Search

The article describes Invensys Rail's Westlock safety-critical computer based interlocking system for railways. It highlights the key features of the system and its ability to control an area of railway greater than traditional Solid State Interlocking (SSI) systems. It details the installation of the Westlock system as part of major signalling programmes across Great Britain, Australia and mainland Europe.

The article offers information on the Simis IS interlocking system from Siemens.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including one by Alan Williams on the open access operators on the East Coast main line, "SSI Triumphant" and another by Ian Walmsley on train liveries.

Discusses interlocking signals in model railroads. Use of interlocking signal; Wiring for interlocking signals; Tips for installing interlocking signals in model railroads.

The article focuses on the use of European Train Control System (ETCS) by Rail Alliance in construction of railroads in Germany, and discusses use of digital interlocking technology in them.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Gallery" in the December 2015 issue.

The article explores the origin and design of some couplers for railroad cars including the Link and Janney knuckle couplers invented by Eli H. Janney who received a patent in 1873 for his works, the American Railway Association (ARA) Type D coupler adopted in 1916 and ARA's Type E (1932) and Type H (1947) couplers. It notes that the ARA Type F became an alternate standard interlocking coupler for freight cars in 1954. Overview of the couplers are also presented.

The article offers step-by-step instructions for how to develop a locking chart.

The article offers information on how to operate the interlocking plant.

The article presents author's views regarding importance and advantages of interlocking towers that were previously made of wood on a concrete foundation which provides a solid base for the mechanical interlocking machine. Topics include facts related to construction of ordinary mechanical interlocking plant on the basis of engineer, Don Ball's HO layout, use of cast iron and steel to the concrete foundation and use of couple of hotbox detectors that checks passing trains.

The article provides information on the development of digital interlocking control system for railroad signals for smooth running of railroads in Germany.

The article presents an analysis of the power box at Bletchley power which supervised the southern end of the West Coast main line in Great Britain through the use of route relay interlockings controlled by entrance/exit (NX) panels. It discusses the original electrification plan of the West Coast line. It also discusses the retention of mechanical boxes and the commissioning of northern power boxes.

A photograph of the Boston & Maine interlocking tower in Waltham, Massachusetts is presented.

The article reports on the latest generation of the Westlock computer-based interlocking that was installed by Invensys Rail as part of the Reading Southern Lines signaling project.

The article reports that Signalling Solutions has upgraded the geographical interlocking at Hitchin to a Solid State Interlocking (SSI). The Hitchin SSI encompasses the route between Stevenage and Biggleswade on the main line and to Letchworth on the Cambridge line in England. Area control will be preserved at King's Cross power signal box (PSB). However, transmission between the new Hitchin SSI and King's Cross PSB will use the Westronic 1024 panel processor system.

The article reports that Network Rail has commissioned Signalling Solutions Ltd. (SSL) to replace the relay interlocking at Great Chesterford which controls the rail line between Cambridge and the Stansted triangle in England. It highlights the scope of works which includes the recovery of existing local control panel at Great Chesterford, the installation of Solid State Interlocking (SSI) in the relay room, and the transport of existing power monitoring equipment.

The article presents information on the Westlock interlocking solution from Invensys Rail, available in the British market in 2011.

The article offers information on railroad junctions in the U.S. It says that junctions are locations where two or more railroad lines intersects and train movements in these crossings are protected by tower operators through lever-operated interlocking systems which aligns and locks train routes. It also presents several photographs of railroad junctions like Duplainville in Pewaukee, Wisconsin which has the north-south Soo Line Railroad Co. track that cross the east-west Milwaukee Road line.

The article reports on the commissioning of mini-centralised train control (CTC) of the rebuilt line between Athenry and Ennis in Ireland. It states that all line signals between Athenry and Ennis now come under remote control. According to the article, Mini-CTC control stretches as far as Down signal GL423, which is situated just south of Ennis station.

The article reports that iron-ore producer Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara AB (LKAB) has commissioned an AlisterCargo interlocking system from Funkwerk IT in its marshalling yard in Kiruna, Sweden. It states that the work done by Funkwerk includes the provision of an electronic interlocking system with an operations control-centre and trackside equipment. According to the article, the system facilitates faster handling of marshalling trips because several sets of points can be switched at the same time from a work-station in the control centre.

The article reports that Signalling Solutions has installed the Smartlock 400T interlocking system at Three Bridges Area Signalling Centre in Great Britain. The interlocking system will be used by the Alstom Transport and Balfour Beatty Rail joint venture to control the Horsham area. The system is capable of controlling an area the size of eight Solid State Interlockings (SSIs).

The article reports on the acquisition of a European Train Control System installation with telecommunications and interlocking systems which is worth €36million. It is indicated that the Bulgarian State Railway (BDZ) will buy the entity from Thales and Alcatel-Lucent which will be used in the 150-kilometer line between Plovdiv and Svilengrad.

The article reports on the installation of automated interlocking systems at the depots and marshalling yards of Danish Railways-Banedanmark in Denmark. The security systems are already functional in Østerport and Odense, wherein locomotive drivers from the cab can set routes in the depot just by pushing the button without the hassles of manual setting applications. Depot operation has become fast, efficient and safer more than ever.

Reports on the new signaling and control system commissioned by Westinghouse Rail Systems at Carl Berners Plass station on the Oslo Metro in Norway on April 15, 2006. Importance of the signaling and control system installation to the Oslo Metro Ring project, Ringline; Applications of the Westrace interlocking of Westinghouse.

The article reports on the extension of the blockade between Chadle Hulme and Crewe in England to allow resignalling between Sandbach and Wilmslow with Ansaldo's adaptive cruise control computer-based interlocking. The level of complexity of the computer-based interlocking project is described. The article also covers the reasons identified by Network Rail for the delay in the completion of the project.

Reports on the extension of the Ansaldo Signal System in Manchester, England to include the control areas of Sandbach and Wilmslow. Features of the computer-based interlocking system deployed by Ansaldo; Expertise on signalling to be provided by Ansaldo to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link in behalf of Union Railways; Number of units from CSEE Transport designed around the integrated interlocking system to be installed by 2006.

The experience of recent years in the field of signal cable, have shown the Importance of coordination between the various system components into one complete system. The develop-ment of electronic interlocking demands a higher requirement on the attached peripherals, and thus also in particular to the signal cable. To overcome these new requirements it is impor-tant to develop and to improve the signal cables continuously. By the Introduction of the longitudinal water- and athwart waterproof, filled signal cables Is completed a further step by the development of signal cables to ensure a high availability of the complete system of interlocking. This will increase the quality of service and the contentedness of the customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that technical difficulties installing high-technology computer based interlocking signaling systems could increase the cost of expanding rail capacity. This was disclosed by Network Rail chief executive John Armitt as he warned that unless Great Britain successfully applied overseas signaling technology to reduce train headways, passenger growth would have to be met with more expensive measures like radio systems and longer trains.