Fenny Compton Signal Box

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Fenny Compton Signal Box

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Күн бұрын

I worked as a tapper (Rolling Stock Technician) and examined the military trains leaving Kineton army base, I use to have tea in this box whilst waiting the arrival of the munitions train.This was shot around 1993 the signalman was called Dave? I don't have his surname?
Its not editing in any particular order but if I remember correctly we did shoot a complete sequence in view of an edit?
I'd forgotten that I shot this forgive the very amateurish work but I hope you enjoy.
Paul

Пікірлер: 44

@gordonmcd2567 6 жыл бұрын

I was a signalman at this box for 2 years from 1984 to 1986, an enjoyable 2 years signalling working with colleagues Gordon and Steve with visits from S&T technician Bernard. The interior of the box hasn't changed at all. The video is great and brought back many memories

@SurfAddictionUK 12 жыл бұрын

As an ex signalman it brings back some great memories, thanks for sharing.

@dni252 12 жыл бұрын

Despite your claims of it being "amateurish", it's actually a very good video - you and the signalman clearly put in some effort to demonstrate everything, and you really paid attention to the little things (signal/lamp repeaters, diagram, block instruments). You probably could stitch together a few full sequences from that, though I don't think there's any in there as it is right now.

@LOCOMOTIONNUMBER1 11 жыл бұрын

As a kid I was allowed in my uncles signal box with the Sykes lock and block instrument. Brilliant memories from 40 years ago.

@marcbolland6992 10 жыл бұрын

I remember a Wheel Tapper called Colin when I worked Fenny Compton from August 2000 until closure in 2004, and I actually closed the box @ 01:30 on 1st May. Great video and brings back many memories.. Some items seen in the video I still have, the Block Bell was presented to me on closure and my Signalling Manager gave me the TRB after the 2 years had expired. The seized pulley wheel was nothing unusual, modern S & T haven't heard of oil and grease !! and once on reporting a lamp out alarm was moaned at by S & T for reporting a "first filament failure" !! never knew paraffin lamps had two wicks !!

@geoffwillis8571 10 жыл бұрын

I, too, was working there on the last day - but on the early turn. Good to hear from you, Marc!

@marcbolland6992 10 жыл бұрын

Geoff Willis And you got your picture in the paper !! Great memories and miss that box.. Never did get a copy of the photos of all the levers painted in their 1960 colours, but have a copy of the box diagram dated 1958 thanks to Martin Crane. That is in the entrance hall with a BR tail lamp and a GWR headlamp plus other photos and memorabilia.

@amandafletcher5556 9 жыл бұрын

I watched this

@cedarcam 2 жыл бұрын

Shame on the S&T in your area The seized wheel would of made a huge difference pulling that signal off and I never heard of a two wick signal lamp either LOL Nice you got to keep the block bell and register. I managed to buy a couple of blocks and bells when one of our boxes closed. One used to be wired up on my model railway and I plan to get it working again.

@marcbolland6992 2 жыл бұрын

@@cedarcam great to hear from you. Miss the railway, here in NZ they have an excuse of a 3' narrow guage that runs occasionally!! I think to the block bells works on 24V DC, so great to hear you want to work them on your model railway. Good luck

@ryanturner2451 3 жыл бұрын

So satisfying to watch

@markengland5522 4 жыл бұрын

My Grandad was a signalman at this box in the 1960s can still remember going to work with him and I,m sure I pulled the yellow topped lever. Harry Dunn was his name.

@anubis6864 4 жыл бұрын

Now there's a name from the past! Harry was at Greaves Siding Box when I was at Fosse Road in the mid-1970's. Previously he'd been at Leamington South Junction Box before it closed.

@markengland5522 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for getting in touch you know more than me I will share this with my Mum -Harry's daughter. Great to hear from you.

@Chriski1994 12 жыл бұрын

@ukorganist Its a series of bell codes standard across all of British manual signaling. The signalman sends one beat to get the other's attention, the other signalman repeats this to say he has answered. The first signalman asks if he will except a train by sending the type of train (3-1 for a normal passenger train, 4 for an express, there are many others) and if the other signalman can except he again repeats the signal and sets his block instrument to 'line clear'.

@stripervince1 5 жыл бұрын

Amazing.

@LeamingtonSteve 13 жыл бұрын

lovely old gwr clock!

@JimTLonW6 11 жыл бұрын

I've always been surprised that Fenny Compton seemed to have so much happening when it's really only a junction for a siding to Kineton; I doubt it was a lot busier when the SMJ lines were working (which would have been about 1953 I think!)

@marcbolland6992 5 жыл бұрын

Actually a block section on the very busy London to Birmingham Main Line. Every train north and south had to be manually passed through Fenny Compton

@campainr 12 жыл бұрын

Fantastic video, now a historical record. Painful to think that NR is going to reduce all signalling across the UK to just a handful of signalling centres and to do away with fantastic equipment such as this. :-(

@cedarcam 2 жыл бұрын

Its sad to see so many boxes have gone in recent years. The end of a way of life for many generations, however I always say the railway has to progress we cannot have the biggest heritage railway in the world. It is sad we who invented the railways and many of its operating methods used across the world have been left so far behind other countries.

@jogindersinghfoley3860 3 жыл бұрын

The layout must have been more complex ther given the ammount of white levers in the frame.

@Luigi-uj5ml 11 ай бұрын

Good evening, it is not yet entirely clear to me whether those old electric block systems (Absolute block system, if I am not mistaken) with a wooden case were or were not influenced by the passage of trains for the purpose of occupying and freeing the section (block) towards to which and from which the train was respectively headed or from which the train came. Furthermore, it is not clear whether there is an electrical connection between the lever that controls the opening (switching from Danger to Clear) of the starting signal and the apparatus with wooden case. In other words, was it possible to pull the lever that activated the starting signal towards you without first having received electrical consent from the next station? However, it is common ground that where there is a token block it is possible to activate the lever that opens the starting signal even before having handed over the token to the driver, unless there is an error on my part. Thank you very much for your availability and collaboration

@NewBuildmini 6 күн бұрын

The signalman manually changed the pointer of the Absolute Block instrument. Some railways had the pointer automatically change to "Train On Line" when a train occupied a track circuit, but it wasn't common, and I'm not sure if it still exists today. As for the interlocking (known as "Line Clear Release"), originally it didn't exist. But in most boxes it has since been added. It prevents the section signal from being pulled unless the pointer was at "Line Clear". Many boxes also had the so-called "Welwyn Control", which prevented the pointer being turned to "Line Clear" while a train was in the section.

@LeamingtonSteve 13 жыл бұрын

ironic that the GWR lower quadrant signals controlled the old SMJR line and the GWR main line had upper quadrants at this time!

@TransmissionEpicts 7 жыл бұрын

I live in Fenny now, shame all the station buildings and this box have long gone. Such a well maintained signal box! Great video, thanks for posting. Actually, now I remember, there may actually be a piece of equipment from that box in the local pub. I'll have to find out!

@marcbolland6992 3 жыл бұрын

The block bell to Banbury North is now in New Zealand!!! I was given it when I closed the box on 01-05-2004. Also the TRB with my final entries. Along with other memorabilia when the area was resignalled. Fond memories and great people to work with. Fenny is a great village and community, I miss it.

@TransmissionEpicts 3 жыл бұрын

@@marcbolland6992 Wow! The bell at 4:26? That's cool to know. Fantastic that you got to take something historic away! Sadly, doesn't seem to be anything in Fenny's pub from the station or 'box though. I'm amazed semaphore was still in use in the 90s, I thought it would have been withdrawn by then. Something curiously anachronistic about seeing the old functioning block switching tech and then an Intercity 125 whizzing past. Delightful. I don't live in Fenny anymore either, I miss it too. I remember walking by the tracks there on some evenings and seeing Central line tube stock being shuttled to and from (I'm told) the works at Tyesley. Fascinating devices signal boxes are. Did you go on to work on other signal boxes after?

@marcbolland6992 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Francesco, In response to your reply to my reply!! I can't navigate you tube ! Railway signalling is far easier. I have several items from Fenny Compton and can email you photos if you want:-smjjctn@gmail.com The semaphore signals were in use on the Down Main until closure in 2004 but still continued at Banbury North and South until their closure . Some of the equipment went to Severn Valley and you could get in touch with Martin Crane there,, a true Signalman.

@philliplee980 6 жыл бұрын

very cool.

@rodsmith8353 6 жыл бұрын

Phillip Lee ñj

@mickphilpot9479 8 жыл бұрын

signalman at Fenny cabin on his left he gives out of section he gives call attention he give a code then assume that the cabin to the left sending 4p1 i wounder if he is asignlmN by the way hes operating the levers hes asking for back problems

@robertdavey6 12 жыл бұрын

There was me, thinking that bell codes had to be sent "Clearly and Distinctly." That 2-1 (Train Out of Section) sounded more like a 3, to me.

@anubis6864 4 жыл бұрын

Rubbish. Obviously you're not a signalman - or if you are you've never worked a busy mechanical box! Have a look at this: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/esp5fc9-ldmYlIU.html