About Swindon Panel Society
The Society has preserved Swindon Panel, an original Western Region "turn push" type panel from 1968.
Swindon Panel Society Description
There are seven original Western-Region "turn-push" type panels left in operation. Network Rail has plans to close most, if not all, of them within the next few years.
A small group has convened with the aim of preventing this panel design, that has been the staple panel of the Great Western since the 1960s, passing into history unpreserved.
Our examination of the feasibility of doing this has, so far, produced the following results:
* Our attention is focussed on Swindon Panel, which is in good condition and has a good number of interesting and varied infrastructure features on it.
* Network Rail have agreed to our obtaining the panel when it is taken out of use in May 2014.
* The plan is to remove the panel from the current Swindon Panel building (which is to be demolished) and reconstruct in a secure location off-site.
* We have agreement for us to use purpose-built, Simsig-driven signalling simulation software to build (and people with experience to program) a simulator back-end for the Panel. This will enable it to function and be operated realistically, for the interest and education of those interested in railway signalling and MAS technology.
* Our final plan, when we've achieved this, is to start 'winding the clock back' and reinstating some long-gone infrastructure on the panel fascia, back to a period in about 1982-84, when the layout was at its most interesting and most complex! We ultimately intend to supplement the exhibit of the panel with other explanatory items such as examples and explanations of relay interlockings, colour light signals, junction sequences, remote controls, etc. That's all a little way off though.
We are still very much in the early stages, but we believe we are able to say with confidence that the technical and physical aspects of the project overall are feasible.
Reviews
During the panel open day on 1 September, a young visitor considers the prospect of looping at train at Uffington.... or will it be ok to Steventon?
Perhaps, following his visit to Swindon Panel, in 15 years he'll be making the equivalent regulating decisions on a real panel!
[Photo DRC / Frank Dumbleton]
A great training session was held last weekend, thank you very much to our first group of demonstrators! Much positive feedback has been received, which is excellent, as well as a lot of ideas, suggestions and feedback for future improvement, all of which will be mulled over and implemented where appropriate.
The development of the panel exhibit is marching on as it has been doing behind the scenes for several years now - Some furniture has been ordered for the panel room tod...ay, including some metal locker cupboards that will go on the back wall under the number plates to store leaflets, merchandise, tuck shop, etc and also display items and merchandise on top. Also on the way is a metal and glass display case which is destined for the small wall on the left as you enter the panel room, which will display items of MAS signalling interest such as relays, ATP components, piltoman's armband, Annett's lock, SPRS instrument and key, etc, etc.
An additional operating day on 24 NOVEMBER has been added which has induction/training day potential. Demonstrators please feel free to 'click to volunteer' on the roster, or let me know by reply if you are available for that day - full details have been circulated by HOPS to the current list of demonstrators (please let me know if you haven't received them). More dates will be added as resources permit.
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Excellent work everyone!
Official panel open day in full swing
Some new dates have been added to the Swindon Panel demonstrating calendar: http://www.swindonpanel.org.uk/activities -2018/
Come and visit us and have a go at working a real signalling panel from the 1960s (but with no real trains, so it doesn't matter if you make a mistake!)
... Everyone, of all ages, is welcome!
[Please note these dates are not all 'training' dates, so if you are awaiting the announcement of new training dates, these will be announced soon.]
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Nearly all the demonstrating/training dates advertised yesterday have now been filled up (there is one slot left on Saturday 22 September.) More dates will be advertised soon, especially once the first tranche of members are trained up and operating! Thank you to everyone for their support!
Swindon Panel Days will be held on September 1, 22, 23, 29, 30. These are for demonstrating the panel to public visitors, and for training demonstrators in how to do so.
We will contact members who have already expressed an interest in demonstrating the panel, but if you want to beat the queue, please contact Danny or Jamie to book in to one or more dates.
Training will consist of how to switch the system on and off, how to operate the panel, and (most importantly of all!) ho...w to interact with public visitors. Training will be led by one of the central SP team, and each member can take as long or as little training as needed. When both you and we are happy, you'll become qualified as a Swindon Panel 'demonstrator' to demonstrate the panel, or (again, only if you and we are happy) a 'Person in Charge'. There is always a person in charge on duty when we are open and that person co-ordinates the 'demonstrators'.
Please note that, to ensure quality training, only those members who are 'booked in' will be operating the panel all day and receiving 'official' training. However, these days are open to public visitors and anyone can 'drop in' at any time.
[Photo by Frank Dumbleton]
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A young visitor enjoys operating Swindon Panel last weekend.
We're preparing for the SPS Members' Weekend and AGM at Didcot this weekend!
The panel will be in operation for everyone to operate all weekend, as well as lots of opportunity for chatting and catching up with friends.
See you there!
... (Members please show your membership card at the ticket office on arrival.)
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Wiltshire Air Ambulance is called out to all kinds of emergencies, from road traffic collisions to cardiac arrests, child-related emergencies to horse-riding and cycling injuries. It operates for up to 19 hours a day and attends, on average, three potentially lifesaving missions in that time across Wiltshire and neighbouring counties too.
A few years ago the air ambulance attended a serious accident involving a Swindon Panel signalman who was taking part in a motorcycle outin...g with other railway friends and colleagues. Tragically, he subsequently passed away.
Many Swindon area operations staff raise money for this and other Air Ambulances through their charitable activities, and continue to do so today.
For several years until the panel closed, one small method of doing this was the Swindon signalmen decided to run their panel tuck shop in aid of the Air Ambulance. And in our very small way we are proud that our SPS tuck shop in the panel room at Didcot continues to be in aid of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.
While we're never going to raise a million pounds this way, every little really does help keep the Air Ambulance in the sky, so please eat chocolate when you visit the panel!
https://www.wiltshireairambulance.co.uk/d onate/
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A video taken by a visitor to our opening weekend:
https://youtu.be/hLGkdrG9uk0
Farewell to Oxford Panel, one of Swindon Panel's cousins from the 1960s and 70s, and good luck to all the signalmen who worked there.
Oxford was the only WR HW panel with push-push route setting (all the others had turn-push). The push-push arrangement is slightly more space efficient on the panel control tiles (and there wasn't a lot of space to spare on Oxford Panel).
The panel controlled from Radley in the south to Heyford in the north, including several interesting metho...ds of block working on the branches: TCB single line with a slot to Ascott-under-Wychwood SB, a clever variation of Tokenless Block between Oxford North and Bicester Town Station (later Marylebone IECC), and No Signalman Token between Kennington and Morris Cowley.
Photo by Phil Bellamy
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Hullavington loop.