This is taken from the local appendix North 1961 and describes the safeworking equipment and procedures for the Clarence river Bascule span. The bridge carries both road and rail traffic. At the time the north coast line was electric trainstaff, it is now CTC. The bridge no longer lifts, the safeworking equipment remained in place long after the lifting span ceased to lift, it was removed recently during a refurbishment of the bridge. 1. Equipment 1. Intermediate staff instrument at bridge for the section South Grafton to Grafton. 2. Lever E on bridge to bolt lifting rails. 3. Telephone at bridge connected to South Grafton & Grafton. 4. Pilotman's releasing lock at Grafton and Pilotmans duplex lock at South Grafton (for pilot working only). 5. Warning gongs fixed at side of roadway, 35 yards from southern gate and 50 yards from northern gate. 6. Warning boards fixed as follows: a. Near gongs, and inscribed "Stop if Gong Sounds". b. Near pedestrian footway gates, and inscribed "Warning - Lift Span - Keep outside gates when gong sounds c. Attached to roadway gates and inscribed "Stop - Bridge closed - Span open" Intermediate Staff Instrument Lever E, which operates the lock bolt for the lifting rails is released by raising the Staff in the intermediate Staff Instrument into the head of the instrument. The Staff is so interlocked that it cannot be completely withdrawn from the instrument. When it is required to raise the Staff into the head of the instrument the method of procedure is as follows: i. The bridge operator must telephone the Signalman at South Grafton and ask for permission to operate the bascule span. ii. The signalman at South Grafton will then send the "Intermediate Staff Required at Bridge "signal (3 pause 1 pause 3) to Grafton and Grafton must acknowledge by repeating the signal iii. The signalman at South Grafton will then notify the Bridge Operator by giving one long ring on the telephone that permission is about to be given fo a staf to be widthdrawn from the interediate instrument. iv. The signalmen at South Grafton and Grafton must imediately hold down simutaneously on the bell key of their respective instruments for the section South Grafton to Grafton until the galvanometer needles return to the normal position. v. On receipt of the telephone ring, and whilst South Grafton and Grafton are holding down, the bridge operator must raise a staff carfuly into the throat of the intermediate instrument until the galvanometr needles deflect. vi. If both galvanometer needles are deflected in the same direction the Staff must be raised into the head of the instrument and the circuit breaker turned and held over for 3 seconds. vii. The signalman at South Grafton must then be notified by telephone that a staff has been raised into the head of the intermediate instrument. 1.1 Note before giving permission for the intermediate staff to be raised the signalmen must satisfy themselves that the respective starting signals for the section South Grafton - Grafton are at "Stop." 2. Working_of_Bascule_span. As far as practicable arrangements will be made for vessels to pass under the bridge at certain definite times and the bridge operator must proceed to the bridge in ample time to avoid delays to river traffic. In cases where notice is not given the bridge operator, if elsewhere engaged must proceed to the bridge as quickly as possible. When the master of a vessel requires the span to be opened he will sound three long blasts on the whistle or siren, in accordance with the Maritime Services Board regulations. The procedure in opening and closing the bascule span will be as detailed hereafter: 2.1 To_Unbolt_Lifting__Rails 1. Raise the staff in the Intermediate instrument into the head of the instrument. 2. Pull over lever E. 2.2 To__Open__Bascule__Span. 1. Close snap switch controlling navigation and indicating lights (top switch in the lighting cabinet). 2. Close main oil circuit breaker. 3. Give aknowledgemnet light to waiting vessel. 4. Sound Gongs. 5. See that roadway is clear of traffic then proceed to lookout towers on estern and western sides of bridge and see that footways are clear of pedestrians. 6. Close northern and southern gates. 7. Again proceed as laid down in 5 above 8. Open hinged leaf on roadway. 9. Open rail lift. 10. Open bridge lock. 11. Place the master brake switch in the brake off position, depress emergency control button and move controler handle in "open" direction to extreeme end of travel. Note - The emergency control button must be kept depressed during the whole movement of the Bascule span. Failure to keep the button depressed will result in power being cut off. To restat after such a failure it is necessary to first return the controler handle to the "off" position depress the control button, and operate in the usual manner. 12. When the span is fully open, release the emergency button, rstore the controller handle to the "off" position and place the master brake switch in "brake - on" position. 13. Signal waiting vessel in required direction. 2.3 To__Close__Bascule_Span 1. Switch off navigation signals. 2. Place master-brake switch in "brake-off" position, depress emergency control button, and place the controler handle, as far as possible, in the "closed" position. Failure to place the controler handle to the full extent of this movement will result in the span lowering too quickly. Immediately before the span reaches the fully "closed" position, power will be automaticaly cut off. The bridge operator must then restore the controler handle to the off position keeping the emergency control button depressed- and move the controler handle slowly to the second or thrird notch in the closing direction, completing the closing as slowly as possible by manipulation of the controler handle between the "off" position and the notches mentioned. The fully closed position of the span will be indicated by the white indicating lamp lighting up. 3. Release emergency control button, restore controler handle to "off" position, and place the master- brake switch in "brake-on" position. 4. Close bridge lock 5. Clse rail lift 6. Close hinged leaf on roadway 7. Open northern and southern gates. 8. Open main oil circuit breaker. 9. Open snap switch controling navigation and indicating lights. To Bolt lifting rails Put back lever E Replace staff in intermediate instrument. 3. GENERAL The bridge operator must not interfere in any way with any switches on contactors except to open and close the main oil circuit breaker, as indicated in the foregoing instructions. The emergency switches under sealed glass covers on the power board are provided soley for use by the maintenance employee, and must not be operated by any other employee under any circumstances. The bascule span will be operated by a Way and Works Branch employee from South Grafton depot who must be certified by the Chief Civil Enginer , Way and Works Branch and the Chief Traffic Manager, as being competent for the duty. No other employee must be allowed to operate the equipment. 4. Procedure__in_Event_of_Failure_of_Apparatus. The general maintenance of the Bascule Span and equipment will be carried out by the mechanic or bridge operator who is an employee of the Way and Works branch specialy deputed for the work and stationed at the Way and Works BranchDepot at South Grafton. In the event of failure of the apparatus the bridge operator will immediately see that all requirements for safe working have been met, andon the failure being rectified he wil at once inform all concerned. 5. Pilot_Working. A Pilotmans Releasing Lock and Key is provided in the Signal box at Grafton. When Pilot working is being instituted on the section South Grafton to Grafton th Pilotman must obtain the Pilotmans Key from the Releasing Lock and retain it in his possession during the time trains are being worked thrugh the section under pilot working conditions. The removal of the Pilotmans Key from the Releasing Lock will disconnect the staff instrumenrs for th section. 5.1 Operation_of_Bascule_Span_during_Pilot_working. A Duplex lock with key for unlocking lever E at the bridge is provided in the signal box at South Grafton. When it is required to open the Bascule Span during Pilot Working, the Pilotan must insert and turn the Pilotmans Key in the bottom lock of the duplex lock. He must then obtain the Bridge key from the top lock of the duplex lock and with it unlock lever E. The Bascule span may then be operated as previously described in the instructions. Upon completion of the bridge operations, Lever E must be restored to normal, the Bridge Key returned to the duplex lock and the Pilotmans Key regained by the Pilotman. 5.2 Cancellation__of__Pilot__Working. When pilot working is to be cancelled, The Pilotman must restore the keys to their respective locks at South Grafton and Grafton Signal boxes. The signal electrician must then reconnect the Staff instruments. The glass front in the lockface at Grafton Signal Box must also be restored by the signal electrician, and the station master at Grafton will be responsible for seeing that this is done.