Turnback Loops

[CHAPS2034]

One turning loop that never happened in the UK was at Manchester Airport. In the very early days of feasibility in the late 1980s, it was envisaged that some of the then loco-hauled Manchester - London expresses would go via the Airport. The station would be in the same place as it is currently, but one line would continue to the west and then loop round to the north in a cutting in what was then an open area between the Airport and Wythenshawe before rejoining the airport spur prior to the triangular junction with the Styal line.

The whole premise of a station at the Airport was resisted within Government for several years until the log jam was broken by a lot of lobbying by MPs of all parties and lots of businesses in the area. The loop idea was dropped because of cost when it became less likely that an Manchester - Airport - Euston service would stack up and all the other services could be operated by multiple units.

 

[snowball]

I seem to remember that legal powers were obtained for such a loop, and that it would have included a bridge over the M56 airport spur. (This was before the extra junction for Terminal 2 was added to the spur.)

 

[RH Liner]

Don’t forget Derby used to have one so that trains to and from Nottingham could enter the station at one end and leave for the return journey from the other without reversal or the loco changing ends. The northern half of the loop has now gone and I believe is occupied by a road.

 

[edwin_m]

Don’t forget Derby used to have one so that trains to and from Nottingham could enter the station at one end and leave for the return journey from the other without reversal or the loco changing ends. The northern half of the loop has now gone and I believe is occupied by a road.

The other way round. The northern half is still there leading to some Network Rail engineering sidings. It used to continue to re-join at Spondon Junction where the A5111 ring road passes over the line. That section is now occupied by a bit of the A52 and part of the Pride Park development.

A few miles away at Trent, Derby trains could enter or leave either end, with Fields Farm Road following the course of the former loop line (which before that was the original route to Nottingham). So there would have been a possibility of a Derby-Trent shuttle continuing indefinitely without reversal.

 

[Ken H]

Evesham vale Light railway has one.

The Fairbourne Railway has a loop at the top end, although I don't think it's in use these days.

I thought of that one, and looked on google maps. i think its gone.

 

[ainsworth74]

The discussion about continental tram system turnback loops (or alternative arrangements) was interesting but rather off-topic so has been moved to a new thread which can be found here. Please could we stick to discussing UK based loops in this thread thank you

 

[Taunton]

In Bristol, certainly back many years, the main coaching stock depot was at Malago Vale, on the Taunton line. Ecs for London trains would be drawn directly into Temple Meads station. Stock for westbound trains would approach the station, then run onto the otherwise goods loop, past St Philips Marsh loco depot, and then right round, joining the London line and entering the station from the east, as the platforms were very directional, with the Down platforms on that side.

 

[NI 271]

There was one in Longwood, Huddersfield too. It apparently sat abandoned but complete for around 20 years before eventually being dismantled. The site had long since become a turning circle for conventional diesel buses.

It was only a turntable for a very short time, after which it became a 'reverser' - buses would pull past it then reverse into it to effectively make a three point turn in what was/is a relatively narrow road. It was never a turning circle. There was an infamous incident where one trolley bus didn't stop in time (it is thought the driver confused the pedals, as they were the opposite way around to conventional motor vehicle pedals) and reversed through the back of it, falling maybe 10-12 feet into the field below/behind, there is a picture of it being rescued in the Dusty Miller pub opposite. Buses were still using it to turn as late as the early 1980s, I lived in Longwood at the time and spent quite a bit of time in the Dusty, as it was owned by the parents of two schoolfriends.

The current terminus, around 20 yards away (I can't remember if that was created before I moved away in 1983, but it must have been very soon after if not), is a turning circle. The position of the old one can still be made out in the wall, the gap in which was obviously filled in when the terminus was demolished. I pass it almost every day.

 

[AndrewE]

Do I remember seeing a trolley pole reversing triangle somewhere? The double ended tram sets off on its return journey very slowly "pushing" its pole, which diverts round a triangle and rejoins the "main line," after which the vehicle accelerates away. Maybe at Crich?

 

[SteveyBee131]

There is indeed one of those at the town end terminus at Crich

 

[norbitonflyer]

There was a proposal by the LNWR in 1907 for an underground terminal loop at Euston for its proposed electric services

- here it is

Note the Hampstead Tube tunnel shown curving round the south and east of the station (left and bottom of the image as west is at the top) The project was superseded by the arrangement with the Bakerloo, which took enough traffic off the DC lines that Euston could cope with the rest without such modification.

 

[edwin_m]

Grand Central in New York had something similar, but I'm not sure if it is still used.

 

[Grumpy]

I was wondering how many turnback loops there are in the UK. The only ones I know of are on the LU at Kennington, the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch at Dungeness, and at one end of the Scarborough miniature North Bay RailwAY
SNIP
, and the Scarborough is in a tunnel.

I am assuming that you are thinking of the loop at the Scalby end of the Scarborough railway. I can just about remember this but it was my understanding that it was destroyed when Yorkshire Water redeveloped the treatment works/Sealife centre complex, with the track and station now located at a higher level. There is no obvious trace of the loop now.

 

[Lucan]

assuming that you are thinking of the loop at the Scalby end of the Scarborough railway. I can just about remember this but it was my understanding that it was destroyed when Yorkshire Water redeveloped the treatment works/Sealife centre complex,

You are right. I have not visited this railway but I was looking at its Wikipedia entry . The track diagram shows a turnback loop, but looking again I see that the loop is shown in a lighter blue than the other tracks - which I take to be the general code for the track being disused or lifted. They could have used more a more distinctive colour code! There is a turntable shown at this end of the line, perhaps installed after the loop was closed. At the other (Peasholm) end of the line the diagram shows a kind of inverted turnback loop which I guess the loco runs round in reverse to back on to the other end of the train for the return journey.

Another turnback loop is at Heathrow at the western end of the Piccadilly Line. It might be disqualified as it has two stations on it (for different airport terminals), but it was obviously built with the turnback function in mind. In this it is unlike the Kingston roundabout route (for example) which happens to provide an out-and-back service route covering a very wide area, a service which would not have been in mind when most (or all) of its rails were originally laid. If Kingston were a turnback loop, then so would Reading - Bristol - Exeter - Basingstoke - Reading!

 

[randyrippley]

Do I remember seeing a trolley pole reversing triangle somewhere? The double ended tram sets off on its return journey very slowly "pushing" its pole, which diverts round a triangle and rejoins the "main line," after which the vehicle accelerates away. Maybe at Crich?

Seaton tramway has at least one, possibly two

Arguably the biggest turnback loop runs Castle Cary - Taunton - Exeter - Yeovil - Castle Cary
Has it ever been used to turn trains?

 

[edwin_m]

Seaton tramway has at least one, possibly two

Arguably the biggest turnback loop runs Castle Cary - Taunton - Exeter - Yeovil - Castle Cary
Has it ever been used to turn trains?

I think loops with more than one station on them were ruled out of court. Otherwise you could have something like Carlisle-Leeds-Hambleton-Finsbury Park-Primrose Hill-Carlisle.

 

[randyrippley]

How about the former Farington loop at Preston then? Scottish trains to Blackpool passed through the station twice

 

[Steve Harris]

How about the former Farington loop at Preston then? Scottish trains to Blackpool passed through the station twice

View attachment 91184

The OP posted :I was wondering how many turnback loops there are in the UK.
So I'm presuming they actually mean current.