Hunts Cross NX Panel preservation

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Hunts Cross NX Panel preservation 10/02/2018 at 17:02 #105806
Muzer
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Visited the Ribble Steam Railway today, and was surprised to see the Hunts Cross panel there. Not only that, but there was a sign saying that the intention was to do a Swindon-style restoration and connect it up to a SimSig-based simulator. Does anyone have any more details about this? A few quick Googles revealed nothing obvious.
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Hunts Cross NX Panel preservation 10/02/2018 at 18:25 #105808
Steamer
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Even more strangely, Phil Deaves' site implies that the box is still open- and he's usually reliable.
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Last edited: 10/02/2018 at 18:26 by Steamer
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Hunts Cross NX Panel preservation 10/02/2018 at 19:09 #105810
jc92
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Steamer in post 105808 said:
Even more strangely, Phil Deaves' site implies that the box is still open- and he's usually reliable.
pure speculation but has hunts cross had more than one panel?

"We don't stop camborne wednesdays"
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Hunts Cross NX Panel preservation 10/02/2018 at 19:24 #105811
headshot119
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Muzer in post 105806 said:
Visited the Ribble Steam Railway today, and was surprised to see the Hunts Cross panel there. Not only that, but there was a sign saying that the intention was to do a Swindon-style restoration and connect it up to a SimSig-based simulator. Does anyone have any more details about this? A few quick Googles revealed nothing obvious.
Firstly I hope you enjoyed your trip today, and that you had an enjoyable look around the site at RSR. And apologies if we've met before and I didn't recognise you and say hello.

A team at RSR are working to restore the panel to operational condition, a lot of work has already been done, physical work to restore some of the controls which had been damaged during it's working life, and some more theoretical work on how we'll interface it with SimSig.

James Pedrick (Pedroathome) the developer of the Hunts Cross simulation has put a lot of work into the project, including developing the actual sim to hook it up to.

Steamer in post 105808 said:
Even more strangely, Phil Deaves' site implies that the box is still open- and he's usually reliable.
jc92 in post 105810 said:
Steamer in post 105808 said:
Even more strangely, Phil Deaves' site implies that the box is still open- and he's usually reliable.
pure speculation but has hunts cross had more than one panel?
Joe is correct the box has had two panels, I'll need to dig out my research notes to find exact dates, but the original NX panel was swapped for a newer one after issues with wire degradation. We have the original panel, and the new one lives on still signalling trains.

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Hunts Cross NX Panel preservation 10/02/2018 at 20:36 #105813
Jan
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headshot119 in post 105811 said:
Joe is correct the box has had two panels, I'll need to dig out my research notes to find exact dates, but the original NX panel was swapped for a newer one after issues with wire degradation.

The BSPR lists 22.05.2006 as the changeover date.

Two million people attempt to use Birmingham's magnificent rail network every year, with just over a million of them managing to get further than Smethwick.
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Hunts Cross NX Panel preservation 11/02/2018 at 00:53 #105819
Muzer
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headshot119 in post 105811 said:
Muzer in post 105806 said:
Visited the Ribble Steam Railway today, and was surprised to see the Hunts Cross panel there. Not only that, but there was a sign saying that the intention was to do a Swindon-style restoration and connect it up to a SimSig-based simulator. Does anyone have any more details about this? A few quick Googles revealed nothing obvious.
Firstly I hope you enjoyed your trip today, and that you had an enjoyable look around the site at RSR. And apologies if we've met before and I didn't recognise you and say hello.

A team at RSR are working to restore the panel to operational condition, a lot of work has already been done, physical work to restore some of the controls which had been damaged during it's working life, and some more theoretical work on how we'll interface it with SimSig.

James Pedrick (Pedroathome) the developer of the Hunts Cross simulation has put a lot of work into the project, including developing the actual sim to hook it up to.

Steamer in post 105808 said:
Even more strangely, Phil Deaves' site implies that the box is still open- and he's usually reliable.
jc92 in post 105810 said:
Steamer in post 105808 said:
Even more strangely, Phil Deaves' site implies that the box is still open- and he's usually reliable.
pure speculation but has hunts cross had more than one panel?
Joe is correct the box has had two panels, I'll need to dig out my research notes to find exact dates, but the original NX panel was swapped for a newer one after issues with wire degradation. We have the original panel, and the new one lives on still signalling trains.
Many thanks for the info! Both the tour and the RSR itself were wonderful; I can honestly say this ranks highly in my train-related days out. At some point in the future I hope to visit the RSR on an operating day and see both the panel and your own rolling stock in use!

I don't believe we've ever met in person; though I've been on this forum on and off for a few years now, I've never managed to actually come to a meet (for various reasons). Hopefully this will change soon!

Glad to hear about the project, and cheers for clarifying on Hunts Cross panel — I was starting to wonder if it had been transferred to Manchester ROC and I'd just forgotten, but it's good to hear the box is indeed still going with a new panel!


Out of interest, besides Swindon and Hunts Cross, are there any other projects to preserve NX panels? I'm fully aware of things like the power boxes at Crewe Heritage Centre, but those are miniature lever frames and suchlike. I can't think off the top of my head of any NX panel-related projects besides these two.

Last edited: 11/02/2018 at 01:00 by Muzer
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Hunts Cross NX Panel preservation 11/02/2018 at 10:45 #105822
Danny252
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The panel for Stourbridge Junction has been preserved - it on display at an exhibition at the Kidderminster Railway Museum not long after the box was closed. I've not heard anything further since then, however.
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