Pre T3. Saturday Night nosh.

It's a tradition

Maritime remodelling

The 775M project to extend the Yard at Redbridge and associated signalling works has been long in gestation with a last minute plug pulling two years ago we finally have some small closure on the project. The NR Spiel for the programme can be found here: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/southampton-freight-upgrade-completed. Below are a few pictures of the project, we begin with before the alterations and as time marches on I hope to add a few of "during" and "after": 

Before hand: (Southampton/Millbrook): 

The Previous Layout at Redbridge Yard/ Maritime FLT (Note the shaded out section of the new layout)

Regulating? Here is a tool to help.

Too CCF or not too CCF. That is the question. The visual repeater is a useful tool, driven by the data feed off train describers and TRUST inputs the maps give an indication of where trains are. In turn the same data is used to drive the various apps which are in the ether such as RTT. CCF is going to be replaced, with a more complex and layered system.as despite the indepth LL3 which houses a variety of tools which can be (text messaging) but are very rarely used the licence for this system runs out in 2021. 

It is simple but there is an inability to follow a train. The regions are broken down into different map sections which require separate windows to be opened up and whilst it IS a train management tool in order to ascertain a regulating decision it is reliant on the veracity of the data inputted. Sometimes it really is better to stick your finger in the air. 

inspire the next generation ?

I am a little conflicted by this. Working on the railway is tiring. It is well paid monotony to be honest - repetition and mentally draining. The shift work also kills you - literally and figuratively. 

I therefore have no wish to see the next generation to do the job I am engaged in. But that will be his choice. It is difficult to explain to an 8 year old how boredom kills you, that working regular (irregular) hours can wreck personal relationships and make you monotonous to live with. 

The counter argument to that is of course the onus is on the individual to create the alternatives and that many have lived fulfilling lives whilst working on the railway. True. 

But I rather he got out and met people and had a chance to socialise properly. Not restrict himself by the job. 

Night train...

The railway is quiet. Too quiet. 

hook switches

Bring on the forms..just like this one...

When taking a possession of the line where electrification is concerned and in order to isolate the juice rail hook switches are pulled. 

The WON publishes the times of the possession, say 2255 but the actual time of possession taken is somewhat different. 

Before granting signal protection the first and obvious clue is to ensure that all trains are clear of the possession limits. Any train which is taken around is at the signal concerned. So if either of those are running late then the T3 is already being squeezed in terms of time. 

Then after detonators are placed and absolute possession granted there is the process of taking line blocks in order to pull hook switches to turn the power off. All this takes time, dependent on the length of the possession and access it could be up to an hour so instead of say a 2300 block the block becomes midnight. 

Productivity as a result suffers. 

line blockages

Please do not ask for the signal to be keyed to auto before cancelling the authority number as refusal will offend.