Signals at Tondu

9/8/05

Tondu looking towards Maesteg and the former Ogmore Jct

Five lines converge at Tondu. The one from Bridgend enters from the bottom right and continues towards Maesteg. One from Newlands Jct (Margam) converges from bottom left, and two disused colliery branches diverge to the right.
The junction is now reduced to single track, but there are still semaphore junction homes on all five incoming lines...

The line to Newlands Jct, now only used as a diversionary freight route, with the junction signal on the right.

The view from the station platform, with the impressive junction signal from Bridgend (TU63).
Note the route indicator under the right-hand arm, to indicate which of the two branches the signal has been cleared for. The subsidiary disc reads to the goods loop on the right of the Maesteg line in the top picture.

Rear view of the same signal from the footbridge, showing the station platform and the line to Bridgend. The signalman has now pulled off for the local passenger train to Maesteg.

You can see that the brickwork of the signalbox has been modified at various times, including an extension at the far end.

The driver of the local passenger train collects the single-line token for the section to Maesteg.

This is the view from an overbridge a short way up the Maesteg line. Tondu's starter is just before the bridge, and the junction signal can be seen in the background.

Here is a closer view of that junction signal (TU9). You can also see the disc that controls the exit from the disused goods loop.

From the other side of the bridge, the line to Maesteg and the loop to up Maesteg signal (TU25).

The line towards Maesteg, and loop starter

25/2/06

This is Tondu's up outerhome on the line from Bridgend. It is a short way in advance of the platform at Sarn.

A winter view towards Newlands Jct. With the leaves off the trees, you can see there are in fact three signals for departing trains.

A closer view of the same. On the right, one of the lights of an elevated position-light limit-of-shunt marker can also be seen.

A face-on view of the junction signal from the Newlands Jct line (TU59).

The up outerhome from Newlands Jct (TU60). The disc controls shunting moves into the down (former platform) line.

With the leaves down I also discovered there are actually two splitting signals for the branch lines from the east.

At this time of year I was also able to glimpse the down outerhome on the line from Maesteg. The disc at its foot controls entry to the goods loop.

The following is a simplified track layout I have drawn up based on what I've seen on my last two visits, including signal numbers where I know them. This may not be completely accurate at this point in time, but should hopefully be a useful guide to the relative locations of all these signals.

Finally, here's a down passenger train arriving from Maesteg.