196810 – Hickson & Rees – Liverpool-Campbelltown: Resignalling

Part 1 Introduction

The electrification of the sections under discussion was approved in September 1965, The approval covered two particular sections – the metropolitan goods lines from Canterbury to Rozelle and the main southern line from Liverpool to Glenlee. In the first section a distance of seven miles was involved covering lines which are used purely for goods traffic, mainly for the haulage to the terminals at Rozelle of wheat and coal for shipment overseas and bulk loading of various goods by forwarding agents, The signalling on the line consisted of automatic signalling from Canterbury to Wardell Road Junction, the signals being of the upper quadrant type and the track circuits being of the A.C, double rail type without impedance bonds, The section from Wardell Road to Rozelle consisted of Tyers three wire block instruments which still remains as the method of working. Automatic signalling is approved for installation on this section, On the Canterbury-Wardell Road section light signals were installed and impedance bonds added to the double rail track circuits.

The Liverpool-Glenlee section covers a distance of 16 miles and includes Campbelltown which is being developed as a satellite city, The section of line between Liverpool and Campbelltown serves mainly residential areas which are developing at a rapid rate due to the move of population to this area. The electrification was extended beyond Campbelltown to Glenlee for the sole purpose of moving the coal from the loading facilities at Glenlee by electric locomotives through to Rozelle for loading either directly into ships or onto stock piles. The signalling existing on this section of line was upper quadrant automatic signals with D,C. track circuits between Liverpool and Ingleburn, a location midway between Liverpool and Campbelltown. On the section Ingleburn-Campbelltown automatic signalling of the searchlight type with D.C. track circuits was in use.

Campbelltown Yard consisted of mechanical points and a mixture of mechanical and power operated signals controlled from a mechanical machine, The signalling between Campbelltown and Glenlee consisted of upper quadrant D.C, signals with D.C, track circuits. The interlocking at Glenlee is controlled from a mechanical machine.

Part 2 Introduction

Changing traffic requirements which determined the need for electrification also necessitated provision of a sophisticated signalling installation at Campbelltown and a push pull route setting relay interlocking was chosen to replace the mechanical interlocking which had been in use for many years.

The route setting relay interlocking is the first of its type in New South Wales and it is understood that it is the first “push push” type console in Australia.

The following paper deals with the project and some of the problems encountered in design and construction.