Situated in pleasantly landscaped grounds, close to the “first tee” of a small golf course, LSMEE have some 1028 feet of 3½ and 5 inch gauge (Aluminium) raised track with steaming bays, a tunnel and pneumatic traversers for entering and leaving the main track. The facilities include a clubhouse with the all-important tea making equipment and a small workshop for member’s use. The steaming bays have both compressed air and 12 Volts DC for steam raising.
The track has eight colour light signals (S1 to S8 in diagram above). The section of track through the tunnel is fitted with a track circuit to operate signals 1 & 2 automatically. Signal 2 is fitted with a route indicator which gives a driver advanced warning of the position of the south traverser. The remaining signals are operated by limit switches fitted to the north, south and steaming bay traversers.
The north traverser is manually operated by the Track Marshal but the south traverser has been recently modified to allow driver operation. When leaving the steaming bay each driver is given a key (token) which he can use to operate a switch fitted to the wall of the signal box; this switch operates the south traverser. If the driver wishes to pick up passengers, coal, water etc. he must run into the station loop. To achive this he will stop at the signal box and use his key to operate the traveser. (After entering the tunnel any train will be occupying the track circuit and will therefore be protected by the RED signal, at the mouth of the tunnel, for the whole of the time it is stopped waiting for the traverser to move.)
This system was installed primarily for safety reasons, to force drivers into the station to pick up and set down passengers, but it also has the advantage of reducing the number of stationary trains on the main line (watering, coaling etc.) thus allowing other drivers a less interrupted run. Additionally the track marshal will be able limit the number of trains in circuit at any one time by controlling the issue of keys.
John Hunt using his key to change the state of the south traverser
A Photographic Tour of the Track
If you have not visited our Eggborough track before, you may be interested in this photographic tour of the site.
The clubhouse is pictured looking to the east with the steaming bays in the foreground and the power station in the background. To left of the of the clubhouse is a pleasant grassed picnic area with trees providing shade. The A19 Selby to Doncaster main road runs north to south behind the camera.
Seen here is the hydraulic lifting table in use by Tony Wall, loading his locomotive into his car at the end of a unning day. Just visible in the background over the table storage shed is the straight section of track from the first curve to the footbridge. This section of track rises at 1 in 200.
A view of the steaming bays looking towards the embankment that hides the A19. The service track leaving the picture at right centre leads to the loading/unloading area. The traverser to be seen centre right, between the service track and the first steaming bay, allows transfer of locomotives from the service track to any steaming bay. The "weighbridge" for determining axle loading is situated in the service track just beyond the traverser. A further traverser may be seen centre left as part of the track. This enables locomotives to be transferred from the bays onto the "station loop".
In the foregroung is the "main line" to the left and the "station loop" to the right with the north traverser visible under the signal gantry (signals 6 & 7). To the right of the traverser is the carriage shed above which can be seen the elevated first tee of the golf course that extends around the power station grounds.
A general view of the north end of the site with the carriage shed just visible in the background behind the trees. Also behind the trees to the right can be seen the straight rising at 1 in 200 between the first curve and the footbridge.
The footbridge curve and part of the back straight. Although the curve under the footbride is level, once into the straight the track again rises at 1 in 200.
The back straight viewed in the direction of travel from the footbridge. The highest point where the grades change from 1 in 200 ascending to 1 in 100 decending is about eight track sections in front of the train. The white access road over the tunnel and the signal box can be seen above the parked cars to the left of the frame.
After the back straight the track curves right into the tunnel, under the access roadway, and emerges by the signal box (centre). Signal three can be seen just to the right of the signal box. In theforeground is the south traverser with the "main line" on the right and "station loop" to the left. The track between the south and north traversers is level.
Signal 8 is the latest addition to the system. It provides early warning (in addition to signal 5) that the steaming bay traverser is in use therefore there is a "hole" in the station loop track. This signal shows a flashing red cross and provides an audible warning sound.