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South Wales Signal Box Visits - Day 2 - 13th December 2019

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One-Train-Working staffs for Neath & Brecon to Cwmgwrachf<br>[&copy; Nick Jones 2019]

The new Port Talbot Parkway London end mega-footbridge.<br>[&copy; Nick Jones 2019]

Turn-Push controls on Port Talbot panel are showing their age.<br>[&copy; Nick Jones 2019]

Port Talbot Signal Box is on the Down side of the South Wales Main Line - here viewed from the Up side.<br>[&copy; Nick Jones 2019]

The non-crossing controls with a nice view of Port Talbot Parkway station, the Down Relief is left and Up relief far right.<br>[&copy; Nick Jones 2019]

Port Talbot Parkway main panel.<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

The Jersey Marine triangle section of the main panel, the Neath & Brecon single track line is bottom left of centre.<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

The Hendy triangle end of Port Talbot main panel, the single track bottom right is the Central Wales Line.<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

Margam Knuckle Yard - the Ogmore Vale Extension Goods line to Tondu is bottom left and under aT3 possession.<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

What time is the next train to Brecon, chaps? Looking at the track there hasn't been a train recently. A 'boxful' (collective noun) of signalling aficionados on Neath Riverside station platform with Neath & Brecon Junction signal box. The South Wales Main line is on the overbridge behind.<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

The loop taken from Neath Riverside platform, looking southwest (it was once double track)<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

Some detail from Neath & Brecon Junction Signal Box diagram.<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

Most unusually there is not a white lever (spare) in sight here.<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

The single line staffs for the two branches.<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

Neath & Brecon Jn - taken from the brake van of a Jersey Marine to Craig-y-nos quarry freight on 12 Apr 1973. The other Neath Riverside platform is right.<br>[© Ian Mortimer 1973]

Pantyffynnon with more sidings; a coal train from Betws drift mine - off the GCG branch. The mine opened in Feb 1978, finally closing in Jul 2003 - BLN is a mine of information. (7 Mar 1988.)<br>[© Ian Mortimer 1988]

From Pantyffynnon station looking south, the train has just left for Swansea. The GCG branch trails in from the left and the facing connection beyond is the Up (Wernos) Washery Siding.<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

Pantyffynnon looking north towards Llandeilo with the manual gates beyond. Note the remains of the other platform; it was once double track from Swansea Victoria.<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

Pantyffynnon looking north towards Llandeilo when it was double track from Swansea Victoria.

The two sections of the frame in use with the Central Wales line desk between them. The GCG branch staff is bottom left.<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

The impressive Central Wales Line telephone concentrator desk; middle top is Llandeilo loop, bottom right is Knighton.<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

The signalling diagram at Pantyffynnon..<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

Tondu the red light, bottom right, is a ghost train - the Margam line is actually under a T3 possession.<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

A train to Maesteg, with Llynfi Goods Loop alongside and Garw Loops round to the right; Tondu station and Bridgend are off bottom right.<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

Detail from the signalling diagram at Tondu.<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

A train to Maesteg, the driver is about to collect the single line token.<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

Inside the lofty Tondu signal box.<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

If only!<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

Back at Pantyffynnon Level Crossing: Annett's Key release (one for each gate) in the station building. When the level crossing gates are closed to road and open to rail both Keys have to be inserted here and are electrically locked in, to release the signals to be cleared for a train. The only way the crossing keeper can extract both keys from the two gate locks is by securing both gates to road traffic - this is portable interlocking, simple but effective and no risk of software failures!<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

One of the two Annett's Key (the horizontal brass disc is the head) in a gate lock.<br>[© Nick Jones 2019]

The Llandeilo section Key Token Instrument at Pantyffynnon Signal Box.<br>[&copy; Nick Jones 2019]