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Caerphilly through routes

You are here: Home > Forum > Simulations > Released > Cardiff Valleys > Caerphilly through routes

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Caerphilly through routes 19/03/2017 at 13:26 #93812
Steamer
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Quick question on through routes: Was it permitted to use the through routes facility at Caerphilly during normal operation (as the equivalent of a set of auto buttons), or was it only permitted in emergencies?
"Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q)
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Caerphilly through routes 19/03/2017 at 13:28 #93814
headshot119
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I never got an answer to that question. (Any ex Heath Junction Signallers reading this?)

I think everyone who's played has put it into through routes after that Caerphilly turn back in a morning and left it like that.

"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
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Caerphilly through routes 19/03/2017 at 13:36 #93815
JamesN
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headshot119 in post 93814 said:
I never got an answer to that question. (Any ex Heath Junction Signallers reading this?)

I think everyone who's played has put it into through routes after that Caerphilly turn back in a morning and left it like that.
Not a Heath Jn signalman, but...

Two photos of Heath Jn both have the switch in "Normal", taken just under a year apart.
http://photos.signalling.org/picture?/20193/category/2107-2007_october
http://photos.signalling.org/picture?/3265/category/2106-2008_july

The box instructions also only mention usage of through routes in connection with a failure of the remote control system.

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Caerphilly through routes 19/03/2017 at 14:07 #93816
Steamer
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headshot119 in post 93814 said:
I never got an answer to that question. (Any ex Heath Junction Signallers reading this?)
Is it something that was permitted in other locations? (I noticed similar controls on the photo of Newport from the meet)

"Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q)
Last edited: 19/03/2017 at 14:07 by Steamer
Reason: .

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Caerphilly through routes 19/03/2017 at 14:24 #93820
KymriskaDraken
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Steamer in post 93816 said:
headshot119 in post 93814 said:
I never got an answer to that question. (Any ex Heath Junction Signallers reading this?)
Is it something that was permitted in other locations? (I noticed similar controls on the photo of Newport from the meet)
We had Through Routes controls at Bristol, but I can't remember if the Footnotes actually said that they could *only* be used if the controls and indications had failed. Everywhere that had the overrides had Auto controls anyway, if I remember correctly.


Kev

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Caerphilly through routes 19/03/2017 at 18:49 #93851
TomOF
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At Swindon it was tested (weekly, on a Sunday?). So perhaps a phone call from the box tech requesting it be used might be in order? during the wee small hours.

One night not long before it closed I was present when such a request came in and we found that we could not get the route relays to hold up once selected. As soon as the button was released the routes droppped out and we promptly faulted it. I have the video somewhere.

I wonder if any potential reliability issues such as that above precluded its use in normal running...?

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Caerphilly through routes 19/03/2017 at 18:58 #93852
Stephen Fulcher
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They're tested at Plymouth weekly for that same reason.

The whole idea of that test is to ensure reliability if they need them, so I doubt a failed test would preclude their use as it may still be better than the whole interlocking down with a TDM fault.

I do know of one place where the through routes function was used in normal running to avoid restroking routes, but I don't know if it was actually authorised, not specifically unauthorised, or just done anyway. It isn't done in that location now, and before anyone asks I won't be disclosing where.

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