Recently our workplace training room was gifted a few surplus items so we can show new Train Controllers what various items that get talked about actually look like. Many new Train Controllers joining the role today they have come from other roles in often totally different organisations and have little or no previous railway experience. Even those that have had previous railway experience may not have seen all the small parts that go together to make an entire railway operate. Our training room is small so the amount and size of items selected is based on that, and also not wanting the room looking cluttered with junk. One item we were gifted, that would have otherwise gone from scrap metal, was a small Position Light Shunt Signal from the Toowoomba area. The item was in fair condition but would not sit on the bench as it is meant to be mounted on a post beside the railway line. With some spare timber at home I designed a wooden base for the signal to sit on, and used the existing mounting bracket to secure the two parts together. The timber base was stained and the signal itself was completely pulled apart for cosmetic restoration. Everything was in good condition however there was corrosion on some aluminium parts and the cork gaskets between some parts were deteriorated. The internal 110 volt light bulbs, wiring and connections were removed as they were no longer required. It has been suggested that I design and fit a low voltage LED system so that the lights can be illuminated - I'll think about that suggestion. Some metal parts were completely cleaned back to bare metal and repainted while other parts only needed re-painting. The original stainless steel nuts and bolts were used to re-assemble the signal. A small builders plate on the back shows that the signal was made by Westinghouse. It was only a quick restoration job but it has made an incredible difference to the look, feel and usefulness of the item. And...I have already been assigned another task to restore a larger item for the training room. Above: The restored Position Light Shunt Signal back in the training room along with a shelf-mounted relay, two plug-in type relays, and two lenses from a colour light signal.
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While this isn't related to telephone wiring it does reflect how I like to see a finished job and it does involve extra low voltage electrical/electronics work - well within my field of expertise. Our workplace was donated a piece of redundant railway signalling equipment which had basically been thrown on the junk pile decades ago. It was dirty and dusty and didn't really do anything anymore, yet it was to become a display item in our workplace. I took the initiative to clean up the item and add some electronics so that it is now an interactive working display. The other side of the panel (see bottom photo) has some lights that used to shows various indications the operator would need to know when working at that station. I added an Arduino/screw terminal board (top right) and a relay board (bottom right) and connected it via the existing resistor board (centre left) to the existing LED's (light emitting diodes). The white wires (including LED's and resistors) were existing and have been neatened up, basically everything else has been added. With a suitable program added to the Arduino the interactive display item now sits in the office where visitors can watch the red, yellow and green lights change in a semi-realistic manner as if a (simulated) train was passing through the station, and also operate the switches in front of the panel to manually control the signals to stop a train or let it proceed. This has proved to be much better that just hanging the panel on the wall as it was, and has generated interest and discussion amongst office regulars and visitors. Above: The fully refurbished interactive display item ready to return to the office.
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AuthorAfter spending 22 years in the Telecommunications Industry, I've decided to keep those skills alive and offer my services to people needing assistance with small phone cabling jobs in the home or office. Archives
January 2024
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