Key Token Machines

[lil Bear]

I'm doing a research project on Key Token Machines, and I'm trying to understand the use of Intermediate and Auxiliary machines.

Both sit in between a section, but I'm trying to understand the need for both options? Are they wired the same and just named differently, or is there subtle differences to the set up?

Does Auxiliary need a pair of machines (1x in box, 1x at Aux location)?

Any help in clarifying would be most appreciated.

 

[MadMac]

An ‘Intermediate’ would be provided where a “shut-in” ground frame exists mid-section. An example which, I believe, still exists (albeit technically) would be Stranraer Town: a train could go inside, normalise the frame and replace the token in the machine.

I’m not 100% certain on ’Auxiliary‘.

 

[Gloster]

I am not up to date with the terminology, but I think an Auxiliary is a second (or subsequent) machine at a token release location. A signal box might be several hundred yards from where a train might stop; for example, at one end of a passing loop. Rather than having a delay while a token is taken from the signal box to the loco, there is a second machine close to the Starting Signal, from which the driver or guard can extract a token once the signalman has given a release.

 

[MadMac]

I am not up to date with the terminology, but I think an Auxiliary is a second (or subsequent) machine at a token release location. A signal box might be several hundred yards from where a train might stop; for example, at one end of a passing loop. Rather than having a delay while a token is taken from the signal box to the loco, there is a second machine close to the Starting Signal, from which the driver or guard can extract a token once the signalman has given a release.

That's probably it!

 

[lil Bear]

Is Aux. / Int. dependent upon geographical location then?

So electrically you have :
Box A --- Aux. / Int. --- Box B

But geographically you have either:
Box A --- Int. --- Box B
Box A --- Box B --- Aux

Having had a look at Diagram E10000/70/2 "Electric Token Working: Instrument Internal Wiring" there appears to be no difference to an Aux. / Int. machines, so I'm just trying to understand what is what. I'm taking it there only needs to be a single Auxiliary machine for a single "Aux." location, and this is positioned at the location? The main control / release is still given through Main Box machines?

 

[Railsigns]

This page may help:
https://www.railsigns.uk/info/etoken1.html

 

[lil Bear]

This page may help:
https://www.railsigns.uk/info/etoken1.html

Certainly does help, Thank You.

Though it doesn't answer how electrically they are wired up, I'm guessing the Aux. Pair are on the same line for Box A to Box B.

 

[Taunton]

I believe the 1970s singling of the Cotswold line used both. There were some intermediate sidings which allowed a freight train to return the token to an Intermediate Machine when they were locked in. A near accident ensued, described in one of Adrian Vaughn's books, when a freight train shunted into a siding and returned the token, locking themselves in and freeing the section for the next passenger service between signalboxes, overlooking that they had left the brake van standing on the main line during the shunting. The next passenger was stopped just in time.

Auxiliary Machines were provided to avoid slowing down at the signalbox at the end of a section. I believe there was one at Worcester Shrub Hill where tokens could be carried through and returned, avoiding slowing westbound for a hand exchange at Norton Junction. Obviously for this arrangement, if there was a train in the opposite direction waiting at Norton Junction it would have to wait further until the token was returned at Worcester. I believe the signalman there used the distant signal to indicate if they should slow to return the token there, or carry it through to Worcester. Periodically the lineman would have to retrieve the tokens from the Auxiliary machine and return them to the Norton signalbox machine. I think I am correct that such machines were only used to return tokens, not to pick them up.

Western Region policy was to provide 20 tokens for a section, initially installed 10 at each end, but with these additional machines I would presume additional tokens as well.

 

[Railsigns]

Though it doesn't answer how electrically they are wired up, I'm guessing the Aux. Pair are on the same line for Box A to Box B.

No; they are on a separate line, as implied by the separate dashed lines in figure 4.

I think I am correct that such [auxiliary] machines were only used to return tokens, not to pick them up.

They could be used for both.

 

[Tio Terry]

Can't comment on intermediate token instruments, but I did have some involvement with intermediate Tablet instruments. Especially Berney Arms.

 

[Gloster]

I worked at one box where the tokens for Down trains were usually removed from an ‘Auxiliary’ in the waiting shelter on the Down by the station staff, after the box had given them a release. The box was only a short distance away and and Down trains passed it, but it meant that the signalman would not have to cross the mainline and either hand the token over while standing on the Up Main or be stuck (out of hearing of the box, what with engine noise) on the other side of the branch while the train got moving again. The tokens from the Up trains were collected by the signalman; non-stopping Down trains sometimes collected the token direct from the signalman. I know of no reason why a token from an Up train couldn’t have been returned to the instrument in the shelter, but I can’t remember it ever happening.

 

[lil Bear]

No; they are on a separate line, as implied by the separate dashed lines in figure 4.

Ahh, ok so the Aux Pair are always "out of phase" with the Terminal Pair "in phase" when no train present?
Terminal Pair become "out of phase" with the withdrawal of a token, and if required the Aux Pair are set "in phase" by inserting a token?

Any idea why E10000/70 diagrams show an Aux instrument on the same line as the Terminal pair? That's what's confused me, as both Sheet 2 doesn't show a second line as required.

 

[Railsigns]

Ahh, ok so the Aux Pair are always "out of phase" with the Terminal Pair "in phase" when no train present?
Terminal Pair become "out of phase" with the withdrawal of a token, and if required the Aux Pair are set "in phase" by inserting a token?

Yes, that's right.

Any idea why E10000/70 diagrams show an Aux instrument on the same line as the Terminal pair?

It doesn't... It shows an intermediate instrument on the same line as the terminal pair. The instrument in the middle is explicitly labelled as such.

 

[lil Bear]

It doesn't... It shows an intermediate instrument on the same line as the terminal pair. The instrument in the middle is explicitly labelled as such.

Sheet 2 does. It has the incoming terminals for an Intermediate, but then there is a bracket to internal wiring where it give you options for WR Aux/Int or Tyers Aux/Int or Terminal Conversions.

 

[Railsigns]

Sheet 2 does. It has the incoming terminals for an Intermediate, but then there is a bracket to internal wiring where it give you options for WR Aux/Int or Tyers Aux/Int or Terminal Conversions.

The three diagrams below the bracket show the internal wirings only. The fact that each of these lower drawings is labelled "Intermediate/Auxiliary" infers that intermediate and auxiliary instruments both share the same internal wiring. The diagram above shows how one of these instruments would be connected to the terminal instruments on either side when functioning as an intermediate instrument (and is therefore labelled here as "intermediate inst.", not "intermediate/auxiliary inst."). Sheet 2 doesn't show how an auxiliary instrument is connected to another instrument.

 

[Annetts key]

Tyer’s type key token machines (the red one shown as Fig.2 on www.railsigns.uk), they can be wired up in a number of configurations:

• Start/End/Intermediate Instrument that allows tokens to be withdrawn or returned.
• End of section Instrument, tokens can be returned but cannot be withdrawn.

If a line has token operated ground frames (GF), there can be a Intermediate Instrument at each GF, with the GF being unlocked by the token. There can be more than one GF each with it’s own Intermediate Instrument.

They can be configured as a requiring a signaller to give a release or be configured as a "No-Signalman Key Token" (NSKT).

Where the signaller is remote from all the token instruments, a token can be released only when permitted by the electrical interlocking, the signaller operating their control (button) and the requester operating the plunger on the token instrument they are at.

Special controls may be included. For example, the track circuit at the entrance may have to be proved operated (occupied) before a token can be released.

At the start of the section, the electrical interlocking may need to see that a token has been extracted before the protecting signal for the token section can be cleared.

At the end of the token section, the electrical interlocking may need to see that a token has been returned before the signal protecting the next section can be cleared.

Officially it’s the job of the S&T techinican to carry out token transfers. Unless special token carriers are provided, in which case where permitted, authority may be given to operations staff (such as a MOM) to carry out a token transfer. These special token carriers mechanically couple to the instrument so that you can only move tokens between the instrument and the carrier while it is attached. And when detached, you can’t get a token out of the carrier.

 

[lil Bear]

The three diagrams below the bracket show the internal wirings only. The fact that each of these lower drawings is labelled "Intermediate/Auxiliary" infers that intermediate and auxiliary instruments both share the same internal wiring. The diagram above shows how one of these instruments would be connected to the terminal instruments on either side when functioning as an intermediate instrument (and is therefore labelled here as "intermediate inst.", not "intermediate/auxiliary inst."). Sheet 2 doesn't show how an auxiliary instrument is connected to another instrument.

There is no diagram in the series to show how to set up Auxiliary, which is why I ask. The closest offering is the Sheet 2, where a bracket leads from the Intermediate machine to the options shown. I've tried finding Aux machines in use on the mainline, but all those I've looked into have turned out to be Int. machines.