KSE Signalling Project

As the weather permits, the Moles have been busy digging for victory... but it feels as though we're going round in circles. We dig a hole, plonk a lump of concrete in it, and fill it back in again! Rest assured, the work does have a purpose: this is the installation of the concrete bench legs for the rodding run. If we can get them all in before the weather turns, we won't be drowned Moles!! We can then tackle fitting the tops later on, in the knowledge that the hardest, physical work has been completed. The ground varies significantly from hole to hole, but we have managed 2 concrete legs a day, combined with other tasks on site. These photos are from the last two days on site, and this section of the rodding run sits between the Tebay and Eden Valley lines. We didn't want to tackle this part of the run any earlier, given the focus on getting the box looking complete internally (more work will take place on days when the weather leaves something to be desired!!). Our digg...

No rest for the Moles. We've been putting off digging for the next benches that require installation, owing to the need to get the box progressed with the frame, in readiness for the big gala... Whilst the weather is good, we could no longer put off the digging, and set to with the largest excavation. Just outside the box, we squeeze a bench for most of the signal wires to run on flat wheels, carrying them underneath the 4 lines. In the same place, we have to get wire stakes in place for the other signal wires, ducts to feed on to the Junction box as well as leaving enough space for the drainage run. We moved the bench so that it was adjacent to the hole, using a small trolley. Timmy's help with the digging wasn't necessarily constuctive... If that weren't enough, the ground we had to dig, to the levels required, had a few 'challenges' to overcome. Such as big rocks, cement leftovers from the building works and a mound of rubble! Motivational encouragement was p...

...and planning ahead for their maintenance! Quite a lot of repetitive actions here: drilling out greaseways, tapping to fit grease nipples, bolting things together! First up were the balance levers for the LMS-pattern ground signals. These had previously had grease nipples fitted in most cases, so only required the threads cleaning up with a tap. The one that hadn't, required drilling out first. Why so many balance levers for just 2 signals? Well, this is a case of planning ahead. The two signals in question née to be able to be controlled from either the S&D box OR the Junction box. This is done by each signal having a wire from each box to a shortened balance lever, and whichever is operated will lift the longer lever (by means of a solid bar welded to it, which will be completed shortly!). Control between the two boxes is to be tied up electrically and mechanically. Hence, 6 levers for 2 signals! It was then on to the LNER-pattern ground signals, which were originally drill...

With works around the outside of the signalbox largely completed, this Mole turned his attention towards the missing section of the rodding run. There are only 4 stools required here, so thankfully it wasn't too daunting. However, the terrain was 'challenging'! First up, stools were selected and moved close to the run, with exact locations (at 9' intervals) marked out. The next job was to scrape back the ballast, concrete remnants and anything else that sat on top of the membrane. This then required cutting to enable the holes to be dug, and the stools planted. The end two holes were dug first, with great care being taken to get the stools in exactly the right place. Measurements were made from the inner edge of the rail for these, and the tops set at the same height as the top of the sleepers. Our tape measure (named John) came into its own here. These stools were tightly packed in place, the membrane folded back around them, and then ballast packed on top to leave bot...

Or, alternatively: Cast Concrete is Heavy! In previous blog posts, we have built and installed benches on site for the point rodding using materials that we recovered from on site. However, we require more benches than we had material to construct, so some new concrete bench legs were ordered, and delivered to site. These will allow us to complete the point control from the box as well as the groundframe. Freshly cast legs, as delivered So as to avoid making the place look like a builders' yard (as well as making it easier for ourselves when it comes to the installation), we shifted all the new legs to be close to their final locations. They aren't the lightest of lumps!! Some of the legs delivered close to their final positions ...But far enough away to allow us to dig the holes required! Whilst getting stuck in to moving the new legs, we also collected up a load of the damaged, recovered legs (and concrete tops). Some of the damaged legs can be cut down for re-use on other jo...

We’ve just had a very busy 4 days, in conjunction with track modifications and with great support from Lampitt Rail Services. In that time, we have successfully planted 5 signal posts, dismantled a crossover and moved the components to their new locations, ready for reinstatement. Lots more has gone on at the same time, in the background, that will appear in future posts. This entry looks at the signal post planting… Teamwork with the spoons: making adjustments to the hole for No.4 signal Still more to dig out ... Battling the ground foe the fixed stop signal Trying to get the last bits out of the bottom Swallowed by the ground, or the mole returning home? (Don't worry - this was posed!) Well, you can’t plant a post without preparing the ground for it first. So the Moles of Kirkby Stephen were at it again! The locations for the posts and the depths of the holes depended upon a fair few factors, such as visibility of the signals, distances from the track and pointwork they are prote...