S2 E16 Bexhill West Model Railway | Lever Frame Part 2 | Mechanical Interlocking
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- čas přidán 1. 06. 2022
- This video (part 2) should have been a quick and easy one to make. All I'd planned to do was paint the outcome of part 1 and show it operating some stuff.
However, I've been happily steered off-task, by the loan of a wonderful Lever Frame complete with interlocking, and so I determined to fathom it out before working on my own any further.
I am very grateful to Luke Arnold, who upon hearing me mention mechanical interlocking kindly loaned me the frame and several useful books - all of which have delayed the video production schedule in a most fascinating way.
In this video, I explore mechanical interlocking with use of the frame and attempt to describe it the best I can.
I must stress that all of this is completely new to me, so please take all I say with some scepticism.
I hope you enjoy the video and thanks for watchinng,
James - Zábava
Well I never!! Randomly searching around for historical Signalling stuff and I discover the very lever frame I used as a Signalling Instructor at Waterloo in the mid 90's. ' Bexley Junction' was built by Joe Nehmeth and was a superb piece of craftmanship.It worked in tandem with other equipment to replicate a full working signal box for training purposes. At the time it was the only Signalling simulator in the Rail Industry.
Clever person who ever worked it out in the first place
Yes, very clever. I've been struggling to design my own interlocking, but I think I'm getting there now.
Thanks for watching,
James
I am definitely not one of the viewers who knows more than you, James, but I at least now know more than I did when I started watching and reading the comments.
And I am most impressed by the engineering of both the full-sized and miniature versions of these systems.
I am glad, though, that I am not writing a signalling exam tomorrow.
Another fascinating video, for which I thank you again.
First video I found that showed the interlocking mechanism close up, thank you :)
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching. :)
Good to see, unlike a TV series once where the guy pulled a signal than the points, Oh Dear
In order to move in the wrong direction on the down main would you not require ground signal #12 to be cleared? Also I would have thought that it would have been simpler, and involved blocking less tracks, to have gone into the down platform and from there used the direct route to the branch. Just a thought from a 75 years old retired railwayman!
I very much enjoyed seeing the miniature frame with full interlocking. They're hard enough to get working correctly even in full size, so to achieve this in miniature means that the level of engineering must have been excellent. Well done to the guy who built it. Now I will just send 7-5-5 on the bell!
An excellent video, well explained and demonstrated.
Hello James,
A very nice and very informative description of the Saxby & Farmer Interlocking Cascade System.
Thank you very much for it.
Me I am still planning how to build such Interlocking Register, too by myself for a much mire easier Signal Box and Signal BoX Track Diagram...even a Double Line Track ending into Single Line Track.
The double Line ends with Bumper, there before a Single Crossover.
The both points are locked by one Lever.
Three Signals are used for both directions.
Alltogether 7 Levers...the german Brunswick Railway used such Saxby & Farmer Signal Safety System at their Signal boxes before 1892.
The seven Levers are in different colors onto the Brunswick Railway.
Red are Mainline Signals.
Red/White Siding or secondary Route Signals,
Black for the Points,
Blue for the Interlocking Point Lever.
The green distant disk signals are switched by switching the Semaphore Arms.
Green Disk and green light at the Distanr Signal indicates that the following signal is in danger.
A white light and invisible disk rotated into horizontal position indicates a following clear signal.
The single line home signal has two arms one upper arm in horizontal position and the lower arm vertical in danger position.
Clear to Mainline the upper arm shows diagonal position, clear to secondary route both arms in diagonal up position.
Red light for Danger signals, green light for cleared signal arms.
These signal rules had been changed around 1910...
It will maybe a small and simple track layout, but for me complicated enough to build it by the Saxby & Farmer System.
I wish I could have such niche Interlocking frame kit of what you hade made for yourself...
Greetings from Lübeck, Germany
Ingo R.
Very interesting! Even here in Italy, the color or light green until around the 1920s meant slowing down, warning of impediments and the like. On some non-state railways, it remained unchanged until a few years ago (ex Calabro Lucane, Genova - Casella and others). Can you tell me if in Germany or in continental Europe any use has been made of electromechanical devices issuing staffs, tokens or tablets to be handed over to the driver for the operation of single track lines? Thank you very much for your availability and collaboration
@@Luigi-uj5ml Ciao Luigi,
Well here in central europr exspecially everywhere where german invented electro mechanical signalbox and safety equipmrnt had been used or still in in use today the german absolute block system with german blockapparatus is in use onto all mechanical and electro mechanical signal boxes, too.
First invented in the 1870's but much more changed in thr late 1880's and 1890's, some of those old technical railroad safety equipment is still in use.
Everywhere during world war 2nd where germany occupied othrr nations like at least after the death of dictator Moussolini the german railway administration equipped italian railway lines with that block system apparatusses, too.
It is based upon a 3 field blocking system between two stations onto single track lines.
The Anfangsfeld = Beginning field, the Endfeld = Ending field, the Erlaubnisfeld = Permission field are Indicators onto the mechanical working Block apparatus which is combined to the safety interlocking register system of any mechinical or electro mechanical working signal and interlocking system of the signalboxes or signal towers.
The block apparatus has got a crank onto both sides and above the indicator firlds a key of what needed to be pressed down while using the side crank to rotate it in minimum 15 times.
A red glass lence will marking a blocked field the color changes from white to red.
You are using the block apparatus for pre blocking when the train is onto line and in the end for back blocking, when thr train arrived onto next station, so that the signalman from the before station or signalbox could operating his signals back into danger (Halt) position.
Station A Station B
Station C
From Station A starts a train to B and from C stats a train to B.
Both trains do meeting each other at B
It is impossible to send a train from B to A or C during trains are moving to B from both sides from otheg tracks, because the intetlocking register at Ststion B is being blocked, so no turnouz or signal can be changed in thr position until both trains are arrived in Ststion B and used a Track contact what allows the back blocking to station A and C.
After the back blocking woild be done, than the signal man can change the permission to the other station.
The Block Apparatus in Station A has got 3 fields, like in C, too.
The block Apparstus in Station B has got 6 fields also 3 each for both directions.
The knobs of electro mechanical signal boxes have got the same colors of the mechanical levers like onto mechanical signal boxes.
Blue for turnouts.
Blue with red marker for special equipment and ground signals.
Red for signals.
Green for traffic routes.
As long as the permission field is showing a red lense at the indicator al actions are blocked automaticly.
You cannot send any train to the direction from whrre you got thf red lense of your permission field indicator.
Ciao Ingo R. from Luebecca, Germany.
,,Concordia Domi, foris pax"
Fantastic James. I've just spent the weekend talking about signalling at expo em summer in Wakefield where I was helping my friend run the signalling record society stand. I only have a fairly basic understanding of how signalling works, though I have learnt a lot helping with the stand over the years, my friend is who I defer to for signalling information.
Incidentally, if anyone is looking for signalling information then the signalling record society is worth looking at as they have books and cds on signalling diagrams and registers of signal boxes. They also have a extensive archive in Kenilworth (shared with the lnwr society, who owns the building ), which members and non members are able to visit on request.
Fantastic description, thank you. As an ex 'old school' rail man I understand the principals having done signalling courses. It took the early railways many years, and some bitter experiences, to evolve these safety systems which have long stood the test of time. Some still being in regular use in the 21st century!! I've long dreamed of doing this myself, but have neither the tools or skill. Thanks again for a great demonstration 👍👍
A well made and informative video taking me back four decades to my time in the Southern's Signalling Design office. Look forward to further videos and catching up on your video 'back-catalogue'.
Seem to recall when Amberley's Up Distant slipped down the embankment it was quickly replaced with colour light; for a short while this still being temporarily wire-operated from the box until the frame was modified with permanent cabling installed.
simply beautiful!
When movements or a movement is made inside a signalled area, the term used is * within station limits *. Here, the signalman / woman has reached a clear understanding with the footplate team as to what’s happening, where they need to go and how to achieve that via the Signalling Regulations.
All good clean stuff.
Oh my gosh ive been waiting for a channel about this subject
Hi Shop Dog, I hope you found it useful.
All the best,
James
This is a fantastic video James, I'm pleased the frame has been of help and inspiration to you and i am very impressed with how much you've picked up since we last met. I'm looking forward to seeing you again soon, don't forget you're welcome to message any time with questions, I thoroughly enjoy helping with these things. Can't wait for the next video :)
Thank you Luke, and for the loan of the frame too. We must meet up again soon so that I can return it to you - before I wear it out. :)
With hindsight though, I should have filmed you explaining it.
It would be lovely to see it connected up to a working model.
See you soon.
It is on the long term list of things to try and get it working with the rest of the simulator again, big job though and no diagrams to assist!
Your explanation was sound, well thought through and well delivered, especially with the crash course style learning you've done to get this far 😀
Look forward to seeing you again soon 👍
@@BexhillWest Well, you two could still do a second video with more traffic and the use of the not mentioned wooden manual lever lockings when you meet ;)
Luke and Bexhill West - I have been searching for a long time for a signalling video that spent more than a fleeting glance at the mechanical interlocks - your video and training lever frame have made my day!!
And I was very glad you explained the inverted nature of the blue facing point lever, that was standing out to me like a sore thumb but then you got to it. So many videos have unintentional missed parts of important knowledge and knowing that the blue facing point lever was was inverted intentionally made all the difference!
The only improvement I could suggest was the train icon be a bit smaller when you are showing it's movements as its big enough that it obscures a fair bit of the information on the board (in fact its large enough that it covered the up main while it was still sitting on the down main =)
But really such a minor point - this video explanation is exactly what I have been seeking for quite some time, THANKYOU!!
Luke - well supported - perhaps you ought to consider modelling 'Bexley Junction'..... 🙂
An enjoyable video to watch, James. I like what you are trying to achieve with your P4 model.
I note that Bexhill West has a double, or scissors, crossover. As you are now aware, crossover turnouts are interlocked to move together from either the main to crossover and back again. It is the same with double crossovers, however, it is not permitted to have both crossovers set at the same time as this is potentially a collision situation.
The sequence of operation permitted is main line - crossover(a) - mainline - crossover(b) - mainline.
This operation is interlocked so that each crossover can only be set from the mainline position. Best, Jason.
That’s useful, thank you Jason. Although I won’t be needing the scissors crossover for some time, I intend to start building it this summer in readiness for an interesting opportunity which has come up (more details soon). I’ll keep this in mind as I put it together.
My best wishes,
James
Very interesting and well explained. Many years ago I built a 1/12 scale Stevenson frame with 21 levers to control a small branch terminal. The interlocking I made for that was placed vertically on the back of the frame, which made it quite a compact instalment. All of that was before I joined the railway, and I was surprised at closely it followed real world practice when I was able to view a full size locking table.
Thank you :)
Wow! Having never really thought about the details of signaling, I had no idea how complex the mechanics of the leavers really are. There is a fantastic amount of detail here. Thank you for explaining it to us.
Thank you John, I'm glad you found it useful. :)
Wow. Thanks. I think I finally understand a bit more about interlocking beyond the end result.
Very interesting, I can almost understand it. My mind has been boggled🤔
Also - never underestimate the importance of sandwiches in railway operations.
I'm very glad that you've reverted to using the old theme music in the intro -- it's much better than the guitar music you had been using in recent videos.
It's great to see what you've been doing, lately in regards to the railway.
Hoping you've been well,
Cheers.
I have been well thank you, just very busy over the past few weeks.
I shall note your feedback for the music. Thanks for watching,
James
Excellent explanation of mechanical interlocking.
Beautiful workmanship. I must admit I cheat, as all my numerous exhibition layouts have always used electrical methods based around the BR Solid State Interlocking (SSI) system, coupled to Track Circuit Block MAS (Multi Aspect Signalling), which I developed back in the 1970's. That's despite the fact that I am actually a Locomotive Mechanical Engineer !
That was very interesting James and it demonstrated just what a good system that is.
Cheers Kev
Thanks Kev, I'm pleased you found it interesting.
All the best,
James
Wow, clarity in moving pictures 😉 love it, thanks
Thanks you. I'm pleased you enjoyed the video.
All the best,
James
Hi James
a very interesting video and considering your a novice with signal interlocking you did pretty well. However I'm a signalling engineer and would like to provide some guidance in particular in regards to the train movement from the down siding to down branch. firstly signal 14Y provides authority from the down siding onto the down main to 19 signal only the movement via 15 points to the Up main would normally be utilised to route train on to the up main towards Crayford. To route a train to the down branch it would normally be routed past 18 signal. I8 signal is the authority to traverse 10 points in the reverse position not 16 signal. Generally shunt signals provide indication that toe points are set in the correct position for a shunt movement but not authority for a main line running movement. If you therefore consider the purpose of the sidings and how they maybe shunted to drop off or pick up wagons then generally the signals where provide facilitate those shunting movements. Hope this helps.
Thank you very much for your expertise. That's a great help, not just to me, but to others I'm sure.
I knew I'd get it wrong somewhere. :) Thanks for watching and best wishes, James
The locomotive was signaled correctly from the Down Sidings to the Ladybank branch via the Up platform over 15 crossover. There is no "Limit of Shunt" at the Crayford end of the Down main platform, therefore it is not possible to signal a movement from the Down Main at Shunt 12 to the Down platform and then use No18 to Ladybank. This particular location would require the movement (in this case a locomotive) to be signalled as James demonstrated.
Amazing. Thank you!
Great explanation, makes total sense.
Thank you Paul.
A simple introduction into the art of safe train operations - thanks. though the initial application to the locking bar grid is logic baffling. if that makes sense ! you explain well the intended route & how it is achieved. A book could never explain this. shows how important the old signalling methods where.
"... a month ago I knew nothing what I gona speak about today." [James "Bexhill West" on the 02.06.22 in this video]
" I will shortly be starting a 55 lever frame." [same James on the 11.07.22 somewhere else]
Side projects can grow - the getting there can become much more compelling as imagined 😉
14Y = Can pass when going to a route which doesn't apply to the cleared signal (Which would be onto the main)
Hi James I'm really enjoying your videos. I'm also making a P4 layout. I'm wondering if you've made Part 3 of this video as I can't locate it so far. I've got about the same amount of knowledge as you had when you started this and I'm agog to know how to make a signal plan into a working interlocking. I believe it involves making a locking table and am keen to learn what that involves. Like you I'm modelling part of a real location and so I've only got to replicate what was there, not dream up something from scratch. All the best, Julian
Hi Julian, my apologies for this late reply to your comment. I've been super busy over the past few weeks and have fallen behind with my video schedule. But Part 3 is coming. One of the delays has been me designing a little experimenters kit to prototype prototype the locking table. It's a bit like a lego kit in that it can be built up and swapped about. I'll push-on with the video and hopefully it'll be uploaded in the next week or so.
Thanks for watching and best wishes,
James
James, do you know how your friend made his lever frame that you use for the demonstration, or what he made it out of? It looks a bit more solid than the etch brass kits that are available!
I don't understand why tappet #2 needs that long cutout on the left side. There's nothing in tray #3 (counting from the bottom) which would use that space while #2 is moved?
Hi James, thank you for the video - real levers and interlocking is something that's been on my bucket list for so long now I can't remember when I started getting interested in it. Thank you so much for this video. Is that a tandem turnout in the intro? Lovely. At 18:03 why would the train go to the up platform instead of the down platform stopping at 18 before heading into the branch? 20:40 - The 13/14 down sidings appears to be missing a turnout, unless that's a local ground frame? 24:56 I'm fairly comfortable with signalling schemes, but being able to write up locking charts and then designing the bloody interlocking is something else entirely - looking forward to seeing how you do it.
Hi William, I've no idea! :) Fortunately @Kerdaz Productions does, please see his comment below.
Best wishes,
James
Hi William
As can be seen in James' video there is a lot of fitting required when constructing a mechanical interlocking arrangement. suggest you will be able to find a lot of information on the the internet regarding the signalling principles for British railways. I am based in Australia where our signalling is generally based on British principles with a local slant to meet operational requirements. If you check out the IRSE website you should find some help. Also try a general search for railway signalling interlocking principles. hope this helps you get a start
I know less James !! I know NOTHING !!
Very doggy.