Author Topic: Development of signaling, train movement and interlocking video.  (Read 2293 times)

Stephen Piwowarski

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I just watched this short video on the development of signaling, train movement and  interlocking systems in the UK. It seems like a good intro from the POV of someone who’s never worked on a signaled railway or a UK railway but I’d be curious to learn more about the UK train movement control in general.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bfewk708uG0

Dag Bonnedal

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Re: Development of signaling, train movement and interlocking video.
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2021, 08:49:25 AM »
The real classic on the subject of railway safety is this this:
https://www.amazon.com/Red-Danger-Classic-History-Railways-dp-0752451065/dp/0752451065/
We all read it when we were young. Written by the well known Tom Rolt, manager of the first preserved railway: Tallyllyn.

It describes the stage-by-stage development of railway safety in the UK, through the investigations and recommendations by Her/His Majesty's Railway Inspectors of railway accidents.

Describes the British system, which differs a lot from both the rest of Europe and naturally from the US. The British system was developed as a response to the high traffic density, short trains, high speeds and rather feeble brakes.

Added:
As you say, nice video but rather basic.
Towards the end of the video where he describes the Tyer machine, he also mentions the Abermule train crash:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abermule_train_collision
which has a great significance in British safety development and also in the book.
It was also referred to in a very recent investigation of incident on the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch 15" miniature railway, where two trains were on heads on collision course. They were able to stop in time thanks to good visibility. But it is interesting that the crash exactly a century ago is used as reference.
« Last Edit: April 10, 2021, 09:54:55 AM by Dag Bonnedal »

Bob Holmes

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Re: Development of signaling, train movement and interlocking video.
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2021, 06:23:24 PM »
Much to pursue here.  I watched the initial videos, and am anxious to look at what Dag has given us.

Philip Marshall

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Re: Development of signaling, train movement and interlocking video.
« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2021, 10:16:13 PM »
I can also recommend Red for Danger. It's a classic work of British railway history and deserves to be better known in the US.