SVR gears up for new mainline exchange

[Scud]

This is the Severn Valley Railway's old 5mph exchange siding being removed ready for re-connection to Network Rail by brand new points fitted with facing point locks. To the left, just past the bridge is the new (and SVR's first and only) colour light signals controlling access to their own carriage works & the Network Rail mainline.
The mainline Kidderminster station is to be connected by means of a new cross-over & colour light signals, including a feather from the Birmingham direction (just visible to the right of the image in the background.) Both mainline platforms will be bi-directional in the direction of the SVR.
Until now, charter trains bound for the SVR had to perform a shunt, which required the old exchange set of points to be clipped by Network Rail staff due to lack of a facing point lock.
There has been mention of the former British Sugar site, approx a mile towards Bewdley, of having it's own station when the area is regenerated into a mixed residential & commercial park.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
As part of this re-signalling, later in August 2012, existing Network Rail controlled Stourbridge Jnc, Blakedown, Kidderminster & Hartlebury signal boxes will all be closed. Brand new colour light signals will become under control of the Saltley based West Midlands Signalling Centre, as will the connection between the SVR & Network Rail mainline.

 

[Tiny Tim]

I'm assuming that this work is to ease the passage of excursion trains on and off the SVR, not to allow the SVR's trains to run into Kidderminster station. Unless someone knows different.

 

[Scud]

Yes, it's for excursion train. Regular SVR services continue to use their own station.

 

[fgwrich]

Good to see the progress - Cheers Scud for the photos. In a way, shame though that it's part of a scheme which will see the closure of Stourbridge Jnc, Blakedown, Kidderminster & Hartlebury signal boxes - Do you know what's going to happen to any of those, as id rather not have another repeat performance from NR of Shirley.

 

[kr49]

Ah, a brief moment of fame! SCUD's photo has managed to include members of the SVR S&T dept (including myself), the SVR P. Way dept and contractors involved in the dig-out.

For the record, the points are being relayed to bring them up to current passenger standards - the NR end was replaced a few years ago. As with other points in the resignalling they will be power worked by clamp locks so FPLs are the norm.

The new colour light signal is actually Network Rail's and they will control the routes on to their metals. The SVR box will however control a shunt aspect into the C & W works, so in that respect it is indeed the SVR's first and only colour light.

The Network Rail (i.e. mainline platforms) will NOT be bi-directional. The new signal shown above only reads into the Down (Stourbridge direction) platform. What is being provided however is a "turn back" facility in the Down platform with a new "wrong direction" signal (hidden in the photo by the C&W building) which will allow trains arriving in the Down direction to reverse and then depart either over the existing trailing crossover to the Up line and thence to Worcester, or to depart over the exchange line and on to the SVR.

Regarding the fate of the NR boxes, the rumblings are that Hartlebury, Kidderminster and what is left of Kingswinford will be demolished. Stourbridge Junction seems likely to be retained and converted into mess accommodation. The locals at Blakedown & Churchill have been campaigning to save their local box, and indications are that they may be having some success providing they move it to new a location.

 

[Scud]

kr49, you're quite right about the bi-directional mainline platforms, my description wasn't quite accurate. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Sidmouth34010]

On Friday evening 24th August , the boxes at Hartlebury , Kidderminster Junction, Churchill and Blakedown and Stourbridge Junction all close

gallery here

Stourbridge line Signal Boxes - a set on Flickr

and new Blurb Book oon them here

http://www.blurb.co.uk/my/book/detail/3476342

with an eBook option for iPad

http://store.blurb.co.uk/ebooks/310090-signal-boxes-of-the-stourbridge-line
Signal Boxes of the Stourbridge Line (Ebook) | Blurb

 

[Rugd1022]

I'll be sad to see them all go and am glad I've had the chance to work under and photograph them... I've just been issued with the 'yellow peril' for the new signalling, something new to get used to!

Looks like an interesting book....

 

[Old Hill Bank]

All being well the new signalling system should be handed over to the operators within the next hour.