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This guide
takes us round the "main line".
Smith's Knoll station.
We have three stations on the railway,
this is the main one. It has one long platform but this is often used as
two. Arriving trains stop on the first section to unload before moving
on, uncoupling and turning. The next loco can take the train out via
the loop. |
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There is a
single track in and out to the "main line".
The signals are electrically operated either manually from here or from the
signal box. Note the ground frame next to Jonathan. |
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Titan is
seen here on the way from Smith's Knoll to Riverside Junction and is being
driven by Adrian Davis. Adrian usually drives mainline diesel locos for
English, Welsh and Scottish Railways. Chris Wilson is the conductor
driver behind Adrian. |
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Here is the
first of our level crossings. This one is for pedestrians only and
provides access to the upper parts of the garden. Behind the greenhouse is
the loco shed. The tree next to the greenhouse is a fig. There
is a vine in there somewhere which grows into the shed. There can't be
many loco sheds with grapes growing inside during the summer! |
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This is the
shed and yard area. Each road in the shed can take at least two locos,
there are a couple of carriage sidings to the right.
The signal box is out of shot to our
right. |
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Riverside
Junction Signal Box. Trains on the "main line" are controlled from
here. Those at the Smith's Knoll station are controlled there and
those on the "branch line" to Weir End are controlled from Meadow Halt. |
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Sorry about
the composition of this but hope it gives you an idea!
The track diagram indicates the position
of all the trains controlled from here and has signal repeaters.
The computer can either control all
trains automatically or allow a signalman to control the trains manually
(with all the appropriate interlocks.)
On the back wall is the telephone;
there are phones at all stations, in the loco shed and at Bridge Junction
where trains may have to wait when coming out of the branch.
The block instrument controls trains
on the branch between Bridge Junction and Meadow Halt. |
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The low
level bridge. The gradient here is 1 in 89.
The stream is only about 2 feet below the
bridge deck. |
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Bridge Junction. The line ahead is the
branch line to Meadow Halt and Smith's Knoll. The climb from here is 1 in 33!
Just visible at the bottom of the straight is the sand drags and catch
points. Note, these safety devices have never been used in service,
hopefully they never will!
The line to the left goes to the tunnel.
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The entrance
to the tunnel. Carriages are stored in here overnight, some trains
will shelter in the tunnel when caught out in the rain. |
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The track on
to the viaduct is protected by the two statues, "Arthur" & "Martha"
(Balinese carvings), they go indoors for the winter, they're not used to our
winter weather where they come from! |
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Titan, driven by Chris, takes a two wagon train
on to the viaduct. The grey wagon is weighed down with concrete for
stability, the design is based on Lynton and Barnstaple Railway wagons.
The viaduct is based on the Brunel timber
viaduct designs, it is just as spectacular from the train as from
underneath. |
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