Waterford/Rosslare Strand Railway reaches the buffer stops (again)!

I was watching the Rosslare to Dublin drivers eye dvd last night and decided to have a gander at the makers website(video125). On their forum i found an interesting tidbit. I can't vouch for the validity of the admin who posted or his IE 'contact' but it adds more weight to the sense that the decision has already been made to close the line.

"Sorry but it has already been decided that we will film from Waterford. I have known about the closure for some time because my IE contact asked me if I wanted to film it before it goes. I asked him what infrastructure there was to see and really all he said is a large viaduct. I said that viaducts are best seen from outside the train anyway so I will fly over the route in June or July. He thought that is an excellent idea.

Due to the one train a day situation I had doubted the viability of filming from Rosslare anyway. After all we have the infrastructure of Europort and the junction in the can already.

While on the subject of Ireland, are you aware that there is an 071 hauled railtour in April (24th I think) which will be hauling Mk3 coaching stock. After this the stock will be scrapped and therefore it is said that this will be the VERY LAST EVER loco hauled passenger train (other than the Cork service) ever to operate in the Republic. Sad eh? Personally, with what we know about railway preservation and the A1 that would never happen, I say never say never. That said there is NOTHING on the horizon."

http://www.video125.co.uk/forum/comments.php?DiscussionID=336&page=1#Item_0

Judgement Day wrote: »

lord_lucan - one suspects that Video 125 were probably tipped off from the Watchtower by that well known 'enthusiast' Reg Bryan. Interesting forum - didn't know it existed despite having visited the website recently myself.

I didn't know about the site myself. The aforementioned guy from the watchtower is credited on the dvd for their help so it's very possible.

Bond-007 wrote: »

There must be still a cabin or ground frame of sorts to control the points and signals for the section to Wellington Bridge?

Maybe the points and signalling at Rosslare strand is controlled from CTC like the rest of the Dublin-Rosslare route. I'm not 100% sure myself tbh.

Here we go:

"ROSSLARE STRAND SIGNALLING

The interface between modern computerised signalling and existing signalling systems always presents designers and operators with an interesting challenge. These interfaces have to be achieved within the existing Rule Book and Signalling Regulations, though usually with special instruction for the location. It is also important that the area of control of each signalman is clearly defined.

For the normal operation of Dublin-Rosslare Europort trains, there is no requirement for a signalman at Rosslare Strand. However, for a train to depart to or arrive from Wellington Bridge, a signalman is required at Rosslare Strand. To streamline the working of the station the signal cabin was moved from the existing 1908-built signal cabin to a new position within the existing station building. The space was once occupied by the parcel/goods area and is adjacent to the booking office. All Rosslare Strand controlled signals have the abbreviation RS. There are no turnouts or crossovers controlled by the RS signalman.

The new signal cabin houses, the Electric Train Staff Instrument, hand generator, OCS (One Control Switch) panel and the apparatus to prove to the signalling system that the ETS for the section to Wellington Bridge has been withdrawn from the ETS instrument. To provide a clear distinction between the area under the control of the signalman for the Rosslare Line and the Rosslare Strand signalman, Grange Big level crossing, just west of the station on the Waterford line, is designated the boundary. The ‘B’ pattern ETS tokens are engraved Rosslare Strand for Grange Big-Wellington Bridge.

The new panel is simple with just three signal switches and three axle counter reset buttons. All the necessary signals and axle counters are displayed on the panel. Two pairs of lights indicate to the RS signalman if a route to or from the Waterford line has been set by the RL signalman, while a third pair indicates if the gatekeeper at Grange Big level crossing has the gates locked ‘closed to the railway’ or ‘closed to the road’. An audible warning is fitted to the bottom right of the panel to call the attention of the RS signalman if a train is approaching or standing at the down home signal on the Waterford line. This does not activate for trains routed to and from the Dublin direction by the CTC signalman.

Method of operation When a train requires to proceed towards Wellington Bridge, the Rosslare Strand signalman obtains a staff with the permission of the Wellington Bridge signalman. This releases a starting signal control key from the ETS instrument. This key is then placed in the starting signal control lock and turned to operate an electronic switch, which allows signal RS2 to be cleared to a proceed aspect. The signalman then requests RS 3 and RS 2 signals. Signal RS 3 is a slotted signal, also with the identity RL 568, and will only clear to a proceed aspect if both the Rosslare Line signalman at Greystones has requested the route to Wellington Bridge and the Rosslare Strand signalman has requested the signal to clear. Signal RS 2 is the signal controlling entry to the section and is under the sole control of the Rosslare Strand signalman. Grange Big level crossing must be closed against the road and the Fortress keys inserted in the panel at the gates and the key turned in the starting signal control lock before RS 2 will display a green aspect. The Rosslare Strand signalman must also telephone, in the traditional way, the mid-section level crossings at Grange Big, Mayglass, Bridgetown Station, Muchtown, Nicharee, Ballyfrory, Kilcaven No. 1 and Kilcaven No. 2. He must have a response from each of the crossings before clearing RS 2 signal, otherwise he must caution the train when handing over the staff to the driver and then clear the signal.

When a train is approaching from Wellington Bridge the Rosslare Strand signalman requests RS 1 signal, which will only clear to a proceed aspect if Grange Big level crossing is closed against road traffic and the Fortress keys inserted in the panel at the gates and the Rosslare Line signalman has requested the route. RS R1 signal is a repeater for RS1 – in effect a distant signal, and will display either a yellow or double yellow aspect depending on RS 1. RS1, also designated RL 569, will only display a proceed aspect if the Rosslare Line signalman has requested the route into the station.

END OF AN ERA

The Rosslare Line project eliminated two signalling features, the last Electric Train Staff switching out apparatus and the last lock-up key in a lever frame. It is worth noting that Wicklow up home had the second last mechanical ‘repeater’ signal. Only Roscrea up home retains such a signal."

http://www.irrs.ie/Journal%20167/167%20Rosslare.htm

More here: http://rosslare-europort.com/cabin/

Rosslare to Limerick Junction is EUR 20 day saver return fare. How is that expensive?

If you paid EUR 90 you were fleeced.

How did you do that in one day?

The 0700 ex-Rosslare can only get you to Limerick Junction for 1412, and return train is at 1510. That doesn't give you much time in Thurles!!!

Re: bottles/filthy toilets etc - there is only one way that ever gets fixed and that is with shaming. If you have a camera in your phone, use it, then upload to flickr/youtube.