Chiltern 165
Member
I cannot find anywhere how Semaphore boxes could view a Train Ready to Start message, if anyone knows or has a photo please let me know.
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Semaphore boxes (AB) TRTS indicators?
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Gloster
Established Member
Depending on the era, it could have been an eyelet, banner-type or light indicator on the block shelf. There would often be a bell attached that would sound when the platform activated the TRTS.
Chiltern 165
Member
Im specifically looking for what the SR and BR(s) used
Gloster
Established Member
They, and they were effectively the same as company practices continued after nationalisation, would probably have used the same hardware (housings, cases, mountings, etc) used for other purposes, such as lamp or signal ‘Off/On’ indicators, with internal electric arrangements to suit the purpose. Quite possibly the only externally visible difference would be the small brass, enamel, bakelite (?) or plastic indicator saying what it was. I know that early panel boxes had a small light on or adjacent to the appropriate platform that lit when the Ready to Start button was pushed.
Islineclear3_1
Established Member
Was it continuously lit or did it flash on and off slowly? I seem to remember a flashing indicator but can't remember off-hand what panel box I was in. Edit: I think it was Waterloo
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Gloster
Established Member
I am fairly sure that the one that I can remember at Guildford was steady after the button was pressed, but went out when the signal was cleared. I can’t say if that was the same in every installation.
My recollection is that the individual switches for points flashed when they were moving across or if there was a problem ‘out of correspondence’. Remember, I only cleaned the box: you can’t see much when scrubbing the floor.
edwin_m
Veteran Member
Certainly when I was involved with IECC systems, which tended to imitate the more recent panel boxes as far as possible, the TRTS was a flashing white lamp. It was lit by a button on the platform and extinguished when the signal cleared. Earlier designs might have had a steady lamp, but that might have been difficult to see amongst all the other white lamps on the panel.
The centre lamp on the point key switch and the white route lamps covering that point on the mimic diagram would flash when out of correspondence, which could be either detection lying the opposite way to how it was controlled, or no detection at all.
Bognor Regis has these lamps built into the illuminated diagram (behind the buffer stops on each platform line).
Not BR(S), obviously, but the same principle – Loughborough (GCR, preserved) has these indications on the diagram. There's a plunger on each platform, which illuminates the associated indication in the box accompanied by an audible indication (best described as an angry mosquito). The visual indication remains until a "TRS cancel" plunger on the block shelf is operated.
Annetts key
Established Member
TRTS indicators
1960s to 1980s Western Region practice:
The equipment on the platform was push button switch with normally open contacts. When the button is pressed, a relay is energised which then maintains its own feed via one set of its own contacts. Hence it stays energised when the button is released.
Another set of contacts of this relay illuminates a lamp on the signallers panel or illuminated track diagram. On the Henry Williams panels, the panel tile has an oval window hence the light appears bigger than a signal indication. The indication does not flash. They are normally positioned within the platform symbol near or next to the signal to which it applies.
The feed to the relay is cut when the signal clears to a proceed aspect. For panels, all the TRTS (TRS as they were know then) can be cancelled by use of a special group cancellation switch, but this clears all of them. It not being possible to clear then individually by the signaller.
For the point indications:
The individual switches (individual point switch or IPS) for points did not have any intentional flashing indications. Only white route lamps covering that point on the mimic diagram would flash, with the 'normal' and 'reverse' route lights flashing alternatively whenever the point was 'out of correspondence' (not detected normal or reverse).
The indications provided with the IPS are:
Left indication - normal detection - a steady white light when the point is both called and detected in the normal position ('normal correspondence').
Centre indication - locked indication - a steady red light when the interlocking is preventing the point from being able to be moved electrically, either the track circuit(s) or axle counter(s) through the point is/are occupied, a route is set over the point, the point is subject to point to point locking or flank protection, the point is locked because it's in the overlap or the IPS is in the normal or reverse position.
Right indication - reverse detection - a steady white light when the point is both called and detected in the reverse position ('reverse correspondence').
The more modern computer based Interlocking systems on Western are to the national standards, hence the centre lock indication is replaced by a flashing white light whenever the point is 'out of correspondence' (not detected normal or reverse).
1960s to 1980s Western Region practice:
The equipment on the platform was push button switch with normally open contacts. When the button is pressed, a relay is energised which then maintains its own feed via one set of its own contacts. Hence it stays energised when the button is released.
Another set of contacts of this relay illuminates a lamp on the signallers panel or illuminated track diagram. On the Henry Williams panels, the panel tile has an oval window hence the light appears bigger than a signal indication. The indication does not flash. They are normally positioned within the platform symbol near or next to the signal to which it applies.
The feed to the relay is cut when the signal clears to a proceed aspect. For panels, all the TRTS (TRS as they were know then) can be cancelled by use of a special group cancellation switch, but this clears all of them. It not being possible to clear then individually by the signaller.
For the point indications:
The individual switches (individual point switch or IPS) for points did not have any intentional flashing indications. Only white route lamps covering that point on the mimic diagram would flash, with the 'normal' and 'reverse' route lights flashing alternatively whenever the point was 'out of correspondence' (not detected normal or reverse).
The indications provided with the IPS are:
Left indication - normal detection - a steady white light when the point is both called and detected in the normal position ('normal correspondence').
Centre indication - locked indication - a steady red light when the interlocking is preventing the point from being able to be moved electrically, either the track circuit(s) or axle counter(s) through the point is/are occupied, a route is set over the point, the point is subject to point to point locking or flank protection, the point is locked because it's in the overlap or the IPS is in the normal or reverse position.
Right indication - reverse detection - a steady white light when the point is both called and detected in the reverse position ('reverse correspondence').
The more modern computer based Interlocking systems on Western are to the national standards, hence the centre lock indication is replaced by a flashing white light whenever the point is 'out of correspondence' (not detected normal or reverse).
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