Islineclear3_1
Established Member
I'm planning a visit later in the year. Are there still working semaphores?
TIA
TIA
The Wherry Lines were resignalled in 2018/19.I'm planning a visit later in the year. Are there still working semaphores?
TIA
I'm planning a visit later in the year. Are there still working semaphores?
TIA
and all controlled by Colchester PSBAll gone.
There are some other traditional signalboxes still in use controlling colour light signals e.g. the ones on the Ely - Kings Lynn line (which have doubtless survived partly because they control level crossings)
I had a feeling that there was one left somewhereYou’ve just reminded me - there is one semaphore left on the Kings Lynn line, KL8, the signal that protects the Middleton Towers branch. It’s photographable from the level crossing opposite the signal box. I believe it’s up for renewal soon.
Thanks - that makes sense. So they've survived 30+ years since electrification.They survived because the Kings Lynn electrification went horribly over budget and the resignalling of the line was therefore descoped to fund completion of the wiring. There is still a long blank space on the Ely panel in Cambridge PSB.
Just out of curiosity do you know what caused it to go so over budget? It would seem to be a relatively straightforward job with no tunnels, few overbridges and some quite extensive single track.They survived because the Kings Lynn electrification went horribly over budget and the resignalling of the line was therefore descoped to fund completion of the wiring. There is still a long blank space on the Ely panel in Cambridge PSB.
Electrification in the Fens is not straightforward because the railway lines "float" on the fenland, there is nothing rock solid on which to fix the overhead lines. Both the overhead line and the and the trackbed move because what they "float" on expands and contracts depending on rainfall, or lack of it.Just out of curiosity do you know what caused it to go so over budget? It would seem to be a relatively straightforward job with no tunnels, few overbridges and some quite extensive single track.
The pantograph head lost contact because the overhead line was deflected from its intended position due to a combination of long term movements of the overhead line support mast foundations and the force of the wind at the time of the accident.
Just out of curiosity do you know what caused it to go so over budget? It would seem to be a relatively straightforward job with no tunnels, few overbridges and some quite extensive single track.
Or was "this will be a simple job" lead to a false idea of what it should cost and hence budget was too low?
Don't forget it was Cambridge - Kings Lynn, so included the more complex Ely area. I can't remember if the project included the feeder station at Milton (on the northern edge of Cambridge) or if that had been part of the Bishops Stortford - Cambridge electrification project.It would seem to be a relatively straightforward job with no tunnels, few overbridges and some quite extensive single track.