Swindon Panel Preservation Here’s to Swindon Panel · Swindon Panel Preservation ... receive the...
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Swindon Panel Preservation
Welcome to the Swindon Panel Preservation
news sheet and thank you for your interest!
Hello to everyone who has joined since our last
Update; we very much appreciate you showing
your support by joining. We now have over 120
members (46 gold, 33 silver, 45 bronze)!
We have had an action-packed last few weeks
with much activity and progress. The dominating
news is that the ‘Long View’ we talked about in
the last newsletter has just got a bit longer! As
hopefully everyone is aware by now, Network
Rail have announced that they will need to
borrow our panel for a little longer; rather than
closing in August it will now stay open until
Christmas (2014) or Easter (2015).
While it is a little disappointing that we won’t
get ‘possession’ of the panel at the time we had
hoped, actually a more mature view is that it
gives us longer to prepare and fundraise, and we
will end up with a much better product. It gives
us a lot longer to raise the funds needed to lift
the panel out whole, and a panel lifted out
whole at Christmas or Easter will be in a working
condition at Didcot a lot sooner than a panel
dismantled in August 2014 would have been. The
later date will also significantly reduce our
storage burden, and will not affect the date at
which the building in DRC will be ready to
receive the panel in any case.
Swindon to Kemble will still be doubled and
recontrolled to TVSC in August, so some panel
alterations will be made then, but we’ll be sure
to minimize the disruption to
the panel in the process. The
beauty of the Integra Domino
design is that alterations
aren’t damaging to make.
Update 7. June 2014.
Here’s to Swindon Panel
More details always available at www.swindonpanel.org.uk
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Kemble Station,
which will be
removed from
the panel in
August in
connection with
the doubling of
the line (left).
Swindon Panel Preservation Signing Ceremony
We have had a good presence at the Railway
Centre over the last month or so, manning our
‘stand’ on all six gala days. Thank you very much
indeed to everyone who helped through this - a
total of about £1000 was raised over the two
bank holiday weekends, plus a load of new
members immediately after. When Gift Aid is
added the total is somewhere near £1800, so an
extremely worthwhile effort.
Saturday 24th May was a particularly important
day for us as it was our ‘grand signing’ of the
agreement between Didcot Railway Centre and
Swindon Panel Society, which cements our
future as a permanent exhibit at DRC and the
commitment for the construction of the new
building.
Heavy rain was forecast all day but the sun came
out at precisely the right time for Tom O'Flaherty
(SPS Chairman), Richard Croucher (GWS
Chairman) and Ann Middleton (GWS Commercial
Manager) to sign the agreement in
the presence of Tim Leighton (Network Rail
General Manager, Western Route) and Scott
Wilgrove (Didcot's Town Mayor and also a
volunteer guard!), in view of many members,
supporters and cameras.
It was wonderful to meet so many members
there. It was an important event in the history of
the Society and strengthens what we are sure
will be a long and happy partnership.
More details always available at www.swindonpanel.org.uk
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Tom signs on behalf of SPS. Ann Middleton,
GWS Commercial Manager looks on.
Richard Croucher, GWS Chairman (left) and Tom
breaking open the booze!
Bottle and cork both preserved.
Swindon Panel Preservation ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice was given in the last Update that the first Annual General Meeting of the Swindon Panel Society will be held on:
Saturday 21st June
at
Didcot Railway Centre.
The meeting will be preceded by a guided tour of the signal boxes of the Railway Centre (Radstock North and Frome Mineral Junction).
The tour will start at 12 noon, the AGM will commence at 2pm. The meeting will contain updates from each of the trustees and end with question and answers from members (if you are going to pose a particularly difficult question that might require us to look into the answer, please let us know in advance!)
All members are entitled to attend the meeting. We will welcome any interested non-members who wish to attend (non-members may not vote at the meeting).
Any member who is unable to attend may appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf (who does not necessarily have to be a member). If you wish to appoint a proxy please ensure clear details authorising your proxy are sent to the Secretary (Danny Scroggins) no later than Friday 20th June. The Chairman (Tom O’Flaherty) will be pleased to receive proxy instruction from any member unable to attend who is unable to identify a suitable proxy.
AGENDA
2.00 - Welcome and thanks 2.05 - Welcome to Didcot Railway Centre 2.10 - Update on the progress of the Society 2.20 - Finance Update 2.30 - Membership Update 2.40 - Election of officers for the following year 2.45 - Any other business. End of formal part of the meeting 2.45 onwards - Questions and answers from the members
In accordance with the Constitution, all committee members are elected every year. All the present committee members offer themselves for re-election for the 2014-2015 year.
Tom O’Flaherty — Chairman
Tom is a software engineer for TRE (a Hitachi company), that makes signalling software, specialising in training simulators, all around the world.
Danny Scroggins — Secretary
Danny is a Local Operations Manager for Network Rail in the Thames Valley Signalling Centre and comes from a background in railway operations, including working in Swindon Panel.
Brian Davis — Treasurer
Brian is a Network Rail signaller and has worked a wide range of signal boxes including mechanical, panel and IECCs as well as time in Control and the Performance Section. Prior to this Brian worked for GE making electronics for signalling systems.
James Denny — Administrator
James is a Network Rail signaller and has worked in a range of busy boxes including the TVSC and Three Bridges. Prior to this James worked in various TOC station roles and before that at Atkins Rail in the Design Office.
All the committee members are trustees.
More details always available at www.swindonpanel.org.uk
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Swindon Panel Preservation
More details always available at www.swindonpanel.org.uk
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Treasurer’s Talk
With Brian Davis
As the Treasurer of the Society I wanted to bring
you up to date on how we are doing with the
fund-raising. For those of you who don’t know
me I am a Signaller at the Thames Valley
Signalling Centre in Didcot and although I have
not worked Swindon Panel, I worked its sister
(brother?) Reading Panel for many years, so I am
very enthusiastic about seeing Swindon panel up
and running at DRC next year.
As you may be aware our main medium-term
funding objective is to raise £25,000 which is our
contribution toward the new building the GWS
are constructing to house the panel at DRC. Our
first milestone for this is to pay an instalment of
£10,000 at the end of this month, followed by
£5,000 at the end of each June for the next three
years. We also need to raise funds for the panel
move itself and although the closure has been
delayed we will still need to have the money in
place this financial year. We are estimating
around £5,000 will be needed for the move.
Therefore, we are looking to raise a minimum of
£20,000 by June next year.
This is a tall order for an embryonic society, so
how are we doing? Well, impressively, we
started with nothing last September and by April
(the end of our financial year), we had amassed
an impressive £8,000; 85% of which was from
memberships.
The really good news is that since then we have
brought that total up to over £11,500. In a
period of approximately 10 months that is an
amazing achievement and whilst my fellow
committee members have worked hard to
achieve this, a lot of credit must also go to all the
members, especially those who have turned out
to the events to increase the awareness of the
society; so a special thank you to those people.
However, we mustn’t rest on our laurels, as we
need to raise almost another £10,000 by this
time next year. The enthusiasm for our project is
such that I am sure we will meet that objective.
Thank you all and I hope to see you at the AGM
on the 21st June.
Brian Davis, Treasurer
Top: I’ve heard of signal box cats but never a
signal box dog! Brian’s dog Scamp helping to
generate interest at the signing ceremony.
Swindon Panel Preservation Event Stands
Thanks to those who travelled from far and wide
and gave up their time to staff the stand at
various events recently. We are out in force on
two bank holiday weekends (totalling six days) at
DRC, a full weekend at the Gloucestershire &
Warwickshire Railway’s Steam & Ale gala and the
AGM of the Signalling Record Society.
We have learned a lot from our experiences with
the stand: it is excellent for increasing visibility
and awareness and attracting new supporters, as
well as for us to meet and get to know each
other and some of the Didcot staff. We also
learned which days bring the best return
(Saturdays).
While it is fun to do it is also hard work. We are
conscious (and grateful) that some supporters
make very long journeys to help man the stand. I
think it’s fair to say eight days in one month over
-stretched our resources, especially as on six of
those we were running TVSC tours as well!
There will be plenty more opportunities for the
Society to visit events, but now we know our
reasonable maximum we can plan our resources
a bit more effectively.
One of our greatest ‘unique selling points’ on the
stand is how friendly and chatty we are. We have
found that the social aspect of the Society has
far more weight with potential supporters than
the actual preservation! This is really important
to remember so keep up the excellent work!
Thank you to everyone who fed back on the
stand. One of the most common items of
feedback is that we need one or more large
banners with our name/logo on for the tent; I’m
pleased to say these are in now progress.
Here are some of the events we would like to
attend in the latter part of the year:
12/7/14 — Swanage 35 Gala
26/7/14 — Llangollen 1960s Weekend
09/8/14 — Swindon/Cricklade Steam Vintage
16/8/14 — Chinnor Railway, 20th Anniv. Gala
30/8/14 — Great Central Diesel Gala
05/9/14 — Mid Hants Diesel Gala (if not at SDR)
02/10/14 — West Somerset Steam Gala
Those events in green are our priorities (one per
month(ish), those in blue are our ‘nice to haves’.
So if you are working out if/when you can help,
we would be keen to fill the priority events first.
Thank you.
Organisation for these is currently in progress,
we’ll confirm for certain when we’re definitely
attending.
Left: The Stand team at the Didcot gala.
More details always available at www.swindonpanel.org.uk
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Swindon Panel Preservation Panel Operation
In the last Update I wrote an overview of the
wiring of the panel, which seemed to be well-
received, but several members fed back that
they would like an article about how the panel is
operated. This should have probably come
before the article about how it is wired! This may
be too big to fit in one newsletter so I will start
by explaining the features of a panel of this type
and continue next time.
The panel has two main components, the
operating fascia and the train describer. The
operating fascia is the lower-level part that has a
geographical map of the lines controlled, all the
signalling control buttons and switches and the
indication lamps showing the behaviour of
points, signals, trains, etc. The train describer is
the upper, vertical part.
Concentrating on the operating fascia: The
layout controlled is drawn on the panel, made up
of individual square tiles (“Dominoes”). There is
a relatively small number of patterns of Domino,
but combinations of Dominos allows almost any
conceivable layout to be represented. The
diagram is not to scale. In most cases tracks are
by a broad black line and siding lines are
sometimes shown as a hollow line. (Lines with
train detection by axle counters are shown in
blue on some panels, but not Swindon.) Also
shown on the diagram Dominoes are the
position of every signal and every set of points.
All equipment has an identity which is engraved
into the panel tiles (eg, points number, signal
number, track circuit number, etc). Engraving the
pictures and letters into the panel tiles makes for
a much more hard-wearing and long-living
product.
Within each track circuit is a line of lights that
can show white (for when a route is set) or red
(for when the track circuit is occupied), or no
colour at all when neither of the previous apply.
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Swindon Panel Preservation
For controlled signals, a red or green lamp will
be displayed in the signal. The panel indication
shows red when the signal is red (and the lamp is
proved alight) and green when the signal is
displaying any ‘off’ colour, eg, yellow, double
yellow, green, flashing yellow, two white lights,
etc. No distinction is given to the signalman
regarding how ‘off’ the signal is, they just have to
use their skills of knowing what colour the
signals are capable of showing to work it out.
Automatic signals generally do not have
indications, although those with panel
replacement switches have a white and a red
lamp to indicate whether the replacement
switch has been used or not. In the case of these
being lamp-proved the red appears in the signal
in the same manner
as if it was a
controlled signal, but
in the non-lamp-
proved ones the red
is offset from the
signal.
Points are displayed
on the panel and all
shown in their
‘normal’ position (a
small gap is left
between the
‘normal’ and ‘reverse’ routes, with the ‘normal’
route being shown in continuous black. Each set
of points is provided with an individual switch at
the top of the panel for operation separate from
the route-setting system. Around these switches
are lamps for ‘normal’ (white, for which the
switch it turned to the left), ‘reverse’ (white, for
which the switch is turned to the right) and
‘locked’ (red, in the centre). The centre position
of the switch leaves the points free to be set by
the route-setting system, in sympathy with the
routes called by the signalman. In most cases,
the points will remain in the position they were
last called to until they are required in the
opposite position, unlike on a lever frame where
the points are put back to normal after a train to
keep a tidy frame. When the points are out of
correspondence with their controls neither
normal nor reverse lamp is lit, and also the white
lamps in the track diagram immediately either
side of the points flash alternately. It is normal to
see this for four or five seconds while the points
are in the process of moving in response to the
signalman moving the individual switch or
setting a route.
The method by which the signalman sets routes
on the panel follows the ‘entrance-exit’ principle
(NX). This means that the signalman selects
where he wants a route to be set FROM and
where TO, the eNtrance and the eXit, using the
panel controls, and the route-setting system
deals with everything in between. It is not
necessary, like it would be on a mechanical lever
frame, to operate all the points to the correct
position before clearing the signal; this happens
automatically. This switch is operated by turning
it through 90° so that the required arrow points
into the direction of travel.
More details always available at www.swindonpanel.org.uk
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Swindon Panel Preservation Each controlled signal will have a black rotary
entrance switch next to it. Main aspect signals
that lead to other main aspect signals will have a
red arrow that normally lies perpendicular to the
track pointing upwards. Ground position lights,
and main aspects with associated draw-ahead
signals underneath that read to other ground
position light signals, will have a similar arrow,
but in yellow and normally pointing downwards.
Each signal that forms a potential exit from a
controlled signal will have an exit button next to
it. Some signals can form entrances AND exits
and will be fitted with both, and some only one
or the other. Exits for main aspect signals, and
position light routes with route indications, use
red buttons. Exits for routes from independent
position light signals and those associated with a
main aspect but without a route indication, will
use a yellow button. Exit buttons that can be
used by either will be red with a yellow base.
In the process of “setting up” a route, the
signalman must match the colour of the
entrance switch arrow with the colour of the exit
button. To set a main aspect route the red arrow
is turned into the direction of travel and the next
available red exit button depressed.
If the route is free to be set, the points will be
commanded to move to the required position.
White route lights will commence lighting up
along the panel diagram, starting at the entrance
and moving along to the exit. The white route
lights will wait for each set of points to make
detection in the required position before moving
onto the next track circuit. When appropriate
the signal will change colour, which may be
immediate or may not, and the change in colour
will be indicated to the signalman by the panel
indication changing from red to green: ‘on’ to
‘off’. The signalman will set up a chain of routes
in this manner to allow the train to move across
the panel.
The approach of a train is indicated by the
progression of red lights along the panel, as each
track circuit section becomes occupied. When
the train passes the signal that we just set, the
signal will replace to danger automatically at the
required time, and this will be indicated in the
panel. As the train occupies each track circuit in
the route, the white lights will be replaced with
red.
As long as the route remains set, as the train
vacates each track circuit in the route the red
lights will be replaced with white lights. A single
white lamp flashes in the first track circuit
beyond the signal to indicate that the route has
been ‘used’. When the route is cancelled the
white lights, indicative of the route locking, will
die away behind the train, allowing other routes
to be set behind the train. The white lights, and
hence the route locking, will never die away in
front of the occupied track circuits, as this would
allow points movements ahead of the moving
train. A signal at the entrance of a ‘used’ route
will remain at danger until the signalman cancels
it and re-clears it.
More details always available at www.swindonpanel.org.uk
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Swindon Panel Preservation Some signals
are provided
with an ‘auto’
facility. In this
case the signal
will still return
to danger with
the passage of
a train, but
the route will
not be
considered
‘used’. The
first white
light will not
flash and, when the advancing train goes clear of
the controlling track circuits, the signal will start
to step up through its aspect sequence again.
This is useful where almost every train follows
the same route. In the case of Swindon Panel
examples of this are places like Uffington and
Bourton.
In most cases automatic signals are not able to
be controlled by the signalman. In the
exceptional cases where they are fitted with
‘replacement switches’ these function similar to
entrance switches on controlled signals. They are
coloured red, with a white arrow, and are not
used in association with an exit button. The
signal responds to the operation of the switch
alone. Routes from automatic signals are not
indicated by white route lights, which gives a
disjointed appearance as the panel is observed,
with controlled and automatic signals
interspersed throughout the area.
More next time!
Swindon Panel Research Conference The first research conference has just been
completed, during which the exciting new
Reference Centre was launched:
reference.swindonpanel.org.uk
This site contains all of our research output, it
already had a great deal of information on, scans
of documents, scheme plans, signalling notices,
etc, all relevant to the Swindon Panel area. The
site is publicly accessible, so anyone can view the
information on it.
We have initially remitted ourselves to the
period of history between the commencement
of MAS on the Swindon panel area and the
closure of the panel (or the present day). In the
future we may move on to document
information about the pre-MAS era of the
Swindon area.
Only authorised members are able to edit the
information on it the site. In order to be able to
edit information it is necessary to take part in
one of our research conferences where all the
relevant parts of the system are explained and
discussed.
The research is all done from home, so everyone
can do as much or as little as they like in
whatever amount of time they have available.
We have appointed some subject ‘owners’ who
will oversee and edit their own subject areas,
and also a co-ordinator for the Reference Centre,
Matt Callaghan.
If you are interested in signalling detective work,
please do join in. You’ll be very welcome and
helping in the recording of the history of our
panel.
More details always available at www.swindonpanel.org.uk
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Swindon Panel Preservation Many Hands Make Light Work
We are pleased to welcome Matt Callaghan to
the Society team: Matt will be looking after the
Reference Centre and ensuring that all our
research is presented in an efficient, consistent
and accessible way.
We are also pleased to welcome Mark Jones:
Mark is doing some ground-work for our new
public site that will be launched soon. The new
site concentrates on ‘selling’ the Society to
prospective members and supporters and will be
a lot more interactive and ‘real-time’ than the
current one.
We are also pleased to welcome Natalie Jones:
Natalie will be looking after all the booking for
Society events and outings, so expect to hear
from Natalie if you intend to join us on those!
There are may opportunities to get involved in
the progress of the Society, and here are some
of them we are looking for:
Membership Administrator
Our present Membership Administrator, James,
has moved to a new role in the Society in
developing our many necessary policies and
wider administrative tasks required. So we’re on
the look-out for a new Membership
Administrator. This role involves receiving
membership forms, sending email letters back to
the new member and adding them to our
membership system. Regular, accurate reporting
on the membership position is required. This
role is estimated to take about two hours per
week of work and can be undertaken remotely
so would suit any member, regardless of how
close they live to Didcot.
Health & Safety Advisor
There is a significant amount of H&S-related
administration to think about, and someone with
professional experience in these matters would
help us a lot. James has been doing some
excellent work for us recently devising some of
the policies and procedures we’re required to
maintain (accident book, etc), but it would be
excellent if this work could be underpinned by
someone with official qualifications in the Health
& Safety field.
This role would will require some work in the
initial setting-up of the policies, but would then
settle down as things become established. This
will require generally email discussion work with
us, and occasional face-to-face meetings.
Public Relations / Media Office
This role involves
creating press releases and maintaining a
list of magazines, websites and other
railway and local news agencies to
circulate them to.
Creating links with the general local press
in Swindon/Didcot, with the aim of
maximizing our exposure at key times of
news-worthy interest.
Co-ordinating our 'forum correspondents',
and trickle feeding less-formal information
for forum use, which is definitely a market
that could do with tapping more effectively
than we are now.
All of this work can be done remotely, so would
suit anyone, regardless of how close to Didcot
they live.
More details always available at www.swindonpanel.org.uk
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Swindon Panel Preservation eBay Sales Manager
We are forming a collection of donated items
that, realistically, are of more value to the
Society in their liquid form than solid.
We would like to appoint someone to deal with
the eBay admin for these items, listing,
monitoring and dealing when an item is sold.
This will raise funds for the Society.
There is likely to be about one item to list per
week on average. The person carrying out this
role does not necessarily need to be the person
in physical possession of the items.
This role would also suit someone who didn’t
necessarily live near Didcot.
We would also very much like to hear from
anyone with experience of dealing with or
involvement in :
* Acquiring shipping containers
* Public and Employer’s Liability Insurance
If you are able to help us with any of these,
please get in touch in the normal way!
Society Activities
We hope that arranging activities such as these
will be a good way for the Society to show you a
bit of ‘activity’ in return for your support and
membership. We have arranged visits to various
signal boxes covering a wide range of operating
technologies, mechanical frames (eg, Banbury),
panels (eg, Swindon), IECCs (eg, TVSC), etc. The
trips we arrange all involve visits to the
operating rooms of the signal boxes, an
explanation of the geography, methods of
working and local nuances and the opportunity
to take photographs and talk to the signalmen.
THAMES VALLEY SIGNALLING CENTRE
The TVSC tours were very well attended indeed.
Approximately 180 people attended over the
twelve sessions over the six days. All were given
a guided tour around the operating room and
explanation of the workings of the box, followed
by a hands-on session in the training simulator
room.
The TVSC has ten workstations, mainly IECCs,
controlling from Paddington to Uffington (the
fringe with Swindon Panel) and Heywood Road
(fringe with Westbury), apart from a small
section between Iver and Maidenhead which is
controlled from Slough Panel for the time being.
Desks have been laid out ready for Slough,
Swindon, Oxford, etc. Ultimately the entire
English Great Western will be controlled from
here, from Paddington to Penzance, Heyford,
Gloucester and Patchway. (Wales has its own
equivalent in Cardiff, and the Wessex area has its
own equivalent currently under construction at
Basingstoke.)
RADSTOCK NORTH & FROME MINERAL JN
We have a tour of the signal boxes of Didcot
Railway Centre planned for AGM day — 21st
June. No requirement to book ahead. See the
AGM section for details.
BRISTOL PANEL
Saturday 5 July, 10am and 2pm.
The Bristol panel visit is now fully-booked, plus a
reserve list. Apologies to anyone who wasn’t
able to get a place, please see our new booking
policy for how we have responded to the very
fast selling-out of our visits.
More details always available at www.swindonpanel.org.uk
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Swindon Panel Preservation Future Events
We are currently working out our calendar of
events for the autumn (we had previously been
keeping the autumn free for ‘panel-moving’).
These are still in the planning stages, so
unfortunately we’re unable to confirm exact
dates, but here are our outline plans.
SWINDON PANEL VISIT
We have organised two very successful visits to
Swindon Panel so far (in September 2013 and
March 2014), and, by popular demand, we are
organising some more.
We have a visit already organised for the staff
and volunteers of Didcot Railway Centre (so that
they can see what they’re getting!) in August,
and we hope to organise another ‘open’ one in
the autumn of this year. The open visit will take
the same format as previous open visits - starting
with a presentation about the activities of the
Society in the Network Rail meeting room, and
then visiting the panel itself afterwards. More
details soon!
NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM — LANCASHIRE &
YORKSHIRE SIGNALLING SCHOOL LAYOUT
Saturday 8 November, National Railway
Museum, York. 10am — 4pm. £10 per person.
We are delighted to be organising a Society visit
to the L&Y Signalling School at the NRM. This
model set, with fully-working signals, signal
boxes, and block system, was used as a training
aid for over 100 years, and is now preserved and
operated by a group of volunteer enthusiasts
(sound familiar?). This will be a hands-on visit for
Society members to operate the equipment
under the instruction of the local team. The
demos run in half-hour slots through the day,
and there are eight ‘roles’ for each demo. Each
attendee will be allocated two half-hour slots on
the layout during the day. At least one session
observing others operating is definitely
recommended for enjoyment and appreciation.
Being within the NRM, of course, will also
provide the opportunity for a good look round
the extensive collection. (We are going to try to
arrange access Borough Market Junction Box as
well while we are there - TBC). This event
arranged for Saturday 8 November (it is inside so
won’t be affected by weather). Society members
will have first priority to attend this event, for
which there will a £10 fee per person to cover
costs.
SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY SIGNALLING TOUR
We are currently arranging a Society visit to the
South Devon Railway. We are chartering their
heritage ‘bubble car’ for our private use for the
visit, which will focus on signalling and include
explanations of the signalling as we leisurely
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Swindon Panel Preservation move along the
line, stopping off
at each signal box
for a visit and a
look around.
We intend this to
be a ‘Society
Family Day’, which
we hope will be
successful enough to become an annual event.
The day will start at about 10am at Totnes (for
those arriving by train) or Buckfastleigh (for
those driving motor cars), and finished at
approximately 4:30pm. Attendees may also wish
to stay on for a fish and chip evening meal. The
signal box visit times will be allocated, but our
train will be running all day, so there will be
plenty of opportunity to ride about. This event
would be open to all Society members,
supporters, family and friends. There will be an
admission fee for this event, and we hope to
work out various ‘family’ prices, etc. More
information will be made available as plans are
confirmed. We hope to run this on either
Saturday 6th September or Saturday 11th
October, we will confirm as soon as we know.
EVENT BOOKING POLICY
Previous visits have became fully-booked fairly
quickly which meant that not everyone who
wanted to was able to attend.
We have adjusted our booking policy in that we
will now accept requests for places from
members and non-members. None of the
requests will be allocated a guaranteed place
until a nominated date ahead. At that point, if
there are more requests than places we will
draw names from a hat from those who have
requested a place. We will allocate a defined
number of places to non-members at the draw
stage. The draw will be far enough in rear of the
visit to allow people to make travel plans etc
(approximately 3 months). After the draw, it’s
first-come-first-served on the remaining places
(if there are any). I hope that is fair.
If you wish to express your interest in the NRM
L&Y visit or the Society Family Day at the South
Devon Railway then please let us know in the
normal way (there is no commitment when
expressing interest).
More details always available at www.swindonpanel.org.uk
Follow us at /SwindonPanel /SwindonPanel
Swindon Panel Preservation Membership
Membership continues to climb, which is
encouraging.
At the time of writing there are 121 members, of
which 46 (38%) are gold members, 33 (27%)
silver, and 42 (34%) are bronze. The proportion
of silver members has increased, this option
being more popular with our ‘passing trade’ at
the event stands.
The most popular post code areas of our
members are remain (although in a different
order) as ‘SN’ (Swindon, 17 members),
‘OX’ (Oxford/Didcot, 16 members) and
‘RG’ (Reading, 10 members).
111 out of 121 (91%) of our members are male.
7 (6%) are female. The other 3 are
‘unspecified’ (as they only provided a first initial I
could not tell). The proportion of female
members is increasing.
Membership records are maintained in HOPS. If
you need a new password, or have any problems
accessing to maintain your details, please let us
know.
If you are interested in the preservation of this
WR panel and method of signalling control and
are not yet a member, then your membership
contribution now will ensure the panel is around
for years and generations to come. Now is the
time we need to act.
MEMBERSHIP CARDS... ...Are now being distributed by post. If you
haven’t received your membership card by the
time of the AGM please let us know!
Not a Member Yet?
Membership subscriptions are available now!
There are three levels of membership, to cater
for everyone’s level of interest and depth of
pocket.
BRONZE membership is ideal for
‘armchair supporters’. We will
keep you up to date with all the
latest news and developments,
and welcome you to visit us in
the panel and try your hand at
operating it following reconstruction. Bronze
membership costs £5 per year.
SILVER membership is for the
slightly-more-interested or
actively involved supporter.
Silver membership costs £40,
and a free welcome gift of a
Swindon Panel liveried mug will
be all yours!
We are also offering a special deal on Silver
membership—buy three years in one go, save
£10! You will, of course, still receive your
welcome gift as per normal silver membership in
each of the three years.
If you feel you wish to give the
project a higher level of support,
when it needs it most in its
formative years, GOLD
membership is for you. Gold
membership lasts for life and
gold members will receive a Swindon Panel tie as
their welcome gift. Gold membership costs a one
-off payment of £200.
More details always available at www.swindonpanel.org.uk
Follow us at /SwindonPanel /SwindonPanel
Swindon Panel Preservation Spread the Word The Project needs as much exposure as it can get at the moment. If you know someone who might be interested in the Project then please tell them about it, everyone is welcome. There are also posters available on the website that you could display at your railway or workplace and clipart for forums etc. Generating interest really does directly translate into money for the work of the Society. Don’t forget we’re on Facebook and Twitter, so you can like/follow us on those websites for all the latest news, and also to bolster our web presence. Thanks everyone for your continued support!
Notes to Calendar Gala Stand events with (Priority) are our
priorities (one per month(ish), those show with
(Nice to Have) are our secondary. So if you are
working out if/when you can help, we would be
keen to fill the priority events first. Thank you.
$ - Advanced booking required, please contact us to book (see booking policy).
Society Events Diary Saturday 21 June 12 noon: Tour of Didcot RC Signal Boxes visit. 3pm: Swindon Panel Society AGM (See article in newsletter)
Saturday 5 July $ (Fully booked) Society Visit to Bristol Panel Box
Saturday 12 July (Priority)
Gala Stand — Swanage 35 Gala
Saturday 26 July (Priority)
Gala Stand — Llangollen 1960s Weekend
August (date advertised internally at DRC) DRC visit to Swindon Panel.
Saturday 09 August (Nice to Have)
Gala Stand — Swindon/Cricklade Steam Vintage
Saturday 16 August (Nice to Have)
Gala Stand — Chinnor Railway, 20th Anniv. Gala
August / September (date TBC) Open visit to Swindon Panel.
Saturday 30 August (Priority)
Gala Stand — Great Central Diesel Gala
Saturday 6 September (Priority if not at SDR)
Gala Stand — Mid Hants Diesel Gala
6 September OR 11 October (date TBC) $ Society Family Day — South Devon Railway Bubble Car event. (See separate article)
Saturday 02 October (Priority)
Gala Stand — West Somerset Steam Gala
Saturday 8 November $ National Railway Museum, Lancashire & Yorkshire Signalling School visit. 10am-4pm, York. £10 per person. (See separate article)
Thanks to Dave McCormick and James Denny for endless proof-reading!
More details always available at www.swindonpanel.org.uk
Follow us at /SwindonPanel /SwindonPanel