Weirdest Oddities Still on the UK Network?

[theageofthetra]

Deptford lift Bridge is looking increasingly odd amongst the new blocks of flats being built around the creek.

 

[Bevan Price]

Don't know if the December 2018 timetable change affected things, but the Calder Valley line has Classes 158, 156, 155, 153, 150 & 142.
Until about 2017, it also got Class 144 (but 156 were only seen on the Manchester - Todmorden section, continuing thence to Burnley & Blackburn)

 

[deltic]

Does Manorbier (on Pembroke line) still have level crossing gates that have to be opened and closed by the train guard?

 

[allaction]

Does Manorbier (on Pembroke line) still have level crossing gates that have to be opened and closed by the train guard?

Not sure of the exact procedure, but here’s the instructions on the platform at Manorbier

 

[crosscity]

Modernisation plan diesels (Class 20's, 31's, 37's, 47's etc) still in revenue earning service after more than 50 years.

 

[HaggisBotherer]

Many of the weirdest oddities on the UK network are to be found at the end of platforms with cameras and notebooks.

 

[xotGD]

I find it odd that five different traction types have all worked Glasgow to Dunblane/Alloa services over the past couple of months - 365, 385, 170, 158, and 156. Would be interesting to see how this compares across the UK with like wise instances.

My morning commute on the Pontefract Line has thrown up 142, 144, 150, 153, 155 and 158 over the past year. Waiting for a 156 or 170.

 

[craigybagel]

Does Manorbier (on Pembroke line) still have level crossing gates that have to be opened and closed by the train guard?

Not sure if it's guard or driver down there. On the Cambrian it's always been the driver, and on the Heart of Wales it was the guard until a couple of months ago - now it's the driver supervised by the guard.

 

[John Webb]

Does Manorbier (on Pembroke line) still have level crossing gates that have to be opened and closed by the train guard?

View attachment 57601
Not sure of the exact procedure, but here’s the instructions on the platform at Manorbier

No - it has been an AHB (Automatic Half Barrier) crossing for several years. The plunger arrangement is to prevent the train coming into the station from the non-crossing side triggering the barriers and holding the road traffic up while passengers are getting off and on the train, so the barriers are triggered only when the train is ready to depart. The white light presented to the driver tells him the barriers have lowered and the road warning lights are correctly working.

 

[PaulLothian]

Not sure how odd is odd but I might point you at former Eastern Counties Railway stations in Cambridgeshire (Waterbeach is the canonical example) which were built with offset platforms either side of a level crossing and no footbridge, which is a fairly unusual layout.

Not uncommon on modern-day light rail. I think I have seen examples on Metrolink and on Tyne and Wear Metro.

 

[telstarbox]

Are there any stations where road vehicles still drive onto the platforms? Euston maybe?

 

[Whattraintoday]

Don't know if the December 2018 timetable change affected things, but the Calder Valley line has Classes 158, 156, 155, 153, 150 & 142.
Until about 2017, it also got Class 144 (but 156 were only seen on the Manchester - Todmorden section, continuing thence to Burnley & Blackburn)

Oh, we’ve still got 144s as well*

This could well end up split out into another thread tbh “Most varied passenger traction on a line”

*plus GC’s 180s

 

[TurbostarFan]

Are there any stations where road vehicles still drive onto the platforms? Euston maybe?

At Norwich they have golf buggies on the platform, possibly to assist less able passengers? I wouldn't call them road vehicles though!

 

[Helvellyn]

I think Penrith station still has its old barrow crossing warning lights in place although with the installation of the lifts a couple of years back it is effectively redundant. My memory might be playing tricks but I am sure I was told only Penrith and Torquay had this set up, although only one was on a Mainline where trains would be approaching at high speed! With the severe curvature on both sides of the station it was the only way to safely cross the track. In more recent times it was used by staff taking wheelchair passengers to/from the Down island platform but even in the 1990s it would include barrow loads of mail sacks offloaded in the early hours from the Down TPO.

http://abcrailwayguide.uk/penrith-station-staff-level-crossing-cumbria

 

[Peter Mugridge]

In the metal work on the platform canopy Paignton end of platform 1 at Newton Abbot has still got the holes from being bombed in world war 2

Ditto the country end of platform 4 at Epsom.

 

[LowLevel]

I think Penrith station still has its old barrow crossing warning lights in place although with the installation of the lifts a couple of years back it is effectively redundant. My memory might be playing tricks but I am sure I was told only Penrith and Torquay had this set up, although only one was on a Mainline where trains would be approaching at high speed! With the severe curvature on both sides of the station it was the only way to safely cross the track. In more recent times it was used by staff taking wheelchair passengers to/from the Down island platform but even in the 1990s it would include barrow loads of mail sacks offloaded in the early hours from the Down TPO.

http://abcrailwayguide.uk/penrith-station-staff-level-crossing-cumbria

They were quite common though Network Rail has effectively declared white light crossings like that verboten nowadays. They were located in some surprising places - for example Alfreton on an 80 mph curve immediately after a tunnel. That one was closed a few years ago without replacement, those unable to use the footbridge now requiring taxis from Chesterfield.

 

[JHurcum]

Go to Barrhill, the instruments are in an office on the platform, not in the box

Thanks, will defo head there at some point!

 

[JHurcum]

Llandrindod on the Heart of Wales is still worked like that - when I've mentioned it to tourists on the line they've not believed me until they've seen it with their own eyes!

HoW already on thehit list and Ill be sure to check that out!

 

[b2311e]

Are there any stations where road vehicles still drive onto the platforms? Euston maybe?

Llandudno did until a few years ago

The 'road' down the platform is still there, albeit inaccessible now since the station building was refurbished in its path

 

[Kneedown]

The random, lower quadrant semaphore signal at Ketton, between Stamford and Oakham.
Not sure of the exact history.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I think the old luggage traverser at Brockenhurst is still there, but probably not actually used now. It was a way of getting barrows from one platform to another without using lifts, probably interlocked with the signalling?

Do they not have something similar at Eridge?

 

[tiptoptaff]

They were quite common though Network Rail has effectively declared white light crossings like that verboten nowadays. They were located in some surprising places - for example Alfreton on an 80 mph curve immediately after a tunnel. That one was closed a few years ago without replacement, those unable to use the footbridge now requiring taxis from Chesterfield.

There was one at Bridgend until lifts installed (60mph blind bend in both directions either side of the station) -- warning lights are still there and operational.

 

[_toommm_]

I'd say Rotherham Central is quite quirky at the moment - the fact that you can have a pacer roaring past and screeching past you and be so exposed to the wheels on platforms 3 and 4.

Also the fact that it's now almost impossible for Northern to do revenue inspection there as they can't reasonably detain people if they've not got a ticket but claim they've got off the tram...

 

[E100]

Obviously well known but odd nonetheless; the West Highland Line Jacobite regular steam railtour is on the printed timetable. Also, the route is signaled using radio tokens. It also has Corrur, which is again well known by being both the highest station on the network and being only accessible by train or foot.

I would also second the Water St entrance to James St.

 

[Killingworth]

There are many old stations long abandoned on the network, some retaining station buildings for other purposes, some with remains of platforms. Much track has been lifted. In some places the station is no longer recognisable, in others it's hard to tell from a train that it's now closed.

Masborough in Rotherham was a large station with several platforms. The curiosity here is that a long disused platform on the west side still retains track which has clearly not been used for many years, possibly decades. You can tell it's been some time because trees are growing through between the sleepers. However live signals continue to display red aspects for that rusted route, themselves all but hidden amongst the summer greenery.

I trust someone knows not to send a train that way when it looks like a handy diversionary route.

 

[UP13]

Many of the weirdest oddities on the UK network are to be found at the end of platforms with cameras and notebooks.

 

[LowLevel]

The random, lower quadrant semaphore signal at Ketton, between Stamford and Oakham.
Not sure of the exact history.

Ketton 14 signal. It's the last one away from the Western Region on the network (though there is a Great Northern somersault signal remaining at Boston Docks in a bit of a state of disrepair) and is the pet of the local S&T. I can't remember if it has a formal preservation order on it or not but despite appearances it was substantially rebuilt within the last 15 years or so to keep it doing.

I suspect when the line is eventually resignalled it'll be taken away to be kept safe.

 

[Kneedown]

Ketton 14 signal. It's the last one away from the Western Region on the network (though there is a Great Northern somersault signal remaining at Boston Docks in a bit of a state of disrepair) and is the pet of the local S&T. I can't remember if it has a formal preservation order on it or not but despite appearances it was substantially rebuilt within the last 15 years or so to keep it doing.

I suspect when the line is eventually resignalled it'll be taken away to be kept safe.

Ahhh, the somersault signals. I was lucky enough to learn Skeggy when they still had them in use at Bellwater, Thorpe Culvert and Wainfleet. I didn't know there was still one at the docks!

 

[TheSel]

I think theres a fair few stations like this around the country though the only one that comes to mind right now is Sturry in Kent.

Bescar Lane, New Lane and Hoscar - on the Southport to Wigan Wallgate line - all share this layout, although in fairness, all were built along more 'traditional' lines (no pun intended!), and were remodelled when converted from manual to automatic barrier crossings.

 

[jopsuk]

ECR stations with level crossings and staggered platforms* were mentioned- Elsenham is a fine example (though it now has a steps-only footbridge) with a further oddity that despite being on a busy, fast, electrified line, it still has a manually operated level crossing.

Meanwhile Roydon has staggered platforms- but the "wrong" way, such that the barriers have to remain down during station stops in both directions.

*there's quite a few with non-staggered, such as Shelford, Foxton, Shepreth, Sawbridgeworth and I think as-built Whittlesford Parkway