GWR ATC, BR AWS and the Blue Pullman

[darwins]

The drivers' manual for the Blue Pullmans (February 1962) states that the WR sets had AWS including an "AWS Indicator" listed with gauges and indicators.

Given that they ran mostly in the 1960s and until the early 70s, I was wondering if this would have been for the GWR ATC system rather than the BR AWS.
My understanding though is that the GWR system used only sounds with no visual (Sunflower) indication.

Can anyone clarify this?

Does anyone know at what dates the GWR ATC was replaced by the BR AWS on various routes?

Can anyone provide more information about the operation of the dual BR/WR AWS? Am I correct to guess that on BR equipped routes it operated as normal BR equipment with the horn and the sunflower indication, but that on GWR equipped routes it gave only the siren sound with no visual indication?

 

[Ash Bridge]

If I’m allowed to roughly quote from the publicaction Blue Pullman by Kevin Robertson….

The Cabs of both the Midland & Western Region units were basically identical except the WR sets were fitted from the outset with just the ATC type system, the LMR units were not fitted with any system until 1962 when just the BR type AWS equipment was installed.

I guessing the Western sets would surely have also had standard AWS kit fitted later in their careers though?

 

[Rescars]

Does anyone know at what dates the GWR ATC was replaced by the BR AWS on various routes?

Can anyone provide more information about the operation of the dual BR/WR AWS? Am I correct to guess that on BR equipped routes it operated as normal BR equipment with the horn and the sunflower indication, but that on GWR equipped routes it gave only the siren sound with no visual indication?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Sep 2024 ==

Memories are hazy, but I seem to recall sunflowers being visible through the cab windows of WR dmus which were working over GWR style ramps. IIRC, these disappeared and were replaced by BR AWS during the 1970s.

 

[Taunton]

The Blue Pullmans were withdrawn in 1973. That was before the replacement of GWR ATC by BR AWS started on the Western, which took place in the years leading up to HST introduction.

The Pullmans on the WR would have had their own style of ATC from the start. It was a longstanding practice that passenger services on the WR main lines were not run with unfitted units, leading to the loco changes at the boundary. The Midland units I believe were not initially fitted at all, because there was no BR AWS installed on that route until well into the 1960s. When they were transferred to the WR after 1966 they were refitted with the GWR pattern, so the BR AWS didn't last on them for long.

When the trains ran the occasional excursion onto outside territory they just ran there without. They were double manned, as the Pullman drivers would not have route knowledge.

 

[Railsigns]

The earliest replacement of WR AWS by BR AWS that I've found official reference to was between Sapperton Sidngs and Standish Junction on 3-5 October 1970.