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Llangollen Railway. Corwen Signal Box

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Thompson1706, Aug 2, 2018.

  1. Thompson1706

    Thompson1706 Part of the furniture

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    We are currently restoring the former Weston Rhyn signal box for use at the new Corwen station.
    We are short of a few of the brass rollers for the sliding windows. Does anybody out there have any or know of a supplier, failing which we'll have to get them made new.
    The box will hopefully be moved from Carrog yard & craned onto the new build locking room
    in the next six weeks.

    Bob.
     
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  2. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    How long ago is it that we recovered that box? Must be at least 25 years?
     
  3. Breva

    Breva Well-Known Member

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    We had that issue with Broadway box, but eventually found some.

    Have you tried the rollers from sash windows?
     
  4. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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  5. Breva

    Breva Well-Known Member

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  6. Thompson1706

    Thompson1706 Part of the furniture

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    It only cropped up today when our joiner was surveying what was needed.
    We could investigate the sash window rollers, but the metal runner is only 3mm thick.
    In answer to Martin, I was thinking it was about 1992/3 when we recovered the box.

    Bob
     
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  7. Southernman99

    Southernman99 Member Friend

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    You could almost use the wheels from the older type of BR Mark 1 through door which used an inverted U shaped channel and brass wheels.
     
  8. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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  9. FearOfManchester

    FearOfManchester Member

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    What is the base made of at corwen?, doesn't look like red/blue brick.
     
  10. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

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    Looks like breeze block to me.

    Maybe there will be an outer skin of red/blue brick?

    Keith
     
  11. Thompson1706

    Thompson1706 Part of the furniture

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    The locking room is concrete blocks, sitting on a concrete base under which is a storage room built off the base of the embankment.
    The concrete blocks will be clad with boarding machined to the same profile as the existing box.

    Bob.
     
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  12. FearOfManchester

    FearOfManchester Member

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    So why was the decision taken for concrete blocks? The original base at Weston Rhys was brick, The corwen signal box was also brick.
     
  13. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    Why bother with an item that wont be seen.
    Timber cladding.
    I am fairly certain that if blocks had been available when built originally that bricks would not have been considered.
     
  14. Ken_R

    Ken_R Member

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    Ironmongery Direct do a range of Sash Wheels. Different sizes and different materials.

    https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/search?searchtext=sash wheels
     
  15. John Webb

    John Webb Member

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  16. Ken_R

    Ken_R Member

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    Screwfix are alright, but only for items that pass through the door quickly. A few of us have a Corporate trade card with them so, we 'make do' where possible. Toolstation probably has a better range but will only set up accounts for Schools, Public, or Governmental bodies.

    Whilst I've never had occasion to purchase from Ironmongery Direct [yet], they are highly rated within various trades. Their catalogue is probably easier to follow than their website, and is free upon request.

    Getting back to the previously mentioned, Mk1 Compartment/Through door. The wheels are on ball bearings and, after 50/60 years, will invariably exhibit some 'resistance'. Once I get them moving with a bit of lubrication, I then 'introduce' them to a wire wheel in an angle grinder.:) Spinning them up to about 2000 rpm for a couple of minutes, gets them 'singing' and certainly clears out the 'carp' whilst polishing the bearings for the next half decade.;)
     
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  17. Martin Adalar

    Martin Adalar New Member

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    I doubt it, signal boxes were built in brick with English bond for strength because the walls had to support the massive weight of the frame and a double skin of modern brick doesn't have that kind of strength. I hope they don't make the same mistake they made with Glyndyfrdwy box where they built it with a concrete floor at ground level like it was a house or something, that is what prevents them from operating the gates with a mechanical gate wheel.
     
  18. Martin Adalar

    Martin Adalar New Member

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    1991
     
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  19. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    It was never planned to operate the gates with the wheels. The then Signalling Engineer didn't like wheel operated gates, said they were more trouble than they were worth, so it was never intended to be installed. Nothing to do with foundations.
     
  20. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    really pleased to see an old box being restored . looking forward to seeing it come back together
     

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