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Signalling
is taken seriously and strictly controlled and observed in accordance with
British practice. The route is a mile long and a train ride takes about 20
minutes, often longer on a busy day due to signal hold-ups and it can be
very busy!
The various telephones around the track allow the train crew to
communicate with the signalman at any time in case of problems. Until the
end of 1993, the route had a section of single line situated between the
two footbridges viewed from Kingsmere station and turns had to be taken
using this single line stretch causing many delays.
The signals are controlled from the signal box outside
Kingsmere station. Some of the signalmen also work for Network Rail and
were responsible for setting up the signalling system. Because of the need
to complete as many of the various projects on the railway as possible in
the first few years, progress on the signal box construction was slow.
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Being host to the 71/4" Society
AGM in 1988 seemed to provide the extra stimulus to finish and commission
the signal box for this event when more than 1000 train movements were
recorded over this two day period.
Although
the signal box has been made-to-measure to suit the site, all the equipment
within comes from old redundant signal boxes and was installed by the
signalling department. The main signal lever frame, for example, came from
Becton Gas Works in east London, with bells, bell pushes, and other
instruments obtained from Collectors Corner at Euston, which specialised in
the sale of redundant BR equipment. Semaphore signals are used in the
station area although the rest of the railway uses coloured lights for
simplicity and convenience. The operating procedures provide an accurate
and interesting visual demonstration of railway signalling operations. Additional
mini levers were installed during 2005 in the main ‘box to accommodate signalling
for the new carriage sidings and station avoiding line.
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