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 some of which can be seen in the following pictures. The section of track through the tunnel is fitted with a track circuit to operate signals 1 & 2 automatically. Signal 2 at the tunnel mouth 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. These pictures were taken from the numbered locations shown circled on the track plan above.
Picture 1 shows a locomotive running under the footbridge. This is approximately the location of the original station.
Picture 2 sees a locomotive almost at the highest point on the track where the gradients change from rising at 1:200 to descending at 1:100.
Picture 3: A train approaches the tunnel mouth. Signal 2 is visible on the left of the track about 20 feet ahead of the locomotive, the vertical white bar just below the signal lights indicates to the driver that the south traverser is in the "main line" state.
Picture 4: The same train leaving the tunnel, a fine example of BR 9F Evening Star in 5 inch gauge. Signal 3 with its feather can be seen just behind the first passenger's head.
Picture 5: A NG style locomotive crosses the south traverser on its way into the "station loop".
Picture 7: A general view of the steaming bays which have recently been paved and concreted providing users with a cleaner and tidier area in which to work. Signal 5, to the right of the water tower, the original signal warning drivers that the station loop has a "hole in it" where the transporter has been removed to add a loco to the station loop. Signal 5 has now been moved from its position between the tracks and fixed to the water tower. Signal No 8, located on the wooden division board in the middle of the station platform, provides advanced visual and audible warning that the steaming bay transporter has been removed from the station loop.
