Signalling News

November has seen a huge amount of activity around Ropley Station with the Signal & Telegraph Department having now completed all the tasks which they set themselves for the closed period.

One of the last jobs to be completed was that of installing the signal motors on both of our Distant Signals.

A big thank you must go to all those who gave up their time to ensure that this project took a very positive step forward.

Mark White

The last couple of weeks have seen an immense amount of activity at Ropley by the Signal and Telegraph Department with the completion of the track circuit bonding and insulated block joints at the country end of the station as well as the refitting of the country end points with their new insulated components and the new signal detection also now in place.

Today, Monday 21 November saw another busy day for the team and a milestone was achieved, the installation of our last signal post, the Down Inner Home. Once again our expert signal builder, Bob Howells, has done a marvellous job. Bob can be seen in the picture below, which was taken from the top of the bank looking down on the finished article.

Unlike our other new signals, the arms have been attached in order that we can complete a series of sighting tests to ensure the best possible visibility for our train crews. Both of these signals will have white crosses attached to them which denote to the driver that they are not in use and therefore are to be ignored.

Today also saw the completion of the insulated block joints at the London End of the station and alterations to the point rodding run at the co...

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With the short closed season now upon us, the Signal & Telegraph Department have been making the most of this as they progress with the Ropley re signalling scheme.

The week just passed also saw the works begin for the new footbridge, the contractors undertaking this work had kindly agreed to complete the excavation work for the Down Inner Home Signal at the same time as both this signal and the new foot bridge are very close to each other, as you will see in the photograph below. They also planted the base of the new signal which we will now leave for a week to allow the concrete to set. The plan is that the rest of the signal will be installed on Monday 21 November.

You will notice that the main post for this new signal is very short, this is to allow the best possible sighting for our train crews, as not only is this signal on a curve but Bighton road bridge is just a few hundred yards in front of it. Once the full signal is completed, we will of course post a photograph for you here.

In addition to this, much other work has also been undertaken. The posts which hold the signal wire are now all in place to both the Up and Down Outer Home Signals.
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As many of you will be aware, the Ropley re signalling project has moved forward in a very positive way this year with all but one of the signal posts now in position and many of the mechanical aspects of the project now complete.

It is our intention to erect the last of the signal posts, the Down Inner Home, during November, a job which requires a considerable amount of excavation of the bank opposite the Boiler Shop.  Externally, this will largely leave us with the completion of the signal wire runs, cabling and the signal detection on the Country and London end points.

Earlier this year we communicated our aspiration to be in a position to commission the final scheme during November of this year. Unfortunately, due to a couple of issues regarding the acquisition of some very important components, one of these being a shortage of signal wire in the country, we have had to revise our estimation on completion. It is now our aim to commission prior to Easter 2012.

Whilst this is unfortunate, it does allow some flexibility for the Signal & Telegraph Department who have been working flat out this year aiming for November and therefore will now be ab...

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Today, Sunday 10 July, saw the latest edition to the new signals at Ropley. The arm was attached to what will become the Down Loop Starting Signal. Until final commissioning this signal will remain fixed in the stop position.

In the pictures below you will see our expert signal builder Bob making preparations in readiness for the attachment of the arm. Also a picture of the finished article and one showing both Down Starting Signals at Blakes Crossing.

Away from Ropley Bob and the team have been hard at work building what will be the Down Inner Home Signal. Since the last time of writing you will see that the post is now sporting a fresh coat of white paint. The gantry platform for this post is also nearing completion and the lattice dolls which recently retuned from being shot blasted are looking great in their new coat of paint. This signal, as with all at the London end of the station, will be upper quadrant.

Before the signal can be planted we have a lot of work to do in respect to excavating the bank opposite the boiler and carriage repair workshop, as well as removing several large trees which sit at the top of the embankment above the site of the s...

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Sunday 22 May saw the last of the shunt signals installed at Ropley, these being the Down Main Shunt Ahead and the Up Loop Shunt Ahead. The four pictures below show both of these signals now attached to their respective Starting Signal posts.

The last two weeks has also seen work taking place on the construction of the Down Inner Home. The rail post which was recently rescued from Butts Junction has now been cut down to size and the lattice dolls which are required for the signals themselves have now been moved from the yard at Medstead in readiness for their restoration. Before this signal can be erected a huge amount of excavation is required on site at Ropley. A plan will be devised over the next few weeks for this.

The Down Inner Home signals are now the only two left to be install. This will then mean that the bulk of the mechanical side of this scheme is complete with the exception of the signal wire runs to the new signals, the facing point lock on the yard crossover and the signal detection at each set of points. 

Mark White