1 minute read
The Science Society
from Oct 1952
by StPetersYork
about all the conductors, who showed admirable technique in their arrangements of the pieces and moulding of the different voices, while the accompanists added colour to the performances.
The judge gave us an interesting commentary flavoured with humorous anecdotes, and finally managed to inform us of his decision, which was :—
Part Song. Unison Song. Total.
1. Temple
83 75 158 2. Rise 74 60 134 3. School House ... 70 57 127 4. Manor 65 55 120 5. Grove ... 63 52 115
In this competition we felt the great progress which School music has made in the past few years, and look to even greater successes in the future. We heartily thank Professor Hutchings for making the journey from Durham to judge (and make a success of) the competition. P.G.T.
A VISIT TO YORK SIGNAL BOX
Members of the Science Society paid a visit on Wednesday, 23rd July, to the new signal box at York Station, which is by far the largest of its type in the world.
The box, built over portions of Platforms 13 and 14, is more than 200 feet long and follows the platform curve. Its main feature is an illuminated diagram, 50 feet long, of the track in and around York Station. It forms four adjacent sides of a decagon and is operated by four men. Below the diagram is the control panel, an array of knobs and switches which operate the points and signals along the track. The box does the work previously exercised by seven separate mechanical boxes (including one with 295 levers in one row—the longest in the world) which have now been demolished. Indeed, points and signals previously requiring a whole signal box operated by two men are now controlled by less than a square foot of controls on the panel.
When the operator selects a route for a train, he adjusts the points and signals and a white light appears on each section of the route on the diagram. As a train moves along the track, red lights appear on the diagram. The track signals return to danger automatically when passed and the points are progressively freed as the train leaves them. If points fail to operate a warning white light flashes on the control panel. In the event of a fault in the signalling system the signals indicate danger.
