RAILWAY SIGNALS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 39, 9 May 1927, Page 1

RAILWAY SIGNALS

CHANGE AT FRANKTON ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INSTALLED IMPORTANT WORK COMPLETED (From Our Oxen Correspondent.') HAMILTON, To-day. Although no trains were running, the yards at the Frankton railway station were a bustle of activity on Sunday morning, when a work of considerable magnitude was in progress. Two seven-ton cranes and 70 workmen were engaged in the work of pulling up and relaying the track of the permanent way and sidings, while the new system of signalling was being completed. The old mechanical method of signalling has been replaced with the electrical system, a work which has become increasingly necessary on account of the volume of rail traffic handled at the big junction. The work of effecting the changeover began on Saturday afternoon, but no real progress oould be made while the lines were working, and at 5.45

a.m. yesterday the business of moving the points began in earnest. Gangs busily wielded pick and shovel, while the heavy cranes lifted large pieces of railway track as they were torn up, either to be transferred to another siding, or discarded altogether. Operations were carried out on a large scale, involving the removal of some 30 chains of track, and the shifting of 15 sets of points and crossings. Four large gantries had to be taken out. The change-over is the largest which as taken place since that at Dunedin, and is a work of big responsibility. For several months the work of preparing for the actual changeover has been going on steadily, and the 1-h.p. electrical motors have been installed at the various sections ready for the final connection. BIG CHANGES The signalling cabin at the northern end of the station has undergone a change, and the mechanism has been altered. Some 56 sword-irons connected with the levers for locking and releasing line sections have had to be renotched for the new electrical system, and the ties and dies refitted. In the cabin a chart indicates the presence of trains on various lines by small electric bulbs, and another set of miniature lights indicates whether the signals are working properly. The mechanical method of signalling only had an efficient range of 300 yards, while the distance of the points from the cabin under the electrical system makes no difference to the working. The result is that signalling at the station will be speeded up. During the week further work of a minor nature will be carried out as traffic permits. There are 15 miles of line directly connected with the signalling system, which is an extensive one. A night shift was employed last night to expedite the work and avoid hindrance to traffic. The complete new system should be in operation to-night, and the change can be regarded as an important addition to the facilities at this busy station. The work over the week-end was carried out under the supervision of Mr. J. W. Wylie, New Zealand railways signalling and electrical engineer, Mr. W. H. Grapes, automatic signalling inspector, Messrs. R. Ah and A. W. Hollis, signalling and eleeurical inspectors, respectively, for the Auckland district, and Mr. W. T. Langbein, assistant district engineer. Auckland.