Over the past few months, our Permanent Way (P-Way) and Signalling & Telecommunications (S&T) staff and volunteers have been working together on a major project to replace the signal post carrying Signal 2A and Signal 1 on Platform 2 at Porthmadog Harbour Station.
The original wooden post had reached the end of its life due to rot, so the decision was made to replace it with a brand-new steel post that will serve the railway for many years to come.
Over the last 3–4 months, the S&T team has been working behind the scenes to design the new structure, source the required components, overhaul each part of both signals, carry out modifications where needed to fit the new post, and complete plenty of preparation and painting to ensure everything was protected and looked its best before installation.
The project had a firm deadline with our ‘Extreme Steam Extravaganza’ Summer Gala taking place between 19th – 21st June and so having Signals 1 and 2A out of use would have significantly restricted train movements within the station. Without them, every train needing to move within Platform 1 would have required the signaller to walk down the platform and authorise movements with a green flag, adding considerable time and workload during one of our busiest events of the year.
Once the new post and refurbished signals were installed, testing began at 15:00 on Thursday 19th June and thanks to the hard work and dedication of the team, the signalling was fully commissioned and operational in time for the last departing train at 21:45 that evening, just in time for the start of the gala!
A huge thank you to everyone involved in planning, designing, restoring, installing and testing the new signal. Projects like this are only possible because of the commitment, skill and enthusiasm of our staff and volunteers.
If you’re interested in getting involved in similar projects, head over to our Volunteering page to find out more.
Dros y misoedd diwethaf, mae ein staff a’n gwirfoddolwyr o’r timau Ffordd Barhaol (P-Way) ac Arwyddion a Thelathrebu (S&T) wedi bod yn cydweithio ar brosiect mawr i ailosod y polyn sy’n cynnal Arwydd 2A ac Arwydd 1 ar Blatfform 2 yng Ngorsaf Harbwr Porthmadog.
Roedd y polyn pren gwreiddiol wedi cyrraedd diwedd ei oes oherwydd pydredd, felly penderfynwyd ei ddisodli â pholyn dur newydd sbon a fydd yn gwasanaethu’r rheilffordd am flynyddoedd lawer i ddod.
Dros y 3–4 mis diwethaf, mae’r tîm S&T wedi bod yn gweithio y tu ôl i’r llenni i ddylunio’r strwythur newydd, dod o hyd i’r holl gydrannau angenrheidiol, adnewyddu pob rhan o’r ddau arwydd, gwneud addasiadau lle bo angen er mwyn iddynt ffitio ar y polyn newydd, a chwblhau gwaith paratoi a phaentio helaeth i sicrhau bod popeth wedi’i ddiogelu ac yn edrych ar ei orau cyn ei osod.
Roedd gan y prosiect derfyn amser pendant gan fod ein Gala Haf Sioe Stem Rhagorol’ yn cael ei chynnal rhwng 19eg a 21ain o Fehefin. Pe na bai Arwyddion 1 a 2A wedi bod mewn gwasanaeth, byddai symudiadau trenau o fewn yr orsaf wedi’u cyfyngu’n sylweddol. Hebddynt, byddai pob trên oedd angen symud o fewn Platfform 1 wedi gofyn i’r signalwr gerdded i lawr y platfform i awdurdodi’r symudiad gyda baner werdd, gan ychwanegu’n sylweddol at yr amser a’r llwyth gwaith yn ystod un o’n digwyddiadau prysuraf y flwyddyn.
Ar ôl gosod y polyn newydd a’r arwyddion wedi’u hadnewyddu, dechreuodd y profion am 15:00 ar Ddydd Iau 19eg o Fehefin. Diolch i waith caled ac ymroddiad y tîm, roedd y system arwyddo wedi’i chomisiynu’n llawn ac yn weithredol mewn pryd ar gyfer y trên olaf i adael am 21:45 y noson honno, mewn pryd ar gyfer dechrau’r Gala!
Diolch yn fawr i bawb fu’n rhan o gynllunio, dylunio, adfer, gosod a phrofi’r arwydd newydd. Dim ond diolch i ymrwymiad, sgiliau a brwdfrydedd ein staff a’n gwirfoddolwyr y mae prosiectau fel hyn yn bosibl.
Os oes gennych ddiddordeb mewn cymryd rhan mewn prosiectau tebyg, ewch i’n tudalen Gwirfoddoli i ddarganfod mwy: https://www.festrail.co.uk/volunteering/
