R E S E A R C H C E N T R E
Artefact Database: A downloadable table showing significant preserved historic signalling & safeworking items. <coming soon>
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Research Topics:
- Ordinary Staff - Ground Frames - Signal Cabins - Train Order Working |
Basic Line Section History:
Signalling & Safeworking Annual Review:
Reference Data: Timetables
Reference Data: Other
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Signalling & Safeworking Timeline:
1865 - Ordinary Staff & Ticket in use when Southern & Western Railway opened. 1865 - Station semaphore signals in use when Southern & Western Railway opened. 1882 - First signal cabins erected. 1898 - Electric Tablet introduced. 1903 - Electric Staff introduced. 1930 - Electric Tablet decommissioned. 1930 - Smash Signals introduced in Queensland. 1932 - Trailable Facing Points first tested. 1954 - First electrically operated level crossing protection with flashing lights and half booms installed at Newmarket in Brisbane. 1971 - First CTC commissioned on Moura Short Line and section of North Coast Line. 1971 - First use of Train Order as a safeworking system in Queensland on the Goonyella Line. 1972 - Proceed Order Working introduced in Ordinary Staff and Electric Staff territory. 1979 - Automatic Warning System (AWS) introduced with electrification between Ferny Grove and Darra - first AWS in Queensland. 1993 - Last Electric Staff section in Queensland (narrow gauge) decommissioned. 1994 - DTC introduced as a trial and later became permanent and a standard throughout Queensland. 2004 - Last sections operated under Train Order Working converted to DTC. 2014 - DTC used for the first time on an electrified line in Central Queensland. An existing coal branch line electrified and DTC retained as the safeworking system. 2015 - 150 Years of Signalling & Safeworking in Queensland. 2017 - European Train Control System (ETCS) equipment trialled in Brisbane. |
Ordinary Staff:
Detailed research is taking place to identify and record the types of Ordinary Staffs remaining in use, or preserved in museums and private collections. Accurate measurements are being made to try and identify any remaining non-standard Ordinary Staff shape-colour combinations, and learn more about the green coloured staffs used in Queensland. Click here to visit the Ordinary Staff Research page. Ground Frames:
This is an ongoing project to document all existing ground frames in Queensland and research others that previously existed but have been decommissioned and removed. Written documentation is scarce and usually not detailed enough to determine what type of ground frame was installed. Photographs showing ground frames are needed to further this research - please contact us via the Home Page. Signal Cabins:
Another ongoing project to document all signals cabins that have existed in Queensland. The present focus is on the earlier signal cabins that existed between 1882 and 1908, before Weekly Notices were issued to document such changes. A recent discovery is a small signal cabin at Warwick which was introduced due to the Mail Trains crossing there and pre-dates the two large signals cabins which existed later. The two small current cabins (both decommissioned) represent the final stage of interlocking at Warwick which has had 5 signal cabins during its history. |