Inside Carlisle Power Signal Box: Celebrating 50 years! Carlisle's panel as seen in March 2023
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ต.ค. 2024
- Carlisle Power Signal Box: Celebrating 50 years
Describing Carlisle's panel as seen in March 2023
Shift Manager Bryan Parker describes the Carlisle panel to Les Gilpin.
The panel covers the WCML from just north of Carnforth into Scotland with the Windermere branch and lines to fringe boxes at Wigton (Maryport & Carlisle line), Howe & Co's Sidings (Settle & Carlisle line) and Corby Gates (Newcastle & Carlisle line).
It was commissioned in February 1973 and had taken over all the old signal boxes in its area by the summer of that year.
Photos by Les Gilpin and from the Cumbrian Railways Association collections.
Many thanks to Bryan Parker for showing mew the panel and to Network Rail for allowing me the privilege of access to make this video.
The Cumbrian Railways Association
The Cumbrian Railways Association's members are interested in the railways in and around Cumbria past present and future, whatever gauge or purpose. It publishes books on railways in and around the county (we ventured to the Garstang and Knott End!) and owns a large archive of documents, drawings and plans in both paper and digital format. The CRA Photographic collection exceeds 50,000 images, mostly now digitised.
See the CRA website for more information: cumbrianrailwa...
Leslie Gilpin Railways
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Wonderful film, thank you for sharing it. Great to see a 1970s NX PSB still in use. My local PSB (Leicester) barely lasted 25 years, 1986-2011. It's signalling was recontrolled by East Midlands Control Centre at Derby, quite easy to do as the relatively modern interlocking was compatible with the modern control systems there.
Who knows how long Carlisle box will last. Rumour has it Network Rail want to replace the physical signals with the European cab signalling probably controlled from Manchester. Thanks for watching
Fascinating to see behind the scenes Les, great video.
Thanks!
Brilliant video
Thanks
fantastc video les very interesting im impressed so many buttons and telephones that would keep me going all day lol and 50 yrs, what a privilege to see iside , many thanks for sharing Les , sure your not after a job in there🤣 take care mate a t b Syd👍👌
Thanks!
Great Video Leslie, hugely informative. Took me back years when I was taken around the PSB in Newport (Mon) shortly after it opened.
Thanks David - Ive been around Carlisle PSB a few times - mostly since 2000 - and there are subtle changes every time.
What an amazing video documentary,,, 1000 thanks,, I just hope that Carlisle and Preston Boxes don’t fall victim to ROC closures
The guys there I've spoken to say there's too much work required and it could take many years to absorb it into the ROC at Manchester
This is wonderful
Thanks
How informative Les! Great to see the box in action, bit of a massive learning curve for me and so much automation even from 50 Years ago.
Thanks
Excellent 👍
Thanks
Fascinating video. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
July 1985 I was on a school holiday in the area 10 of us and a teacher had a visit of the panel was a great day out.
Those were the days!
My grandfather worked with british railways from 1960-1990 here in carlisle, and he also started off in the old carlisle 12b upperby sheds, love trains my self and always wanted to know what it looks like in here thanks for the upload, I've always wanted to work on the the railways but due to my epilepsy I can't, my grandfather told me alot of amazing stories of when he worked with steam locos when he would feed them coal and would work as train guard and work as signaller as well he just made me love trains ❤.
Thats really great to know, Thanks for sharing that and I'm glad that you enjoyed this video
Very interesting. I remember I visited Peterborough PSB (thks to BR press office) soon after it entered service. These places are fascinating. Thk you for sharing.
I agree, and having them last for over 50 years is in itself fascinating.
Oh how cool. The inside of signal boxes is one of the things that fascinates me the most.
It's a great place, just how you'd imagine one to be
Fantastic. What a privilege it has been to tour the PSB with you, Leslie.
Thank you. I feel lucky to have been given permission.
Absolutely fascinating, Les. I have the SimSig versin and it has helped to know what is where.
Thanks glad you found it useful
Very cool! Thanks for sharing. Must have been very nice to get to see the inner workings of the railway.
It was a very interesting couple of hours. Unfortunately I couldn't get to see the relay rooms as asbestos was being removed (not for the first time apparently).
Hi les what a great video it was so fasinating watching how things are worked asa ex railway worker myself ive seen inside a few boxes when i was a fireman and i think it was rule 11 where i had to go to the box if there wasnt a phone there once agai n thanks for a great video look forward to the next one pls stay safe my friend
Thanks!
Amazing Leslie ! What a great informative video. I didn't realise Carlisle PSB was still operational, I thought Preston controlled the lines up to the Border. It was fascinating to see what is now probably quite old equipment still doing its job. Also just three people running the box ! Great bit of work on your part Leslie.
Thanks Euan. It's impressive eh? There used to be more staff as per the photos when operations managers were there and the station announcer ( pre Ann lol)
Awesome 😎
Thanks!
Wow!!! SO many things to say, but all I can say is impressive, especially to think they got it right 50 years ago and have not had to tear down and completely rebuild the system.
Thanks Anthony. Well it's been on the cards to replace it for some years but they still haven't decided yet.
Excellent video Les A lot of information and loads of good detailed views of the panel. The CCTV crossing screens are normally off both to save screen life and prevent a ghost image burning into the screen. I remember the runaway train and the signalmans quick thinking saving a real disaster, good to see there is a plaque remembering that day. It's a shame you could not get into the relay room you would be amazed at the sight and sound of thousands of relays operating, hopefully one day you will be able to go in there, what still blows my mind is it all goes into a inch square micro chip and units out on site now. I am curious about the coins but see you did not find out what they were about. My guess is a penalty for making a mistake LOL
I have been in the relay rooms but many years ago. They were stripping asbestos from them. The CCTV crossing screens were turned on specially for me.
@@LeslieGilpinRailways OK Lucky you not many get to look around relay rooms. There was a lot of asbestos used in them years ago and we were unaware of the danger. Years ago they used solid wire insulated with rubber an asbestos fibre and lacquered yellow outer cover, called flameproof wire it was used everywhere until the just rubber coated wire Carlisle will have was used, but still plenty of asbestos was used up to recent times. The CCTV screens have an over ride control yes
I'm told that the pennies date from charity collections when visitors were more common but now are just spare change when food is ordered in.
Bom dia lelie lindo trem afoto bom um turmer da PSB gostei
Thanks!
Great video! I do wonder how useful many passenger loops are. Many created over recent years over on Western Region 'for free' with resignalling schemes. These didn't include any changes on the ground, such as moving exit signals back or increasing entry/ exit speed, so it often minimises delay to keep slower trains running ahead than to slow it down to 15/20mph then to wait for the loop signal's overlap to release!
Interesting! On the WCML, certainly in the Carlisle PSB area, the passenger loops were only created for the ill fated APT to allow it to pass 'ordinary' passenger trains. Quite a few goods loops were lost in the 73 resignalling.
@@LeslieGilpinRailways
Thanks for your comments. Loss of goods loops is a bit surprising - perhaps BR put too much faith in the ability to keep freights out of the way of Class 1s in an all-electric railway.
There were still plenty of 35 and 45mph freights about in the 1970s, although I recall that most of the slowest were retimed via Settle when the Electric Scots started. Nowadays, I believe there are more diesel than electric freights over Shap!
THERE IS AN EXCELLENT DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE ELECTRIFICATION OF THIS LINE CALLED POINTS AND ASPECTS
Thanks, I didn't know that. I'll look it up
Did they say what the cions across the top was for? Thanks for sharing. Stay safe.
Thanks Mike. I never asked! It couldn't be to hold anything down as everything is pull switches.
Great video. I didn't realise that platform 3 at Penrith wasn't suitable for trains to use. Would it be wise to make it longer for emergency useage?
As it's been like that for 50years, and predated the closure of the Keswick branch just before resignalling, I doubt it would be considered.
Sorry,im back again,, I noticed that on the top of the Panels it is expected that visitors are encouraged to leave a donation for the railway charity. Back in 1985 I visited Preston Power Box,, as at that time I was living in the Blackburn area,and the shift Manager arranged it for me to visit the site at Preston.. but these days due to obvious reasons it probably wouldn’t be at all possible.. but they as well expect a little donation from non railway visitors......
Network Rail are pretty security conscious these days
I understand that some of the gear in the "A" box in Wellington, New Zealand, dates from the 1930s! What I've heard, though, is that work is underway to replace it with something more modern.
Its surprising how old some of the electric power boxes are - the electro pneumatic boxes too, of course those with manual frames can be much older. Thanks for watching
A very informative video. That's lasted 50years and I expect technology will see it disappear soon. The west of Scotland control is like offices. Old style boxes of yesteryear will only be seen on heritage railways and some rural lines if radio control hasn't reached them.
Its certainly old technology. The operations centres lack any of the interest - and people said that about these power boxes!
All very clever and efficient - especially since it dates from half a century ago - but somehow it lacks the magic of Holywood signal box with its clanking levers, telegraph bells, wires and rods - and the signalman looking out of his window to make sure the road is clear. Progress - as our American cousins would say!
Thanks Tim. What I found amusing was that they still use block bells (of a sort) as emergency contact with Preston box. I do like a mechanical frame but its hard to find one where the signals and points arent motorised.
If it manages another 7 years it will be older than Birmingham NS box was when it closed! (And they made a big fuss over that.) 😄 Amazed at all the temporary notes stuck to the panels. I wonder who was on the weight loss regime.
It'll be sad when it goes - but it's been on the cards for some years. Each time the suggestions get more ambitious.
I take it this was commissioned for the Electrification of the LNWR/Caledonian main line
Yes resignalling north of Weaver Junction through to Glasgow - Warrington, Preston , Carlisle and Motherwell boxes in the same year. Electrification followed soon behind,
A valuable record of semi automatic working, the future holds clicking of a mouse.
Sadly that's progress. I'm a lever and bells man but this is the future from half a century ago!
CARLISLE PSB is soon to be de-commissioned and moved to ROC at Asburys, you press a button south of Manchester and hopefully the points or signals obey the command at Carlisle.
As yet it's still in the planning stages with possible cab signalling.
Yea it will close someday but not til at least 2036 at the earliest
Still using a lot of paper work.
Surprisingly a lot coming in via the various online systems.
Yes, as do the latest control centres with workstation screens...but without anywhere to stick handy magnetic strips or Dymo tape 😉