Weirdest Oddities Still on the UK Network?

[Kite159]

At Woking the lifts are in a completely separate footbridge!

As are the lifts at Exeter St Davids

 

[A Challenge]

Whereas I appreciate that, firstly it's the only single-carriage train in use on the network today and secondly just because they're capable of operating in multiple doesn't mean they do.

What about the Class 139 in Stourbridge?

 

[theageofthetra]

As are the lifts at Exeter St Davids

And Orpington

 

[37047]

On that note the service from Norwich to Gt Yarmouth and back is sometimes (1136 hours from Norwich in particular) operated by a single carriage DMU, I believe a Class 153 or 156.

As is the service between Ipswich and Felixstowe.

 

[infobleep]

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.

It's amazing to think these were once considered fine for people to use.

I don't know how common my next example is but it surprised me none the less. There is a footpath crossing, which from memory is either near Wanborough or Gomshall stations, I forget wish. To cross the line you have to go through I think a gate but most definitely up an embankment. Then you cross the line a d go back down the other embankment. It's a public right of way too, although that part isn't uncommon.

 

[yorksrob]

It's amazing to think these were once considered fine for people to use.

I don't know how common my next example is but it surprised me none the less. There is a footpath crossing, which from memory is either near Wanborough or Gomshall stations, I forget wish. To cross the line you have to go through I think a gate but most definitely up an embankment. Then you cross the line a d go back down the other embankment. It's a public right of way too, although that part isn't uncommon.

They were/are generally fine for people to use, except in particular circumstances where the platform layout/traffic levels made it intuitive for people to discount the possibility of a second train coming.

Ours at Normanton only crossed one very slow track onto an island platform.

 

[infobleep]

Standedge tunnel has a local instruction to traincrew (and others) regarding the use of emergency telephones located in the disused centre bore tunnel. Only certain numbered cross passages can be used because of the risk of falling down vertical shafts into the canal tunnel, at a lower level, in between the railway tunnels.

Wow. Amazing. That for me is the most fascinating example I've read so far.

I once had a dream about walking through a disused railway tunnel, when next door to it was a fully working one.

 

[infobleep]

Stations which have active post boxes on the platforms (i.e. paid side) - Pangbourne up, for example. I don't know of others off-hand. Post collectors are in theory in need of tickets/permits to travel - perhaps those on the relevant rounds do have them?

I seem to think either Aldershot or Farnham have one on the platform.

Guildford has one It it's disused. It was in use when the red star use operate there. I think the bixyonly opened when the station was rebuilt in the mid 80s. Its certainly an EIIR one.

One could start a separate thread on the most recently opened but now disused post box.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Not quite sure if this is the correct thread, but I did experience something unusual for me yesterday and I have been travelling by train for 58 years! mainly in the Southeast. I took a train from Clapham Junction to London Victoria and it arrived at an almost hidden away Platform 8, almost the Kent side, rather than the usual Brighton Side of the station. I have never experienced that before.

 

[infobleep]

In that case

If I understand the query... I was referring to stations where all (passenger) trains terminate/reverse. I think most of those stations do have "through" services, even if they're very infrequent as with Corby.

Shalford must count as its crossed the junction before the train waits and there is no other junction until Redill. There use to be one at Dorking many years ago.

 

[infobleep]

I nominate the footbridge at Surbiton with separate cross walkways for people who have used the lift, stairs and (non ticketed stairs), on two levels. Horsham footbridge has (had?) a divider which separated lift from stair walkways too.

On a similar note, Woking has a footbridge that is only accessible by lift. Not sure how common that is. There are probably some emergency stairs somewhere though.

 

[infobleep]

At Woking the lifts are in a completely separate footbridge!

You beat me too. I didn't see your reply before posting mine.

 

[infobleep]

They were/are generally fine for people to use, except in particular circumstances where the platform layout/traffic levels made it intuitive for people to discount the possibility of a second train coming.

Ours at Normanton only crossed one very slow track onto an island platform.

If they are generally fine to use, why close them? Is it because in rare cases they are not fine to use?

 

[yorksrob]

If they are generally fine to use, why close them? Is it because in rare cases they are not fine to use?

I the case of some individual crossings, they were not fine to use.

In the case of the rest, I would have thought 'backside covering' comes into it, although I don't blame the railway for engaging in this.

 

[matchmaker]

On that note the service from Norwich to Gt Yarmouth and back is sometimes (1136 hours from Norwich in particular) operated by a single carriage DMU, I believe a Class 153 or 156.

Hopefully not a 156!

 

[TurbostarFan]

Hopefully not a 156!

Exactly!

 

[vlad]

What about the Class 139 in Stourbridge?

That's not a train - that's a roller-skate on rails.
(Seriously, given that there are 2 members of the class and it only operates on one line I'm not surprised I didn't remember it.)

On a similar note, Woking has a footbridge that is only accessible by lift. Not sure how common that is. There are probably some emergency stairs somewhere though.

Stoke is another. I've no idea what happens if the lifts fail but then I've only used that bridge a couple of times.

 

[6Gman]

Whereas I appreciate that, firstly it's the only single-carriage train in use on the network today and secondly just because they're capable of operating in multiple doesn't mean they do.

They're the only single-carriage units (apart from 139s) because there are plenty of them (70) to cover the work they're needed for; and on your second point they frequently do operate in multiple. I've seen plenty of Derby-Crewe trains formed of 2x153, and the WMT ones seem to spend most of their time coupled to 170s!

So, I would suggest, neither weird nor oddities.

 

[trainmania100]

I like finding PERTIS machines that dispense a little novelty ticket when you insert 5p, which in understand can be exchanged for a ticket later but I prefer the novelty of keeping the 5p ticketfor my collection.
There is one at Bishopstone and possibly still Newhaven harbour. Not sure if the Newhaven town one still exists

 

[Esker-pades]

I like finding PERTIS machines that dispense a little novelty ticket when you insert 5p, which in understand can be exchanged for a ticket later but I prefer the novelty of keeping the 5p ticketfor my collection.
There is one at Bishopstone and possibly still Newhaven harbour. Not sure if the Newhaven town one still exists

https://pert.is/Search/ALL

This is a website that shows all (I think) the PERTIS machines in the country.

 

[trainmania100]

https://pert.is/Search/ALL

This is a website that shows all (I think) the PERTIS machines in the country.

Nice, thanks for sharing. Useful website and tempted by the PERTIS models for my 00 layout

 

[_toommm_]

How about an 'All the PERTIS machines' series?

 

[broadgage]

There was until recently, and may still be an open foot crossing in Greenwich, London, on the lightly used freight line to/from Angerstein wharf.
Commonplace in country areas, but I think that this might be the only one in London.

It is approached via a narrow path between the gardens of two houses, the footpath passes UNDER the upper floor of the houses via a brick arch, feels like a tunnel but is at ground level.
Very odd for inner London.

 

[Belperpete]

Not quite sure if this is the correct thread, but I did experience something unusual for me yesterday and I have been travelling by train for 58 years! mainly in the Southeast. I took a train from Clapham Junction to London Victoria and it arrived at an almost hidden away Platform 8, almost the Kent side, rather than the usual Brighton Side of the station. I have never experienced that before.

Back in BR days it used to be quite common for Central suburban trains to use platform 8, presumably because all the Brighton-side platforms were busy. Back in those days, the two halves of the station were even less joined-up than they are now.

 

[Cowley]

There was until recently, and may still be an open foot crossing in Greenwich, London, on the lightly used freight line to/from Angerstein wharf.
Commonplace in country areas, but I think that this might be the only one in London.

It is approached via a narrow path between the gardens of two houses, the footpath passes UNDER the upper floor of the houses via a brick arch, feels like a tunnel but is at ground level.
Very odd for inner London.

Very interesting, I enjoyed that.

 

[Bedpan]

On that note the service from Norwich to Gt Yarmouth and back is sometimes (1136 hours from Norwich in particular) operated by a single carriage DMU, I believe a Class 153 or 156.

One of the two trains used on the Bedford - Bletchley line is a single car 153, the other is a two car 150.

 

[tsr]

There was until recently, and may still be an open foot crossing in Greenwich, London, on the lightly used freight line to/from Angerstein wharf.
Commonplace in country areas, but I think that this might be the only one in London.

Nearly, but not quite.

Within the zones you have several others, including Warren Farm and Trumpers on one particular freight-only route.

However, I should imagine the crossing at Greenwich is perhaps the only one which requires access through an alleyway built into some houses.

 

[Silver Cobra]

On that note the service from Norwich to Gt Yarmouth and back is sometimes (1136 hours from Norwich in particular) operated by a single carriage DMU, I believe a Class 153 or 156.

One of the two trains used on the Bedford - Bletchley line is a single car 153, the other is a two car 150.

EMT's Peterborough - Lincoln Central service is also mostly run using single 153s.

 

[Dai Corner]

How about Bishton Crossing which is the last remaining manned level crossing on the South Wales main line between Newport and Severn Tunnel Junction?

There is an adjacent underpass for cars so the signaller only opens the gates for large vehicles. It's only manned for two shifts so at night those vehicles have to make a detour. Fortunately the road is a fairly quiet country lane so there is little incentive to end this quirky arrangement.

 

[Taunton]

On a similar note, Woking has a footbridge that is only accessible by lift.

The mid-platforms footbridge at Kings Cross has a strange variation on this, as it has a lift and a single escalator connecting it to each of the intermediate platforms, with the escalator invariably running down, even where the only movements are arrivals. So to get up to the bridge you have to use the lift. This is arranged facing south, so most of the arriving passengers walking towards the barriers do not even notice it is there.