Swiftsure at Rolvenden

A good workout at Rolvenden signal box today. Plenty going on with a three train service to Bodiam supplemented by three round trips to Wittersham with the Extinction Express and several shunting moves in and out of the engine yard and the carriage shed.

The Extinction Express is a child orientated trip in the company of various dinosaurs to entertain families this half term. All the trains were very popular but I need convincing about the value of this sort of enterprise.

The basic operation of the signalbox is fairly straightforward. The challenges arise when various shunting moves need to be fitted in between the service trains as each move tends to be unique and needs to be carefully thought through.

On the side, while everything else was going on I was being trained in the dark art of point winding. We have some points that are moved by electric motor rather than mechanical rods. Should the motor fail the points need to be changed by winding with a handle.

Which I why I was trackside for todays blip of Swiftsure leaving Rolvenden with a train for Bodiam.