A long term problem with the Facing point lock rodding has been corrected after two weeks work at Wootton during the latter part of February and early March. The rodding at Wootton was unusual in that the point rodding ran on a different route to the Facing Point lock. The facing point lock (FPL) rod came out of the signalbox and immediately turned left and ran down alongside the siding and then crossed the tracks to make its way down to the point. The point rod in contrast went straight over the track to the platform then turned left to run down the other side of the track along side the single line to the point. This in itself should not have been a problem, but unfortunately the clay formation on the north side of the line in this location has proved very troublesome, shrinkage and movement causing the rod run to sink and distort over the years.

The old Facing Point Lock rod run shows how distorted it became with the earth movement.

To allow the rod run to be doubled more room was needed on the platform side of the track and this meant moving the starting signal wire and pulleys to another position and increasing the base for the rod cranks under the platform. The concrete supports (called horses) on which the cranks and baseplates fit were dug out and an additional baseplate for the new crank fitted. Much of the rod run had to be changed from single rollers to double and slued to a better position. A compensator was already fitted in the point rod but it was found to be in the wrong place, the FPL run had not had a compensator at all. A compensator does what is says, compensating for expansion and contraction due to weather conditions, allowing movement to take place but not affecting the position of blades of the point. For obvious reasons the blades need to stay safely set in either direction. The position of the compensator crank is determined by working out the amount of push in a rod run to the amount of pull and then putting it in the mid point of the two. The FPL had equal push to pull originally so it did not need to have a compensator fitted, but with the new run one was now required.

The new compensators sit side by side on the concrete horses.

The old FPL run was dismantled and the horses and baseplate which supported a crank that took the rod run under the siding and single line point were dug out and removed to be re-used of the compensator cranks. Much cursing of the Wootton clay was made during the digging out operation, the stuff sticking to the shovel like glue. The horses were moved to their new position and after bedding in the baseplates and new compensators were fitted. Meanwhile work was continuing on the rodding and we had the whole lot connected up in a few days. Some adjustment of cranks was needed to make sure that all were moving in the correct manner and final tweaks were made to finish the job correctly.

P Way Manager Dave Walker dismantles the old rod run.

Finally a working check was made of all the workings of the system and a gauge check to ensure that everything was in order. The starting signal wire run having been moved needed a new pulley wheel fitting alongside the loop and wires were cut and fitted to suit. Again final checks were made to ensure correct operation. So, although the signalling system has not been changed in anyway, we have sorted out a long running problem that we hope will make it a more reliable system.

New crank on the Facing Point Lock run sits over the top of the original point crank.

Following the work, we asked Viv Orchard (the ex S&T supervisor, recently retired) to inspect the work and give a report on the working and installation. He wrote the following:

At Last Wootton signals get on safe ground

When I was S&T Supervisor I was always concerned at the way the ground moved at Wootton, creating the need for terrible mechanical disadvantage to be employed in order that the rod for the points and Facing Point lock would get to their destination and still work. As many will testify, operating the levers was hard work and quite often things did not happen, as they should. Cases occurred when footplate crews have had to weald a shovel to help things along! Recently I visited the site at Wootton and to my delight a massive change has taken place. The old rod run, which was distorted left, right and up and down following the old siding, has been recovered. A new and more sensible run now goes straight out from the signalbox to the recess under the platform and then turns and runs in a straight line right to the points and Facing Point lock. What a great improvement! Operation should be much easier and reliable in the future albeit the bar associated with the Facing Point lock will always be heavy, but there is a knack to operating that. Well done all concerned!

There are still a few little jobs to sort out, some highlighted in Viv's report and we will get these done as time permits. Many thanks to Phil Boxall, Mike Lightbown and Chris Adams, all stalwart volunteers that helped immensely both Pete Corby and I in the speedy installation of this improvement scheme.

The completed rod run heads towards the point.