SteamRanger Heritage Railway

mynameismike · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 12:58 am

At the end of the day the current situation is that 621 and 207 are the main priorities and all efforts are being put into returning these to service.

Between the two of them they can handle just about anything SHR needs

Hopefully the imminent return of 621 will help boost passenger numbers.

"The Americans will always do the right thing... After they've exhausted all the alternatives." - Winston Churchill

mynameismike · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:10 am

steamhead · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:09 am

Any chance of an update on 621?

I noticed it was in steam on Saturday when I drove past the depot...

Thanks, Adrian

dylan · Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:13 pm

The signal at Strathalbyn is a permissive searchlight signal.
It permits movements over the High St level crossing (which has gongs), therefore shunting can take place in the yard without ringing those gongs.
When a train is prepared to depart for Mt Barker a button is pushed at the station building whixh sets off the gongs at South Tce, and once the train reaches South Tce xing the signal clears to yellow, and train can then proceed.
The signal was originally absolute as it also protected movements shunting at the silos. At the time the Up bluebird timetable was quite close to the goods service, so the signal wouldn't clear if a train was at the silos.
This is no longer applicable as SHR removed the track circuit on the Up side of the silo siding when that siding was closed.
Cheers,
Dylan

simont141 · Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:24 pm

monday · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:04 am

The signals certainly did survive well into the 90's, although, in the last days of the gates pre bridge the signals had been removed by SRHR.

The removal was a combination of factors - both salty atmosphere killing the electrics, and the number of times that the gates had been rammed by clods in their cars, which also buggered the actuating arm of the "sensor" to tell when the gates were opened vs closed.

The actual signal units themselves now live in a S&T "M" van in storage at either Strath or Mt Barker depot... But its doubtful that they will get installed again!

"I know. Let's have everyone who enjoys having obstacles in their life, which they can overcome, go this way, and everyone whose insecurities sabotage their potential to overcome those obstacles go that way. "

dylan · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:42 pm

The signals were numbered 113 and 114, and were installed (I think 1976)
They were interlocked with the hand operated gates to clear when the gates were open, as Monday pointed out they were removed in the 90s and replaced with "Stop Proceed Under Hand Signal" boards. The actual signal aspects are in an M van at Mt Barker depot, I think the masts are down at Goolwa depot, but they could be in the M van too. The gates are at Goolwa depot.
Also on the line signalling was as follows (excluding Mt Barker Jct):
Littlehampton had Up home and Distant signals, removed 1911. A train order signal was there 1926 - 1940.
Mt Barker had home and distant signals until 1931, and a train order signal until 1971.
Bugle Ranges had home and distant signals until 1926, and a train order signal until 1929. Also had a signal cabin, which ended up at Long Gully.
Strathalbyn had home and distant signals until 1931.
I think the train order signal lasted until AN withdrew them all, it was reinstated by Steamranger in 1992. Strath has had absolute signal 5040 (now 810) since 1972, it was converted to a permissive signal by the STA, so we wouldn't have to call in to train control if it failed.
Finnis had a train order signal until 1929.
I'm not sure when the home and distant signals were removed fro Goolwa, probably around 1978. The train order signal was removed in 1978.
Pt Elliot had home and distant signals until 1928, he train order signal was removed at that time too.
Victor Harbour had home and distant signals until recently, both were o the right hand side of the line. The bases on them rusted out I've heard, but the home signal has been reinstated on the left of the line, although it's on a bit of an angle as a truck reversed into it.
Hope this helps!

crisfitz · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 3:46 am

A dumb question no doubt, but not having been to Mt Barker yet.....

Looking at Google Earth there doesn't seem to be any turning facilities at Mt Barker. Is this the case, or is 621 run tender first back to xxxxx ??

By the way - excellent to see her in steam Very Happy

I hope to see her in late September .... fingers crossed Very Happy

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409 · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:23 am

There is a turntable located just beyond the northern end of Mt Barker station on the mainline. The turntable itself was originally located at Bridgewater and is an 85' steel powered unit.

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crisfitz · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:26 am

simont141 · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 3:59 pm

Guys - thanks for the help with the signals. I hadn't given it much thought before, but the posts here have cleared it all up. Ta.

Simon

www.prr.org.au

2001 · Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 2:22 pm

In yesterday's Advertiser (19/9) an item clearly states that loco 621 is returning to passenger service this Sunday.

That doesn't sound right, IIRC 621 made a passenger trip around mid-August, with photos submitted somewhere on this board.

So what is the true story ?

2001

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Pressman · Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 2:37 pm

621 also made the evening news during the week about it being back on the rails (the story even including footage of the august run!)

Cheers,
Tony
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85trainfan · Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:34 pm

daves_t186 · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 4:19 pm

just saw on the news that 520 hit a car! Did I imagine this?