only show single yellow. There's little point in being able to route to 935 from the Down Hertford line when platform #5 is already occupied, and there's no up signal at the new junction for such a train to reverse from so it would be stuck and you'd have a deadlock situation. Distant signals are given their own unique number today, no different to any other signal, rather than following the old method of taking the number of the next stop signal ahead and adding a 'R' or 'P' suffix, so the use of 935 doesn't prevent it being a distant. It could be engineered to revert to red with a train in platform #5, but seeing as the route from 939 will go all the way through to the bay there's no point in the complexity of doing that as no train can approach it in that state.
Based on the updated train describer output, I believe K935 to be a 2 aspect R/Y signal as it has route RK935-1M to the buffer stops.
Signal K939 on the down hertford now has two routes, RK939-1M (to K935) and RK939-2M (to K659 on the down slow).
edwin_m
Veteran Member
With signals, it is always Yellow. If you say Amber we all think you are a traffic light fan.
If it is the case that 935 is a controlled r/y it's likely special controls will be provided to ensure the line is clear to the buffers before a route can be set from 939 towards 935 to avoid the deadlock scenario I described earlier. Providing a berth for 935 is possibly part of passive provision in information systems for future conversion of the line to a through line after which a red at 935 would be useful. If the signal is configured as a fixed distant at first however, it's possible in the train describer to set the berth provided to step straight through to the buffers in which case it might be effectively a dummy so downstream systems have the identity ready for future use. We'll all know for sure when the signal number plate is revealed. In addition to the number, it will be supplemented by an upward pointing white triangle symbol on a black background if the signal cannot display a red.
I said I was 'green' when I asked the question
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malc-c
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Going slightly OT, I'm guessing that most new signals have LEDs as the light source, and as such do they feature multi-chip LEDs to display RYG thus only requiring no more than two physical lights to display the normal four aspects (red, yellow, double yellow, green) as can be seen in the video above (around 4 minute mark)
swt_passenger
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Yes that’s right, and in four aspect areas the two LED units are spaced apart to give the same distance as usual between the double yellows. AIUI from previous discussions one head, (usually the lower), will provide all three of the single colours.
edwin_m
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Not sure if they are multi-coloured LEDs or single-colour ones mixed together but the same lens can certainly display different colours. This makes it more difficult to understand the signaling by looking at it, as a fixed red, R/G, R/Y and R/Y/G will all look the same. A fixed yellow or Y/G will look the same as each other but will have the triangle plate mentioned above.
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