(1) Near the control code indication lights is a red Start button. What does it do?

Upper Hutt Up Departure start button.

There is gong cut out, line disconnect, and a "clear stored commands".

The panel has a claytons memory that if you try to transmit a command when the timecode relays are already busy then the command will be queued for transmission. Sometime when alot was going on (and remember no electronics in our old girl, it is all electro-mechanical), things would lock up to degree and it would all stop. The clear stored commands button would clear the queued settings. Could have just as easily be called a reset button, except that it did not change anything related to the indication code side, only the control commands. Very rarely used in our case as this panel was set up in a location that seldom got busy enough code wise. Sister panels, like the one at Te Kuiti for example could easily have had almost continuous transmission & indication codes on the line as several trains moved along the Trunk.

The line disconnect will "un-plug" the cable from the remote stations. Useful if a cable fault causes a short and leads to the panel continuously trying to read or send a code. The relay chatter would go endlessly, and apart from annoying the operator, would possibly cause a meltdown somewhere.

I should think that "gong cut" out is self expanatory.

(2) ISTR that when a down train laves the tunnel the indication lights come on progressively as the train descends the hill. However the lights do not turn off behind the train. They are extinguished when it leaves the half-block. Is that correct?

Yes.

(3) In what situations is a chime sounded? ISTR that a down train leaving the tunnel is one situation.

No, the bong you heard was 1605, arrving Featherston at almost the same time as 1603 hit Maymorn. Chime taking home and departures at remote stations. Once upon time there was more than one remote station on the panel, and its progress would chime though Maymorn, Rimutaka and Featherston. (if the operator hadn't switched it off). Now only Upper Hutt and Featherston chime.

(4) What is the delay before tunnel timer sounds?

15 minutes.

(5) Can the up intermediate be held at Stop (switch A8)?

No.

(6) Do you press a Start button to clear 8R?

Yes (switch A8).

(7) On the left hand side on the bell code section there are three buttons - a big red one and two shiny ones. What are they (one is presumably the bell (-; )?

The big red one (not original) is the Up Train buzzer cancel. One of the two shiny ones was the bell button, (no longer used), and the other is the indication check. Pushing it will cause all lamps to light for bulb checking.

(8) How does storage work?

No memory. Just relays that will switch. If the next relay further down the chain is not in the right poistion (perhaps held the other way by a track circut) the sequence ends at that point. However, once a track circut released that relay could go over to its other setting. The ones further up the chain are still set, so the cycle continues fro where it got interupted. However, there is no memory to re-start the cycle from the top for a second train.

(9) In the 1965 Automatic Signalling Regs there is a table of bell codes (regulation 17). Are these the codes that were used or were there special instructions?

Of course. What else?

(10) Above the Gong Cut Out button is a red Start button. Does it re-send all stored codes?

8R Up Departure from Upper Hutt. Effectively the CTC station panel for Upper Hutt, which only happens to have one signal on it.

(12) If Taita, Woburn and Petone were switched out could Upper Hutt bell to A-Box?

Yes

(13) What is the black button between the Featherston Start buttons?

Start button for the control handover switch above it. In the CTC machine end every switch (or column of switches) has a start button below it to transmit that switch.

(15) My copy of the Upper Hutt S & I is difficult to read. There seems to be only 184 or 204m from 49 points to 8R. Will an 8-car Ganz leaving the storage sidings fit?

It does every week day morning when we do it.

(16) After an EMU leaving the sidings has cleared 49 points is there a time delay before 49 points can be restored to normal?

No. They can be restored to normal as soon as the train clears them. (Assuming the operator has re set 38 signal lever back to normal)