Signalling expert seeking recruitment

[mikeyranson]

Hi all,
I'm writing from the UK and seeking contact information of agencies, engineering companies within railway signalling in South Africa. I have spent months on google but not finding out exactly what i'm seeking. I'm guessing the terminology is slightly different in SA than the UK.
About me: I'm 20 years served, mainly overland network in both mechanical and electrical signalling. I'm not maintenance but installation of all new signalling works. I have also had much experience in relay works which is where they replace track and we dis-connect and re-connect the signalling cables and circuits. I am licensed in my work under the IRSE which is reconised worldwide but not so much in SA.
I have visited SA on three occasions and have taken an interest in the railways where i can. I have spent most of my time in Natal and on my travels come across the signalling systems used throughout SA. Most of the signalling does seemed to be based from the UK system, especially the mechanical signalling which i saw in Knysna. The cranks, channelling and ground frames looked exactly what i have worked on in the past in the UK.
I'm currently working on large resignalling project on London Underground which is all computer based signalling.
I'm looking at re-locating to SA from the Uk and finding work with an established signalling company there. I would be seeking long term work in view of getting myself established and also being able to offer my skills to those willing to learn from me which i learnt from the OLD UK British Rail which was all based on skills and quality. Unfortuently, all this is almost gone and not many of us old school around to carry on these works.
Any help or information would be gratefully appreciated.

[John Ashworth]

Mikey, welcome to the FOTR Forum. I hope one of our members will be able to help you with the information you request.

[Dylan Knott]

Yes, which mechanical installation did you see at Knysna? As far as I know its always been operated with hand thrown points and no semaphores. George still has its semaphore posts and frame, but all long since out of use.

[mikeyranson]

Yes, which mechanical installation did you see at Knysna? As far as I know its always been operated with hand thrown points and no semaphores. George still has its semaphore posts and frame, but all long since out of use.

What i saw was in the hotel there about 200 yards up from teh level crossing near the waterfront. The hotel was railway themed and in the back they had the ground frame and some cranks and set up. I never had much chance to take it in when i was there. I was driving througha nd stayed there overnight. Arrived late and left early the following morning. I guessed it was retrieved from the railway when it was decomissioned and maybe replaced with electrical signalling.
Are there many areas still using semaphore and mechanical signalling in SA. I'm planning on re-visiting next year now as would be doing alot more tarvelling .

[Dylan Knott]

Interesting. Pls take photos of it next time u are there.

Yes down here in the Western Cape we have quite a few stations still using lever frames, van schoor tokens and semaphore signals:

Van der Stel - Van Schoor, Lever frame and semaphores.
Somerset West - Van Schoor, hand thrown points with indicators. Lever frame still in situ but out of use.
Firgrove - Van Schoor, lever frame and semaphores.
Faure - Van Schoor, lever frame and semaphores.
Lynedoch - Van Schoor, lever frame and semaphores.
Vlottenberg - Van Schoor, lever frame and semaphores.
Stellenbosch - Van Schoor, lever frame and semaphores.
Koelenhof - Van Schoor, lever frame and semaphores.
Klapmuts - Lever frame and colour lights.
Paarl - Lever frame and semaphores.
Hugeonote - Lever frame and semaphores.
Dal Josafat - Electric frame and colour lights.
Kraaifontein - Lever frame and colour lights.
Brackenfal - Lever frame and colour lights.

[mikeyranson]

Thanks dylan.
I googled Van schoor. Had no idea what it was. Found a video and seen high speed exchanges of teh token. We have similar here in the UK but few and far between now. They are being done away with on the working network. The preserved society's around the country still use these as part of there preservations. I sold a few that i had recovered years ago from when we were updating the networks to electric signalling.
The UK is obsessed by Healtha nd safety and has taken all the fun out of everything in the UK now. You need to be certified to breath almost. They would never wear high speed exchange of tokens. Are you aware of any missed tokens and the driver walking back to collect. Long stopping distance for atrain at that speed. Good to watch the videos.

[Luca Lategan]

Well Mike, as Dylan will be able to tell you better, there is a big need in the Cape to maintain the 'old' mechanical systems, reinstate and extend them. If you are willing to work for the state owned MetroRail company, they will be stupid to not take you in...

[mikeyranson]

Thanks Luca,
If the monthly pay packet was good and rewarding then i would be over ina flash. I have emailed all the companies i can find and nobody except siemens and alsthom have replied. Both siemens and alsthom say they will keep my details on file but you get this all the time.
I will try again though. Are there continuing problems with mechanical signalling in these areas. What of any upgrading to TBTC or aspect signalling at all? Any one have any news/gosip/inside info at all.

[Greg Hart]

hey hey.. hold on.. We need him here in Durban :) Capetown you guys know how to look after your things, not like here in sunny Durbs ;)

I think its just a "budget" thing is to why they (metrorail) don't maintain our 4 stations worth of semaphore's here in Durban,

CHeers guys

[mikeyranson]

If you know of any strings to pull, durban is good for me. Durbs is my prefrence. My partner is from pinetown and looking to stay close to family and friends. cape town is good to though. In fact, anywhere is good for me. It's only a flight between cities.

[Greg Hart]

Here's a clip


http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video. ... 2377987606

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Great set of videos' Greg