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Post by jamesb on Sept 15, 2015 6:14:11 GMT
Yesterday, I was waiting for a train at roding valley at about 4pm ish. There was a local power cut and I could hear house alarms (which were obviously poorly maintained) go off and the station lost it's power supply - the emergency lights came on - and it lasted for about 10 seconds.
The power came back on and the indicator boards came back on. The woodford-bound indicator board came back but the hainult bound indicator board remained offline, with the clock displaying 00:00.
Then, no trains came! I was waiting for ages...
I pressed the help point and got connected to 'central control' - the man at roding valley didn't seem to answer it.
How could this signal failure be linked to a signal failure at woodford?
I noticed that the signals remained working so presumably their power supply is from a different place.
I wondered if the local power failure resulted in the signal failure? if so, how?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2015 10:19:19 GMT
The backup supply is usually either a UPS system or a local supply from the main power network. It should automatically switch from one to the other by a contactor which drops when loss of current is detected. It may of failed  |
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hobbayne
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Post by hobbayne on Sept 15, 2015 12:04:46 GMT
A lightning strike at Woodford knocked out the westrace system. The signalling was down for nearly an hour.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2015 14:53:49 GMT
A lightning strike at Woodford knocked out the westrace system. The signalling was down for nearly an hour. Ooooh crikey, that must have been fun. I wasn't watching the system, does anybody know what kind of services were running while they brought it back online? |
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Post by will on Sept 15, 2015 14:58:16 GMT
What is the function of westrace thanks ? |
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Post by domh245 on Sept 15, 2015 15:09:55 GMT
I believe that westrace is the interlock system, ie the system that makes sure that the route is set between signals, and that once the route is proved, it is locked in until released by the passage of a train or otherwise cancelled by the signaller
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2015 17:44:51 GMT
WESTRACE is the interlocking
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Post by jamesb on Sept 15, 2015 20:30:55 GMT
Well I never would have guessed that. There was a bit of drizzle but I didn't recall seeing lightening or hearing thunder. But the local station power supply at Roding Valley presumably comes from local power sources i.e. not the same place that the westrace gets it's power supply from? The signals remained on and I presume that the track remained live?
After a delay of 30 minutes or so everything more or less started running through again and then the service very quickly returned to minor delays and good service.
It was probably the most exciting thing at Roding Valley that ever happened!
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Post by whistlekiller2000 on Sept 15, 2015 20:51:05 GMT
It was probably the most exciting thing at Roding Valley that ever happened! Oh I don't know James, I recall a party I attended in Cherry Tree Rise, Roding Valley c.1980 that was, certainly from my perspective, very exciting.  Also, whilst I'm long gone, tut still lives in the locality so anything could occur!  |
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Post by jamesb on Sept 15, 2015 23:46:14 GMT
It was probably the most exciting thing at Roding Valley that ever happened! Oh I don't know James, I recall a party I attended in Cherry Tree Rise, Roding Valley c.1980 that was, certainly from my perspective, very exciting. Also, whilst I'm long gone, tut still lives in the locality so anything could occur! I grew up in walnut way! |
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Post by spsmiler on Sept 16, 2015 0:01:46 GMT
I've filmed trains there... quite a few times, including 1962 tube stock both when in passenger and running as the autumnal RAT. Its generally an easier station to film because there are few passengers to block the view!
Simon
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rincew1nd
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Post by rincew1nd on Sept 16, 2015 0:30:50 GMT
The signals remained on and I presume that the track remained live? The signals would remain on, but were probably exhibiting a red aspect having failed safe. I don't know much about Traction Current, but I suspect it would have remained live. |
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Post by Dstock7080 on Sept 16, 2015 3:43:23 GMT
The signals would remain on, but were probably exhibiting a red aspect having failed safe. I don't know much about Traction Current, but I suspect it would have remained live. If a power failure affected the signals circuit (the signal main) then aspects would be lost and train-stops would raise. Traction current and signal mains are fed separately from the local power supply to station lighting etc. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2015 4:03:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2015 12:29:59 GMT
The signals would remain on, but were probably exhibiting a red aspect having failed safe. I don't know much about Traction Current, but I suspect it would have remained live. If a power failure affected the signals circuit (the signal main) then aspects would be lost and train-stops would raise. Traction current and signal mains are fed separately from the local power supply to station lighting etc. Of course on lines with Trainstops |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2015 23:38:09 GMT
The backup supply is usually either a UPS system or a local supply from the main power network. It should automatically switch from one to the other by a contactor which drops when loss of current is detected. It may of failed A UPS would kick in automatically and only supply power for a short period between the failure original power supply and the backup supply coming on line. Almost certainly on the 3 phase AC side of the power supply the UPS would ensure the phase angle of the UPS was synchronised with the original power supply and during bridging to the back supply again match the phase angle. UPS' s are short duration devices to help facilitate the cut of of supplies in case of failure and them do the same in reverse when the original supply is being restored. XF |
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Post by jamesb on Sept 18, 2015 15:14:30 GMT
Just when I thought that things at Roding Valley could not get any more exciting, an ERU turned up along with a BTP van. Now suspended from woodford to hainult due to track fault.
Whatever next?!
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Chris M
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Post by Chris M on Sept 18, 2015 15:27:14 GMT
The system wide messages are advising the track fault is "at Woodford". I'm struggling to think what bit of track at Woodford could be at fault that would preclude the running of a service between there and Hainault but would permit a "good service" to operate Leystonstone-Epping?
A track fault at Roding Valley though makes much more sense in that regard.
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