The Bristol Railway Archive

This is one for Alex I suspect.
Recently spotted at pilning and Bathampton small flat square items bolted to inside of one rail, usual a pair side by side with wire running off to the trunking. I guess some kind of new axle / train sensor. The one at Bathampton is only connected to a drum of cable.
Secondly, why is there every so often a length of cable running in center of sleepers for a fair length which then finnishes and re-appears again a way along track. Does it pick up head code from transponder and sent to signal panel to show which train is where.

nickt wrote:This is one for Alex I suspect.
Recently spotted at pilning and Bathampton small flat square items bolted to inside of one rail, usual a pair side by side with wire running off to the trunking. I guess some kind of new axle / train sensor. The one at Bathampton is only connected to a drum of cable.
Secondly, why is there every so often a length of cable running in center of sleepers for a fair length which then finnishes and re-appears again a way along track. Does it pick up head code from transponder and sent to signal panel to show which train is where.

Hi,

Sorry, I haven't been paying enough attention to this forum recently!

There's a Hot Axle Box Detector in the Pilning area on the Up Tunnel, that could be what you've seen in the Pilning area. However, there isn't one of these at Bathampton. Could you provide a photograph? I might be able to tell then!

The length of cable running down the centre of the 4' sounds like an ATP infill loop. You can probably find more information elsewhere on the internet but basically it updates the train's ATP before he gets to the signal allowing the driver to power up sooner.

Alex

stumpytrain wrote: There's a Hot Axle Box Detector in the Pilning area on the Up Tunnel, that could be what you've seen in the Pilning area. However, there isn't one of these at Bathampton. Could you provide a photograph? I might be able to tell then!

"I think" I have seen a treadle on the up line next to the exit of the loop, perhaps this is what you have seen?

These are grey boxes typically 6x6inches with a wire poking posistioned so that the wheel flange depresses the paddle.

Perhaps used for clearing the signal at the end of the up loop?

stumpytrain wrote: There's a Hot Axle Box Detector in the Pilning area on the Up Tunnel, that could be what you've seen in the Pilning area. However, there isn't one of these at Bathampton. Could you provide a photograph? I might be able to tell then!

"I think" I have seen a treadle on the up line next to the exit of the loop, perhaps this is what you have seen?

Blown up from a much larger image

[img=http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/599/001vxw.jpg]


These are grey boxes typically 6x6inches with a wire paddle poking out positioned so that the wheel flange depresses the paddle.

Perhaps used for clearing the signal at the end of the up loop?

I have emailed photo of device to Alex and Rich to cast their expert eyes upon. for any one else device is bolted to rail on loop behind pilning station, you will see it when you cross bridge andstart to go down steps. It is on furthest rail from platform behind shelter

i have noteice the small yellow boxes r new

yes about the last 4 weeks give or take.