We are creating a new, hands-on visitor exhibit at Didcot Railway Centre to help visitors learn about railway signal engineering and how it has kept the travelling public safe for over 175 years.
The building at Didcot is almost ready to receive the panel. Fitting out - painting, plastering, electrics remain to be done. The panel itself is now no longer used by Network Rail and is available for us. The challenge will be removing it from its current location and into the new building.
Once it is fully up and running we hope it will inspire young people to take an interest in signal engineering and engineering in general.
We will move the panel to Didcot Railway Centre, into a purpose-built new building. We will wire it up to a computer which will simulate the passage of trains. Guides will be needed to help explain the panel to visitors.
Swindon Panel Society has around 170 members. New members are always welcome, Anyone can contribute, whatever skills they have, for example:
- building skills
- explaining to visitors about the project
- social media/ publicity
- fundraising
For a brief introduction to our project, why not listen to this BBC interview (start at 02:25)