The blue dot

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The blue dot 09/02/2010 at 10:54 #684
pilotman
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I believe this has been queried before - if so apologies - but what is the blue dot labelled "436V" just to the left of the up fast at Peterborough.
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The blue dot 09/02/2010 at 10:54 #6552
pilotman
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189 posts
I believe this has been queried before - if so apologies - but what is the blue dot labelled "436V" just to the left of the up fast at Peterborough.
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The blue dot 09/02/2010 at 10:59 #6553
andyb0607
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It's a VIA button.

If you want to route from 458 into P2 the normal route is via the up slow.

However, you can route via the Up Fast by clicking 458 then the blue button and then 436.

Andy

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The blue dot 09/02/2010 at 16:42 #6559
pilotman
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Thanks Andy. Simple when you know!!
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The blue dot 10/02/2010 at 18:48 #6589
pilotman
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Just to take this a bit further Andy, what is the advantage of having that route available and signalled?
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The blue dot 10/02/2010 at 19:36 #6592
UKTrainMan
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Sorry my name isn't Andy but I will reply if you don't mind?!!

Having the via button could be beneficial for many different reasons. An example of this could be if you've got a points failure you can still signal the train via the VIA button. But perhaps the main reason could be that you have a train or a light loco (perhaps from a run-round move) held on the up slow that you may need to get around so you can use the VIA button for that.

In both examples, signalling from 458 to 436 would always go via the slow regardless of if there was a points failure or train in the way so the VIA button is provided for the exact reason that you have the route via the UP FAST available if needed.

Hope this helps.

Any views and / or opinions expressed by myself are from me personally and do not represent those of any company I either work for or am a consultant for.
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The blue dot 10/02/2010 at 19:58 #6593
andyb0607
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Thanks UKTM

I was just going to reply by saying that on some occasions it can be your "get out of jail free" card.

On some panels around the country there are multiple via buttons and they are mandatory. So there are a number of different routes a train can take and the signaller has to specify which one.

On the version of Euston that was premiered by Clive at York last year there are 14 via buttons just within the throat of the station! Some routes out have to go through a multiple number of via buttons!

All adds to the fun!

Andy

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The blue dot 11/02/2010 at 12:42 #6607
kbarber
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At a location like Euston the via buttons allow you to choose which crossover(s) a train will use where there are multiple options in the route. So a train arriving on the up fast to go to a high-numbered platform might be directed through a country-end crossover if a departure from a low - middle-numbered platform via the down departure is anticipated. Conversely you might use a London-end crossover if you're expecting a departure from a higher-numbered platform (or indeed a shunt from the parcels sidings). That's where really knowing the layout & the timetable are important.
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The blue dot 11/02/2010 at 13:50 #6608
Peter Bennet
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Also if there is no VIA button and there are multiple routes between two signals you can move and clip the points which then forces the alternative route to set.

Does depend on the alternative route being coded.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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