Although we have added simulated weight to the levers in the frame, this is, unfortunately, far from perfect. It is generally adjusted at the beginning of an operating season but gradually works slacker as time goes by. But it does add some realistic 'feel' to the frame as you would find if you had a go with it. Peter Jordan Chairman, Exeter West Group (and the signalman featured in the video!)
The code isn't 2-1-1 it is 3-1-1 which is the 'Is Line Clear?' code for an express freight with at least half of the vehicles having the vacuum brake operative. Peter Jordan
Is there somewhere I can find more information on how this works? It'd be neat to join up and have a go on it, but the UK is a long way away for me to travel right now.Guess I'll just have to build one for myself if I want to be signalman for a day.
Well, I've managed to get ahold of the simulator of Exeter West, and I can say for certain that they make it look easier than it really is. Express, goods, interchange with the Southern, this box is BUSY, and you have to keep up with the frame, the interlocking, and all the bell signals.
The simulation you can see running on the video is now available as a signal box simulation for the home PC. If you would like more information on this, email me at: peterjordan(at)dsl(dot) pipex(dot) com Peter Jordan Chairman, Exeter West Group
i still cant get way they keep facsing point in the frame where i workd facing point lockout so it goes point lock in the frame points out point lock out then reset. point lock in points leaver in the point lock out that way points are locked again don't know why its kept in the frame
There's no need to bolt points which are trailing to a movement. Indeed some FPLs will only engage at all with the points in one position (typically, if not always, reverse) so you wouldn't even get the FPL with the points set the other way. Not saying that's the case here, but it's illustrative. Also I believe sometimes the interlocking uses the FPL so that if you've got the FPL out you can't clear the signal for the move over the points in the trailing position, I think they did that at passing loops on single lines sometimes, but I'd have to look into that a bit more, I might be misremembering. In any case, when I walk into a box I hardly expect all the FPLs to be out of the frame, you're just creating work for yourself and if somehow you've managed to bolt the points in the wrong position, which admittedly is a bit unlikely, but let's say the points didn't actually move over because of snapped rodding (which you'd probably notice to be fair) then all you're going to achieve is causing a lot more damage when the points are run through. If you leave the points unbolted the train's wheels will simply push them over and everything will be hunky dory. In actual fact modern signallers are taught in training to always put the FPL back every time so that ideally all levers will be normal until actually needed and then moved as required. This is madness, and nobody does that in real life, you don't keep unlocking and relocking the same points for no reason. But nor do you keep points bolted when you don't need them bolted.
All the same, I enjoy taking up the challenge of being the signalman at Exeter West in the sim, and I'm starting to get the hang of Thank goodness there's a booking boy, otherwise
Impressive if all the pull weights were recorded. But the signalman still looks like he is using more or less the same effort regardless of the distance of the signal from the box, and curiously the same with all the points. This could of course be explained by superior Western Region signal maintainence teams? ;;)
If you want to have a go you need to join the 'Exeter West Group,' and become part of our operating team demonstrating the box to visitors. Find our website where you can download a membership application form Peter Jordan Chairman, Exeter West Group
xdont know the person in exiter 1961 box boy knows the tve trains as gwell as the signal man rrailway ru by working time table im surprised some one didi say something iwould have done done a few times
@broodje82 Ha! I think it would be much harder if all those black levers were actually connected to points.. A proper simulation would involve both hands and fair old heave! Impressive nonetheless.
Mo symalter works as it realy work nor run the man that talking to thr box boy trying to tell him what train dont go hezr that train dont run take notice of the box boy he nows as much ad the signzl manExiter 1960
Although we have added simulated weight to the levers in the frame, this is, unfortunately, far from perfect. It is generally adjusted at the beginning of an operating season but gradually works slacker as time goes by. But it does add some realistic 'feel' to the frame as you would find if you had a go with it.
Peter Jordan
Chairman, Exeter West Group (and the signalman featured in the video!)
that's a massive lever frame for 1 man to operate!
The code isn't 2-1-1 it is 3-1-1 which is the 'Is Line Clear?' code for an express freight with at least half of the vehicles having the vacuum brake operative.
Peter Jordan
Is there somewhere I can find more information on how this works? It'd be neat to join up and have a go on it, but the UK is a long way away for me to travel right now.Guess I'll just have to build one for myself if I want to be signalman for a day.
Well, I've managed to get ahold of the simulator of Exeter West, and I can say for certain that they make it look easier than it really is.
Express, goods, interchange with the Southern, this box is BUSY, and you have to keep up with the frame, the interlocking, and all the bell signals.
Need to add some resistance to those point and locking levers
Where about this box kept nowadays
The simulation you can see running on the video is now available as a signal box simulation for the home PC. If you would like more information on this, email me at: peterjordan(at)dsl(dot) pipex(dot) com
Peter Jordan
Chairman, Exeter West Group
i still cant get way they keep facsing point in the frame where i workd facing point lockout so it goes point lock in the frame points out point lock out then reset. point lock in points leaver in the point lock out that way points are locked again don't know why its kept in the frame
There's no need to bolt points which are trailing to a movement. Indeed some FPLs will only engage at all with the points in one position (typically, if not always, reverse) so you wouldn't even get the FPL with the points set the other way. Not saying that's the case here, but it's illustrative. Also I believe sometimes the interlocking uses the FPL so that if you've got the FPL out you can't clear the signal for the move over the points in the trailing position, I think they did that at passing loops on single lines sometimes, but I'd have to look into that a bit more, I might be misremembering. In any case, when I walk into a box I hardly expect all the FPLs to be out of the frame, you're just creating work for yourself and if somehow you've managed to bolt the points in the wrong position, which admittedly is a bit unlikely, but let's say the points didn't actually move over because of snapped rodding (which you'd probably notice to be fair) then all you're going to achieve is causing a lot more damage when the points are run through. If you leave the points unbolted the train's wheels will simply push them over and everything will be hunky dory. In actual fact modern signallers are taught in training to always put the FPL back every time so that ideally all levers will be normal until actually needed and then moved as required. This is madness, and nobody does that in real life, you don't keep unlocking and relocking the same points for no reason. But nor do you keep points bolted when you don't need them bolted.
Michael philpot box boys should been singnlman in there Owen right
You could sell workout time for weight loss.
All the same, I enjoy taking up the challenge of being the signalman at Exeter West in the sim, and I'm starting to get the hang of
Thank goodness there's a booking boy, otherwise
Impressive if all the pull weights were recorded. But the signalman still looks like he is using more or less the same effort regardless of the distance of the signal from the box, and curiously the same with all the points. This could of course be explained by superior Western Region signal maintainence teams? ;;)
It looks like hard work, but I can't wait to try it at home (without the hardware box of course)
what does that code mean at 08:18 (2-1-1)?
If you want to have a go you need to join the 'Exeter West Group,' and become part of our operating team demonstrating the box to visitors. Find our website where you can download a membership application form
Peter Jordan
Chairman, Exeter West Group
i want to have a go at that :)
ok thanks for clearing that up for me
xdont know the person in exiter 1961 box boy knows the tve trains as gwell as the signal man rrailway ru by working time table im surprised some one didi say something iwould have done done a few times
@broodje82
Ha! I think it would be much harder if all those black levers were actually connected to points.. A proper simulation would involve both hands and fair old heave! Impressive nonetheless.
in a signal box ok filming or photos one thing dont need that person getting in the way
Mo symalter works as it realy work nor run the man that talking to thr box boy trying to tell him what train dont go hezr that train dont run take notice of the box boy he nows as much ad the signzl manExiter 1960
Poor guy's run ragged!