Point Rodding 1

I found I could never have to many photo's of point rodding, here is a selection that I found useful when setting out the rodding at Clutton.

You may ask why this is all so important. My interest is in modelling the prototype. What possible use is all this? By looking at how the prototype makes interlocking work, I can go some way towards improving the reliability of my models. How many models have you seen where the operator has to 1) set the route, 2) set the section switches, 3) set the signals (if fitted!). And then that person wonders why a train falls off, because of some conflict over the route. The prototype cannot allow that. And I think that is what I try to aim for in looking at incorporating some of these ideas into my model. Obviously, I cannot have actual point detection in 4mm scale, the forces involved are to small. But I can try to incorporate some level of secondary detection on the points.
Williton Down facing points Rodding at the down end facing point at Williton (West Somerset Railway). This is a later pattern facing point detection, as it has 4 rods going to the detector, 1 from each of the ponit blades, 1 from the lock, and one acting as a spacer (07/2000).
detection at Williton Shot of Williton from closer up.
rodding at Ffestiniog Standard stools mounted on wooden supports. (Festiniog 10/1975)
rodding at Ffestiniog Compensator mechanism, mounted by the platform.
compenstors at Ffestiniog Compensator mechanism at Ffestiniog. Note how close the rodding is to the track. A nice shot of the rusty state of the rodding, but remember this shot was taken in 1987, approx 25 years after the box had shut. This is round rodding, very rare these days. To my knowledge, there are only a couple of sites left with round rodding, the most extensive is at Williton as above.
compensators at Ffestiniog The same site, in September 1978. Note that the rodding stools are mounted on wooden supports. Quite rare. Mostly the supports are of concrete. The compensator is mounted on a steel plate, bolted to concrete supports.
Point Rodding at Tywyn Point rodding at Tywyn (I seem to have a lot of photo's of Tywyn), where it crosses under the down relief siding. I had a lot of problems coming across decent photographs of this situation (08/1972).
   
   
   
   
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This page last updated 24/04/02