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Signalling in Rio.

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Signalling in Rio. 24/10/2013 at 00:19 #50301
CTCThiago
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Here some old pictures from signal box already out of use:
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Last edited: 24/10/2013 at 00:20 by CTCThiago
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Signalling in Rio. 24/10/2013 at 00:26 #50302
CTCThiago
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Another from the new system installed (ERTMS Level 1) balise (White) and some screenshot of the new panel.
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Last edited: 24/10/2013 at 00:35 by CTCThiago
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Signalling in Rio. 24/10/2013 at 10:32 #50308
kbarber
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I'm trying to work out the mode of operation of the old panel. There's not enough switches, I suspect, for it to be One Control Switch or Individual Function Switch, and in any case it doesn't look very logically laid out for such a panel. Also, it would seem unusual to have buttons rather than two position switches for such working (I know London Underground OCS panels of the early 1960s were an exception, but they were laid out very differently).

On the other hand, the buttons don't seem to be laid out in a way that I'd expect for eNtrance-eXit working.

Do you have any further information about this system? Or do you know who the manufacturer was?

The oldest of all looks like a GRS slide frame; our Great Western Railway installed a number of them in the 1930s, including a very large example at Bristol Temple Meads East.

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Signalling in Rio. 24/10/2013 at 20:43 #50326
CTCThiago
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" said:

Do you have any further information about this system? Or do you know who the manufacturer was?
Not at the moment, but i'll let you know about it in some days

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Signalling in Rio. 25/10/2013 at 04:06 #50331
CTCThiago
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Here are some more pics:
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Signalling in Rio. 25/10/2013 at 12:42 #50337
maxand
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Interesting pics, thanks.

Maybe the forum mods could move this topic to The real thing (signalling) - would make it easier to find in future. (And then delete my post).

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Signalling in Rio. 09/11/2013 at 13:46 #51153
Mattyq
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" said:
I'm trying to work out the mode of operation of the old panel. There's not enough switches, I suspect, for it to be One Control Switch or Individual Function Switch, and in any case it doesn't look very logically laid out for such a panel. Also, it would seem unusual to have buttons rather than two position switches for such working (I know London Underground OCS panels of the early 1960s were an exception, but they were laid out very differently).

On the other hand, the buttons don't seem to be laid out in a way that I'd expect for eNtrance-eXit working.

Do you have any further information about this system? Or do you know who the manufacturer was?

The oldest of all looks like a GRS slide frame; our Great Western Railway installed a number of them in the 1930s, including a very large example at Bristol Temple Meads East.
It could be a "Station selector" type panel. Not sure if they were ever used in the UK. Just in case they were not, I'll explain how they work.

Each interlocking location has a generic signal/point/release numbering system. For example, every Down Home signal is numbered '27'. At each actual location, the signal ID plate for the Down Home will show '27' prefixed by the location mnemonic. Therefore, the Down home at Able would be AE27 whereas the Down Home at Beta is BA27.

On the control panel, each location has a selector button. To operate the signalling equipment at Beta, you would press the button for Beta. You then use the numbered buttons to clear/restore signals and manipulate points at that location. Therefore, to clear signal BA27 across No.12 point in Normal, you press 'BA' then 12N, then 27. Some more advanced (for the era) panels may have through setting buttons as well.

Not fat ..... fluffy!! (G Iglesias)
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Signalling in Rio. 12/11/2013 at 09:57 #51397
clive
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" said:

It could be a "Station selector" type panel.
That looks plausible. Each station on the diagram seems to have the same signal and points numbers.

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Signalling in Rio. 12/11/2013 at 10:41 #51399
kbarber
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" said:
" said:
I'm trying to work out the mode of operation of the old panel.
<snip>
It could be a "Station selector" type panel. Not sure if they were ever used in the UK. Just in case they were not, I'll explain how they work.

<snip>

Many thanks for this. I don't think such a beast was ever used here (I'm open to correction & I'm pretty sure I will be if wrong). Interesting way to do things. And full of traps for the unwary, by the sound of it.

Did the station selection release automatically, either by clearing of a signal or after a time lapse? Or by any other means? Or was it simply unselected by selecting another station?

I imagine it would tend to be used in areas that were relatively lightly trafficked (by UK standards anyway)? I can imagine it becoming quite fraught at times if there's multiple manoeuvres in progress at multiple locations.

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Signalling in Rio. 24/06/2015 at 14:01 #73657
Mattyq
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259 posts
" said:
" said:
" said:
I'm trying to work out the mode of operation of the old panel.
<snip>
It could be a "Station selector" type panel. Not sure if they were ever used in the UK. Just in case they were not, I'll explain how they work.

<snip>

Many thanks for this. I don't think such a beast was ever used here (I'm open to correction & I'm pretty sure I will be if wrong). Interesting way to do things. And full of traps for the unwary, by the sound of it.

Did the station selection release automatically, either by clearing of a signal or after a time lapse? Or by any other means? Or was it simply unselected by selecting another station?

I imagine it would tend to be used in areas that were relatively lightly trafficked (by UK standards anyway)? I can imagine it becoming quite fraught at times if there's multiple manoeuvres in progress at multiple locations.
Firstly, sorry for the late response to this. I only just discovered the replies to my response.

I do know that "Station Selector" type panels were used in Queensland for QR's first generation CTC panels. This was all single line and crossing loop type territory in rural area with a dominance on freight traffic and a smattering of inter-regional passenger traffic. I believe this is one of the panels in question:-



(Photo courtesy QR)

The signal/point controls are the black panel on the centre stand between the two Controllers. These were decommissioned before my time so never got to see any in use. For the record, these panels were operated by Train Controllers, not Signallers.

I did, however, get to see a small one in use in Sunshine signal box in Melbourne.



(Photo courtesy Chris Gordon/Vicsig)

This was quite an interesting panel as it had two divisions, each being operated in different ways. The top half, Albion Jn was an IFS panel, the switches and buttons being at the left-hand end of the control desk. The bottom half controlled about 4 locations between Sunshine (bottom right) and Deer Park West (bottom left). This was "Station Selector" operation, the controls of which are closest the photogrpaher. On the track diagram, there was a white lamp near the station name to show that station was on control mode. The station selected would remain selected until the next station was selected. As you can see in the photo, Deer Park is selected. This is one of two panels in Sunshine Box and has since been decommissioned. The other, an IFS panel, is still in use.

Not sure where else they were used in Australia, but I have a funny feeling the NSW CTC panel that controlled Aberdeen to Werris Ck was of the "Station Selector" type too. Maybe "Sparky" can enlighten us?

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Last edited: 24/06/2015 at 14:06 by Mattyq
Reason: Additional info

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