Manchester Victoria School of Signalling

[merccs]

This takes me back. I trained as a signaller on it in 1989.

[DJM3189]

Feb-march 1984 for me and still haven't escaped lol

[stebear58]

in the mid 70's i went to signalling school this was when i was just about to turn 18 i was TR boy in a signal box in Manchester ashbury east and on christmas eve i pass my signalling test and in Jan 1977 i got my 1st post Marple Wharf Box

[ShaurntheSheep]

ooh i would like to have a go on that

[azymitch]

That many bells at work would drive me potty, and they're not even trying to keep them together :p

[rackellar]

Indeed was just saying this as you can see all the trains on the training layout so you would probably be inclined to not pull the distant off. At the box I work on the mainline I do exactly as you do and quite often get the distant off just as the train crawls around the corner!

[steamboy51]

hahahahahahaaaaa, british signalling at its best. pity there is no steam on that miniature line

[jawharp1992]

Is there a way for me to learn how this works? It's so fascinating.

[rackellar]

The bloke in the middle makes a mistake at 0:40 and clears his distant when the train is already well past his home! So many bells ringing at all the different "signal boxes", would probably be enough to confuse anyone!

[Panarail]

@rackellar It's not really a mistake. In a manual signalbox, you didn't always know when a train had passed your distant so a signalman would often clear a distant signal when a train had passed it. I know it's very obvious here but in the real world, not so much :o)

[edwardianeccentric]

@rackellar When signalling on the Severn Valley Railway I have done exactly the same thing - pulled the distant just in time to see the engine appearing round the corner! Without track circuiting I cannot know where the train is, so I pull it off so that if it has not yet passed it it can see it.

[Reggyrail]

I too did my training on that in 82. Happy days. Went on to be a Signalman at Skelton Jnc.

[alirobs2]

@Reggyrail

Did my training there in 1981.

Des Booth was my instructor.

[Reggyrail]

@alirobs2 from memory he was mine too, small world eh?

[daverail01]

Pete Waterman does NOT own the layout, it is now part of the NRM collection. The overhead wires have been removed and the layout has been restored to something like its 1920s condition(MR, LNWR, L&Y instruments-NO penguins) I am a member of a small team who demonstrate the layout to the public approximately once a month. Our next demo is on 24th April so why not come along and see it action again

[bronzeonion]

@daverail01 grr, more things restored to the original! that annoys me tbh. There are way too many green livereid diesel locomotives with the headlights removed. There are only a handful of intercity or network southeast liveried preserved items but so many blue or green ones

[Reggyrail]

@daverail01 when are you chaps running it next? I would love to see it in action again!

[daverail01]

@Reggyrail The next demo is this Saturday (26th). We usually start at 11:00 until 15:30, with a break for lunch 12:30-13:30

[Reggyrail]

@daverail01 Sadly work got in the way. Is there a website where future operations are posted to stop me from hassling you?

[pullmeman]

I too trained on this in 1975,and did 32 yrs as a signalman.I worked the junction box,and during the 150 celebrations of Man Vic,I helped to demonstrate how signalling worked, with my son as train booker at box C. This train set(?)oops model railway is definitely a "Big Boys Toy.,ask Pete Waterman,cos I believe he now owns it,and its on display at the NRM in York..

[clickzip]

brought back memories of my time in ashton junction box. Good to see everyone working straight in the training video, bet they were all slack working within 6 months. They were all so rushed in that setup that it sounded more like a campanology session

[madmax200769]

No "one and unpeg" there then as on many AB lines eh? ;)

[chadders1963]

had my signalling training on this very system at Man Vic in 1982, passed out and worked at Deansgate Jct and Romiley Jct before going Driving in 1984

[dni252]

A few listens and a webpage of bell codes and you do pick up a bit - you also start to work out which signalmen have got tired of sending 2-1 and make it closer to 3 ;)

Fascinating video!

[Panarail]

The older a signalman gets, the more unintelligble the bell codes. That's experience talking :o)

[dni252]

Hoping to get onto a signalling course at my local steam line sometime soon - god help the next man once I get old then, eh!

[ssshspotter]

Fantastic!! See also my video of it in use today. Search "L&Y Signalling School" 5 stars from me

[Panarail]

I just took a look at your clip. I am glad to see those awful overhead wires were not part of the presevation plan :o)

[mrmeldrewstuntdouble]

Brilliant video john 5 stars from me,& you are right,the layout is preserved in working order at york NRM,it was recently operated by members of the signalling record society for an afternoon late last year,(why does simon look so fed up????)

[Panarail]

Thanks H, I assume you trained on this item. As for Simon, how would you like 8 hours at box C ?

[mrmeldrewstuntdouble]

Did all my Absolute block training at crewe im afraId,but did my TCB course at manchester.

8 hours at box C not good (especially having to work straight for 8 hours too).

(dont think that i`ll get form oned now,LOL)

[clauslr]

Oh my What the ... are they doing :-D

[Panarail]

It is a demonstrationof Absolute Block Signalling :o)

[robmasterman]

An excellent video John, and like you, many people must have had their training there, and this will undoubtedly bring back many happy memories to them...5* Bob

[Panarail]

I loved it when it was my turn to play with the train set. The only problem was as future signalmen, we weren't allowed to drive the trains :o(

[robmasterman]

What a shame John, but you have the memories, and that's what's important...Bob