PHOTO REPORT: NEW 'UP' STARTING SIGNAL FOR NORDEN - 9th August 2011

News Item & Photo Report from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 17th August 2011
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright as noted
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The planting of the new up starting signal at Norden on the morning of Tuesday, 9th August 2011. Photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

A new 'up' starting signal has been installed at Norden 'park and ride' station as the Swanage Railway prepares for the prospect of regular trains running to Furzebrook, Worgret Junction and Wareham.

The Swanage Railway's official photographer & press officer Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied over 80 photos of the installation during the morning of Tuesday, 9th August 2011

To see the full set of Andrew's photos, which can be viewed as a slideshow, please scroll down to the bottom of the page.

The new up starting signal at Norden lies on the ground ready for planting on the morning of Tuesday, 9th August 2011. Photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

The work by the infrastructure and signalling departments took place early on the morning of Tuesday, 9 August 2011, with the digging and delicate craning operation starting at 6am and being completed before the first trains of the day started running.

The new 1950s BR Southern Region-style 'up' starting signal has been installed on the Norden station side of the level crossing over the access road for the Swanage Railway's Norden 'park and ride' car park and the Wytch Farm oil field.

The new starting signal will allow trains to run from Norden and on to the current charter train-only section of Swanage Railway to Motala where the Network Rail runs to Worgret Junction and Wareham.

The new up starting signal at Norden is hoisted into position for planting on the morning of Tuesday, 9th August 2011. Photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

The new 'up' starting signal post and signal used to be the old 'down' home signal for Swanage station - located by the Swan Brook bridge and the Victorian engine shed.

To be initially operated by a ground frame, the new 'up' starting signal - located at the Wareham-end point of the Norden station run-round loop - will eventually be controlled by the signal box at Corfe Castle station.

The new up starting signal at Norden is hoisted into position on the morning of Tuesday, 9th August 2011. Photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

The new signal will be operated with a new light and barrier level crossing planned for where the Norden 'park and ride' and Wytch Farm oil field access road is crossed by the Swanage Railway.

Carrying out the signal installation work were Tony North and Dave Cobb of the Swanage Railway's signalling department as well as Barry Light and Richard Fry of the Swanage Railway's infrastructure department.

It was Richard who operated the road/rail digger which dug the hole for the new 'up' starting signal before carefully craning it into position.

To view a larger version of any photograph on this page, just click on the thumbnail photograph to view a full size version, and then click on CLOSE or 'x' on your keyboard to close it and return to this page.

The photos on this page can also be viewed as a slideshow - just click on any image and then click on the enlarged to continue scrolling through the photos - Next and Previous links on the right and left of the photos - or use the CLOSE link or 'x' on your keyboard to exit