How difficult is it to arrive or leave at all timetabled platforms. 5 year project to achieve this.

[Kite159]

I suspect platform 1 at Hartlepool will get used if a northbound train is due to pass in between the unit arriving from Darlington & departing back south. For example, the 2K01 1313 Darlington to Hartlepool.

From the looks of RTT it seems the unit you were on was running late so maybe it got spun on platform 2. Likewise, the earlier service so maybe there is a track issue with the bay platform.

 

[All platforms]

With Hartlepool P3 now in use, I doubt there is reason to use P1 to keep a unit out of the way. The noise units make going into the bay is something to behold (especially on a Pacer!)

I suspect platform 1 at Hartlepool will get used if a northbound train is due to pass in between the unit arriving from Darlington & departing back south. For example, the 2K01 1313 Darlington to Hartlepool.

From the looks of RTT it seems the unit you were on was running late so maybe it got spun on platform 2. Likewise, the earlier service so maybe there is a track issue with the bay platform.

I did have a quick look to see if P1 has been used recently and the answer is not since the timetable changed albeit just 2 weekends worth so far. I don't have the codes for the previous timetabled ones to look at RTT further back so i guess i will just have to wait and see whether the guard was correct in saying it was still used but not at the moment (well not what he said in fact but its close enough...).

Possibly another example of not grabbing an opportunity earlier than i should have. Barnetby P1 is another that has got away for now after being used earlier this year.

No idea if you have this flagged or needed but EM will be using the Dore South/West Junctions next week (6-10Jan) on an hourly basis each way thus avoiding Sheffield of course. A very rare bit of track in normal passenger use of course!

Also P2 at Doncaster is back in play for the week 17-21 Feb with 4 examples each day

 

[All platforms]

Day 427: Friday 27/12/2024 - Goole to Hull - £3.50 - Advance Single. Hull to Goole 4.05 - Advance Single. Cheadle Hulme to Macclesfield - £2.65 - Advance Single. Macclesfield to Manchester Piccadilly - £8.25 - Off-peak Single. Manchester Piccadilly to Cheadle Hulme - £1.75 - Advance Single. CP Goole - £2.00 + Cheadle Hulme - free.
Total time today 361 mins - time on trains 102 mins and time waiting and relocating 259 mins. A bonus platform was score today but little else. Total platforms completed at completed stations therefore is 4975.

"To Hull and back" before "Cancellation central at Macclesfield"

I am doing a few mini days out here and there over the festive period, and nearer to home than recent trips in order to try and pick up some elusive track - and the odd platform here and there as well.

It was a game of two halves it has to be said with this mornings trips between Goole/Hull/Goole working out just fine. With a P2 start an immediate crossover was ticked and i settled back to enjoy the view the rest of way - which was not a lot because it was quite foggy for the entirety of the 2 runs. P1 at Hull has been fully fettled with new directional signage installed as well, and whilst its use has been a bit patchy to start with, it was being used all day today by the shuttle to/from Goole. Another win then as we arrived/departed as timetabled and i can reclaim Hull as a fully completed station. Hurrah.

Traffic by this time had amped up considerably and it was a slower journey back over the Pennines before arriving at Cheadle Hulme which has the distinction of having a largish free car park. The service i really wanted was one of the hourly Avantis from Macclesfield which would be calling at Stockport P4 with the attendant rare crossovers. Looking at the board there was at least half of the services cancelled. Mainly the long distance stuff but NT were also in the dock. A careful check of RTT showed the service i wanted was one of the cancellations, as was the one an hour later. Not sure if this was par for the course today but i didn't want to hang around for a near 3 hour wait so i bailed. Track near Stockport is proving somewhat difficult as this was my third failure here this year.

I will be out on Sunday for some rare moves in the Stafford area, and hope this will be more successful. Just 2 trips planned for then so i should be back home by 1pm.

Goole	Depart	8.35​	*****	NT			stations	platforms
Hull	Arrive	9.11​	P1	NT	wait 39m		completed	completed
Hull	Depart	9.50​	P1	NT				1​
Goole	Arrive	10.24​	*****	NT	drive +
Relocate	Depart	*****	*****	*****	wait 162m
Cheadle Hulme	Arrive	13.06​	*****	NT
Macclesfiield	Depart	13.22​	P2	NT	wait 58m
Macclesfiield	Arrive	14.20​	P1	NT
Cheadle Hulme	Depart	14.36​	*****	NT

 

[Kite159]

No idea if you have this flagged or needed but EM will be using the Dore South/West Junctions next week (6-10Jan) on an hourly basis each way thus avoiding Sheffield of course. A very rare bit of track in normal passenger use of course!

I saw that, although I believe it has been remodeled since the last time I've used it (before Dore regained a 2nd platform). I've done it before on a late running EM passenger service when it missed out Sheffield to regain time. Sadly whilst I'm off on the Monday I've already got plans to meet up with a friend in Cardiff.

I'm sure it will pop up again on a railtour at some point. Good news with getting P1 at Hull, something I also need

 

[All platforms]

Day 428: Sunday 29/12/2024 - Stafford to Rugeley Trent Valley - £3.15 - Off-peak Return. Stafford to Penkridge - £3.30 - Off-peak Return. CP Railway Street Stafford - free.
Total time today 33 mins - time on trains 25 mins and time waiting 8 mins. Nada today apart from one rareish crossover.

"Unusual track failures 7 and unusual track successes 1"

A great plan for just a few hours work today turned to dust and ashes before my eyes as overhead wiring issues on the Penkridge line (no idea where exactly) meant a slew of cancellations and delays - all to my detriment. The idea was to start the day with a P5 to the south start from Stafford so 3 not timetabled crossovers right there and alighting at RTV and a quick scoot over the bridge for the return which was due to land in P6 and another 2 bits of track i still needed. I think P5 was needed for the delayed services going North so my start was from P1 not P5. Bother. I did gain the crossover to enable my terminating return service to land in P1.

That's just about it as all services via Penkridge were cancelled and my targets remain just that - and so i bailed once more and was back home by midday. I will be obtaining a refund on the Penkridge ticket..... A brief hiatus now as we have a celebratory night away planned and then returning in time for a New years Day outing - from Crewe this time for a 5 hour out and back to Rugby. 5 potential targets then on what is proving to be a very tricky part of the world for me.

Stafford	Arrive	10.18​	*****	LM			stations	platforms
Rugeley Trent Valley	Depart	10.27​	P3	LM	wait 8m		completed	completed
Rugeley Trent Valley	Arrive	10.35​	P2	LM
Stafford	Depart	10.51​	*****	LM

 

[Barnsley]

I saw that, although I believe it has been remodeled since the last time I've used it (before Dore regained a 2nd platform). I've done it before on a late running EM passenger service when it missed out Sheffield to regain time. Sadly whilst I'm off on the Monday I've already got plans to meet up with a friend in Cardiff.

I'm sure it will pop up again on a railtour at some point. Good news with getting P1 at Hull, something I also need

We use Platform 1 all day at Hull for the Donny stoppers, us Station Co-Ordinators produce our own workings, so don't rely on the published allocations! We can, and do change allocated Platforms to suit the running of the station
Hull must be unique in the fact that we tell the signalman in Paragon Box where to put trains, not the other way round!

 

[STKKK46]

Have you done Wolverhampton P6 yet? I note it’s being used on New Years Day morning for a service (which will almost certainly happen as the unit is to stable from a terminating service the night before, so thought I’d point it out.

 

[gazr]

Have you done Wolverhampton P6 yet? I note it’s being used on New Years Day morning for a service (which will almost certainly happen as the unit is to stable from a terminating service the night before, so thought I’d point it out.

There are two services: 09:12 and 10:41 on 01/01. Also 08:45 on 12/01 and 08:44 on 30/03.

 

[Kite159]

We use Platform 1 all day at Hull for the Donny stoppers, us Station Co-Ordinators produce our own workings, so don't rely on the published allocations! We can, and do change allocated Platforms to suit the running of the station
Hull must be unique in the fact that we tell the signalman in Paragon Box where to put trains, not the other way round!

Rexcellent stuff, I must try and get to Hull at some point as my previous trip was cancelled due to the forecast bad weather.

 

[All platforms]

Have you done Wolverhampton P6 yet? I note it’s being used on New Years Day morning for a service (which will almost certainly happen as the unit is to stable from a terminating service the night before, so thought I’d point it out.

I have done P6 at Wolverhampton when it was last used for a starter for Shrewsbury. It was somewhat late in departing as it had been standing there for a few days and there was a starting issue. However, my own (very strict) rules say that i cannot count a starting or finishing platform on the day so yes i have but not done this properly under my own rules. However i notice there are a number of arrivals tomorrow prior to the 9.12 departure so plans have been amended to include this. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

There are two services: 09:12 and 10:41 on 01/01. Also 08:45 on 12/01 and 08:44 on 30/03.

I only know one source that can give that level of info looking ahead. Can i ask what your source is? A very good reason to ask as will hopefully become clear down the line.

 

[All platforms]

Day 429: Wednesday 01/01/2025 - Sandwell & Dudley to Wolverhampton - £2.85 - Anytime Single. Wolverhampton to Bilbrook - £2.45 - Anytime Day Return. Wolverhampton to Stafford - £6.55 - Off-peak Return. Wolverhampton to Rugby - £10.05 - Anytime Single. Rugby to Sandwell & Dudley - £8.30 - Anytime Single. CP Sandwell & Dudley - free.
Total time today 370 mins - time on trains 176 mins and time waiting 194 mins. No stations completed although i recompleted one correctly under my rules - finally.

"Long Lawton Jn crossovers in the bag"

I missed a trick today when i expanded my day at the last minute. So no West Midland Day Ranger was sougfht and therefore i am a couple of pounds down on where i should be. Drat and double drat as Dick Dastardly once said.

With my rule of not counting first or last platforms of the day, or after relocating, i have 3 platforms where i couldn't make this rule work. Rock Ferry P4, Colchester P6 and Wolverhampton P6 were therefore the outliers that need to be redone if at all possible. I believe Colchester P6 can now be done and today there were two possible opportunities to do the Wolverhampton equivalent - both of which actually worked it turns out. First i had to get there so the first train of the day calling at Sandwell & Dudley calling at Wolverhampton was employed, though i had a back up service if needed. Today was all about not being caught out by delays or cancellations given the battering of rain overnight. Thankfully for once neither seemed to feature for the blovkade south of Rugby and north of Crewe in force. Some very odd journeys in the timetable today. Birmingham New Street to Rugby via Stafford anyone? - though i could have profited from that actually.....

When i arrived at Wolverhampton a quick check showed the unit already running its engines so no repeat of the flat battery that greeted me last time i did this. Supplies from the Co-op were obtained at 9am but the doors were not opened until 4 minutes before departure. A big tick for me then as we departed for Shrewsbury although i would be alighting at the first station on the line - Bilbrook, for the return. Having been let down many time over the holidays i plumped for the first of two possibilities departing for Stafford. I should have waited for the second as it did the crossovers into Stafford P3 from the Penkridge line whereas the earlier one did not.

A P1 departure after a 80 minute wait saw another crossover in the books but sadly no P4 line at Wolverhampton. Scheduled every hour today but none of the morning ones complied with RTT and so an opportunity was lost. After that however it was plain sailing as a very easy bit of track through P2 at Birmingham International Airport was consumed before the unusual move that was an arrival at P1 Rugby via the crossover at Long Lawton Jn and thus avoiding the flyover. The other crossover there was also stuffed into the bag with another oddity, being a P5 departure North towards Coventry. A switch at New Street to get me back to S&D brought my 6 hour adventure to a close. Stafford continues to give up its track reluctantly but the rare stuff today was a success so i will take that. I was planning another trip to the South of England this weekend but the weather means other plans will have to be put in place - or even cancelled altogether. Not going so far afield with the threat of snow....

Sandwell & Dudley	Depart	8.20​	*****	VT			stations	platforms
Wolverhampton	Arrive	8.30​	P1	VT	wait 42m		completed	completed
Wolverhampton	Depart	9.12​	P6	WM
Bilbrook	Arrive	9.18​	P2	WM	wait 19m
Bilbrook	Depart	9.37​	P1	WM
Wolverhampton	Arrive	9.42​	P2	WM	wait 12m
Wolverhampton	Depart	9.54​	P1	LM
Stafford	Arrive	10.09​	P5	LM	wait 80m
Stafford	Depart	11.29​	P1	VT
Rugby	Arrive	12.57​	P1	VT	wait 35m
Rugby	Depart	13.32​	P5	LM
Birmingham New Street	Arrive	14.16​	P3	LM	wait 6m
Birmingham New Street	Depart	14.22​	P6b	AW
Sandwell & Dudley	Arrive	14.30​	*****	AW

 

[Kite159]

Saturday Only 1F35 1011 Colchester to London Liverpool Street seems to be your platform 6 starter at Colchester, which will allow it to count under your rules (as the other departures seem to be early morning before any services have arrived). At least it also opens up more options for accommodation (i.e. overnight in Ipswich)

Sounded like a good day trip in the West Midlands

 

[gazr]

I have done P6 at Wolverhampton when it was last used for a starter for Shrewsbury. It was somewhat late in departing as it had been standing there for a few days and there was a starting issue. However, my own (very strict) rules say that i cannot count a starting or finishing platform on the day so yes i have but not done this properly under my own rules. However i notice there are a number of arrivals tomorrow prior to the 9.12 departure so plans have been amended to include this. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

I only know one source that can give that level of info looking ahead. Can i ask what your source is? A very good reason to ask as will hopefully become clear down the line.

Ive mentioned this before, but happy to do a refresh. Go to https://www.opentraintimes.com/schedules (OTT) and then hit the "+" symbol next to search. Using the three inputs, enter the following using dropdowns/text (hitting "+" for each one) :

TIPLOC equals WVRMPTN
Platform equals 6
Category is not equal to EE

Case MATTERS.

To search for TIPLOCS, I recommend this site: https://trackit.uppyjc.co.uk/TrackIT/Forms/LocationSearch.aspx

 

[All platforms]

Ive mentioned this before, but happy to do a refresh. Go to https://www.opentraintimes.com/schedules (OTT) and then hit the "+" symbol next to search. Using the three inputs, enter the following using dropdowns/text (hitting "+" for each one) :

TIPLOC equals WVRMPTN
Platform equals 6
Category is not equal to EE

Case MATTERS.

To search for TIPLOCS, I recommend this site: https://trackit.uppyjc.co.uk/TrackIT/Forms/LocationSearch.aspx

Gosh darn it i had forgotten that trick - i have the methodology saved and it did work for me back in the day so thanks for the reminder. I have been spoilt with a slightly easier search function at uttracker since i joined and whilst the original domain has gone now i do know there is an alternative to be announced to members shortly.

Saturday Only 1F35 1011 Colchester to London Liverpool Street seems to be your platform 6 starter at Colchester, which will allow it to count under your rules (as the other departures seem to be early morning before any services have arrived). At least it also opens up more options for accommodation (i.e. overnight in Ipswich)

Normally i would be all over this like a rash but i need to do something for the rest of the day to justify the trip and i am running out of targets between Norwich and Shenfield. If i knew it would still be around when Cambridge South is opened i would wait till then so a check when the summer timetable is available will be required i think. Maybe Shenfield an alternative as there are a few things there still to be done... to be honest i haven't had time to look yet is my excuse.

 

[All platforms]

I did have a quick look to see if P1 has been used recently and the answer is not since the timetable changed albeit just 2 weekends worth so far. I don't have the codes for the previous timetabled ones to look at RTT further back so i guess i will just have to wait and see whether the guard was correct in saying it was still used but not at the moment (well not what he said in fact but its close enough...).

Just a quick update on this. Last sunday RTT reports the two incoming services landed in P2 but the two outgoing services left from P1. A bit puzzling to be honest and one i will be keeping an eye on for the next few weeks.

 

[All platforms]

Day 431: Friday 10/01/2025 - Warrington Central to Chesterfield - £23.90 - Off-peak Return. Stockport to Cheadle Hulme - £2.35 - Off-peak Return. CP Winwick St CP Warrington - £2.50 (cash only machine too!!)
Total time today 424 mins - time on trains 232 mins and time waiting 192 mins. No platforms (again..) but a (very?) rare curve as well as track in Manchester that has eluded me for ever it seems.

"Stockport nil - Manchester two" or "Sheffield avoidance"

Well, today is the day i finally do the Sheffield avoiding West/South Dore Curve - both ways too dontcha know - and in pristine daylight! Its been available all week but with a poorly motor to fettle and the weather not being too kind i boxed myself into a corner so today had to be the day.. I have been looking for this for a number of years now so was going to make doubly sure i would take advantage. With my car available again just in time to make the 10.19 from Warrington Central there was no wait to speak of and onto a Turbostar for the trip over the Pennines. What a drone machine it turned out to be, and fairly busy too although quite a few did alight at various points over the Hope Valley section to make it less crowded by the time i alighted at Chesterfield where at least i could keep out of the cold.

There were two or three other chaps who alighted here too all busy noting things down so i wasn't alone in that regard. The return was on a 2 car 158 set - also busy and probably holding more passengers than the 3 car earlier. Notable for the number of people seemingly holding conference calls upon leaving Chesterfield and none reconnecting (thank goodness) once we crawled through the tunnel between Dore and Grindleford. "hello" hello" "i'm in a tunnel" and suchlike before giving up basically. Haha.

The trip over the Pennines today was fabulous. A very snowy backdrop, with a winters sun and no cloud anywhere to be seen (nor any wind thinking about it). Well worth the price of admission for once. Next up was a pointless trip to Cheadle Hulme. RTT shows the Alderley Edge trains departing Stockport onto the Fast line immediately, and something i still needed. I will probably still need this for a good while longer as it stayed on the slow and a plow through RTT for the last few weeks show the move has not been made at all in that period. No matter, upon returning the EM trains all do a P3 departure at Stockport before moving to the slow line at Slade Lane Junction. Wrong... it was so late there was no need for it to do this and so left from p4. The following service was also 20 mins late at this stage as well. Stockport once again fails to score - third time in three visits now... This is getting personal.

Perhaps my last move of the day from Oxford Road would be more successful? Well it turns out the service still showed on RTT but was missing altogether on the boards a good hour before it was due. hmmm. More on this later. In the meantime i noticed a service showing on P3 (rarely used) going to Lime St and it was a TP service. I still need the P3 track on the Piccadilly side so i scrambled to to get myself on board a service in P4 about to leave for Piccadilly and hopefully in time to get the TP back. It turns out it was a starter from p3 so a wasted trip. It did kill a bit of time though. Some time later i had 2 minutes to suss out why a NT service had just pulled into P3 going East. Yup it was definitely going to the Airport. Could i get up and down the stairs in time though. Just about, as it was stopping there to allow another airport service to pass in the P4 loop. Not seen that before but i am sure it happens at busy times. So another bit of track in the bag. Ostensibly common but in reality probably not. The move i wanted should end in a crossover to P1 at Warrington Central but they seem to be either cancelled or rarely cross over as planned it seems on checking back. More research needed then.

Once at Piccadilly i noticed the next EM going to Lime Street would terminate at Oxford Road. This would be a win whatever happened - unless they terminated in P2 - but then where would they stable it? I was hoping for a P1 arrival for the win for track from the East, or a P3 arrival and the crossover needed to get there. Turns out it was a P1 arrival where it would turn into the Norwich service in about 50 mins time (it was a while anyway). 2 bits of unexpected (and awkward for me at least) bits of track saved my day although the Dore Curve was the real big win of course.

No idea where i am out next yet but almost certainly a Sunday outing this weekend. Possibly the Hope Valley again, but it could be Sussex just as easily. The weather and the state of the motor will dictate which it is, or none of the above if too adverse.

Warrington Central	Depart	10.20​	*****	EM			stations	platforms
Chesterfield	Arrive	12.01​	P2	EM	wait 24m		completed	completed
Chesterfield	Depart	12.25​	P1	EM
Stockport	Arrive	13.27​	P3	EM	wait 24m
Stockport	Depart	13.51​	P1	NT
Cheadle Hulme	Arrive	13.55​	P2	NT	wait 28m
Cheadle Hulme	Depart	14.23​	P1	NT
Stockport	Arrive	14.27​	P4	NT	wait 18m
Stockport	Depart	14.45​	P4	EM
Manchester Oxford Road	Arrive	14.57​	P2	EM	wait 5m
Manchester Oxford Road	Depart	15.02​	P4	NT
Manchester Piccadilly	Arrive	15.05​	P13	NT	wait 3m
Manchester Piccadilly	Depart	15.08​	P14	TP
Manchester Oxford Road	Arrive	15.10​	P2	TP	wait 54m
Manchester Oxford Road	Depart	16.04​	P3	NT
Manchester Piccadilly	Arrive	16.08​	P13	NT	wait 18m
Manchester Piccadilly	Depart	16.26​	P14	EM
Manchester Oxford Road	Arrive	16.29​	P1	EM	wait 18m
Manchester Oxford Road	Depart	16.47​	P5	NT
Warrington Central	Arrive	17.24​	*****	NT

 

[Kite159]

A nice little trip across the valley of little Hope to get the Dore south curve both ways plus some microgricing around Manchester

 

[All platforms]

Day 431: Sunday 12/01/2025 - Greater Manchester Wayfarer - £23.90. Manchester Stations to Preston - £9.35 - Off-peak Return TPE only. CP Reddish North - free.
Total time today 560 mins - time on trains 261 mins and time waiting 299 mins. An unexpected bonus platform appeared along with unexpected (and unrelated) bonus track. Stockport was (almost) avoided however!

"Another trip up the Hope Valley today"

I wasn't straying too far from home today because well the weather i guess..... so it was plan A that was in play which involved another trip up the Hope Valley, this time from Reddish North which has the advantage of being relatively close to home and offering free parking, which will always gain points in its favour. Still cold enough to still have a thick coating of snow and ice on the platforms today and a near hopurs journey up to Grindleford where the first two services would be turning with track to Sheffield not available till gone 10am today. I thought i could get something hot at the station cafe but despite it being 8.59am i was told unceremoniously "we ae closed." A request as to when they would be open got me an uncertain response of "maybe 10-15 minutes." Custom lost i'm afraid. A word about the rail replacement buses at Grindleford. No on train announcements about these with all 6 who alighted there milling around in confusion for a good few minutes before one enterprising soul had the temerity to ask at the cafe. "Up the hill" was the brief response and so as a man, they all trooped up the steps/steep gradient path at the side of the cafe, cases and all rather than walking up the much lesser gradiented road. There was a sign on the platform that did show where the RRB's would be located but sadly they were some way from the exit gate and no one saw them. I was just taking a few pictures so was was seeing this from afar. and maybe i should have been a bit more proactive to point them in the right direction after one of them came back to inform me me, but i had no idea they would walk up the near vertical path.... takes all sorts...

Probably more exciting than the achieving the crossover upon departing P2 for the return trip. The weather was in contrast to Friday when it was clear skies. No such luck today and it was misty/low cloud all the way from/to Chinley. Very atmospheric really and just as enjoyable a trip in the end. I do need the 2 crossovers from the fast line onto the Airport line at Longsight Sth Jn, and i have been having the devils own job finding services that offer this at sensible times. The ones that do like my next service are just planning errors i'm sure as they just stick to the slow line (and why wouldn't they to be honest" Not entirely waster as i wanted to explore the connections to the Airport terminals at the station for some time so that kept me active for the 50 minute wait there. There was a frisson of interest as we arrived in the rear half of the platform on P3, and as i still need p3b (another optimistically timetabled variant) i perked up for all of 10 seconds before realising i was at the back of a 6 car unit and no such luck.

The next move was positional but because of a line blockade north of Preston it was essentially an Airport/Preston shuttle calling at Piccadilly and Oxford Road only with an additional call at Bolton on a pick up basis only - the return would be drop off only. However both services did show on the screens as normal calls on the day and on the on board announcements too so no idea what happened there. The hope was i would finally do the Burnden loop on the return journey and thus avoiding the platforms at Salford Crescent. Despite travelling on this general route for many many years I have only ever done this once before, & that many moons ago. Despite targetting it twice in this project i have been unlucky with cancellations, and thus stranded in Preston. Today would be success day and it was traversed without incident. However, at Bolton i got a bonus bargain in that (probably in view of the drop off only status) it crossed over into P4, and then crossed back over again after a longish dwell there. This is something that has eluded me for years. It can get planned but then is seldom actioned. I do confess i hadn't seen this move at the planning stage so it has to be one of my most fortuitous moves on this whole project. Incidentally it made the P4 move 5 times yesterday (i was on the first of these) with 6 more that didn't make the move and which used the ever present P3.

Back at Piccadiily it was time to get to Stockport purely for the return journey by a XC service destined for P4 at Piccadilly and using the scissors slip/crossovers at the last minute from the DF to do so, which is my last bit of supposed common track at the station. Plenty of rare track (7 crossovers) still but most of those are post midnight so that will have to wait for the summer. Oh i almost forgot - the last bit of good fortune today was to depart late back to Reddish, and thus use the front half of Platform 2. They never mention such things at Piccadilly so no platform derivations (apart from P13/14) and no board announcements to the effect. Tannoy announcement only with staff on the ground to direct to the front train is how it works here. It counts as a front train but you would have to be a detailed planner to see this in a timetable given no derivations. Just a small bonus at the end of a day and 1 more platform added to the total.

I don't have any prospective targets for the next 3 weeks for various reasons apart from a post midnight affair in London all week. I will see if this move occurs today/tomorrow before making any plans to see what else may be available. I will be out at the weekend somewhere as well unless the big freeze returns. Its about time i got back to the main all platforms gig, but i rarely pass up the opportunity to add some interesting bits and bobs if at all possible whilst doing this.

Reddish North	Depart	7.54​	*****	NT			stations	platforms
Grindleford	Arrive	8.50​	P2	NT	wait 38m		completed	completed
Grindleford	Depart	9.28​	P2	NT
Manchester Piccadilly	Arrive	10.32​	P3	NT	wait 34m
Manchester Piccadilly	Depart	11.06​	P13	TP
Manchester Airport	Arrive	11.23​	P3	TP	wait 48m
Manchester Airport	Depart	12.11​	P4	TP
Preston	Arrive	13.03​	P6	TP	wait 45m
Preston	Depart	13.48​	P6	TP
Manchester Piccadilly	Arrive	14.26​	P14	TP	wait 23m
Manchester Piccadilly	Depart	14.49​	P11	NT
Stockport	Arrive	15.06​	P1	NT	wait 14m
Stockport	Depart	15.20​	P3	XC
Manchester Piccadilly	Arrive	15.29​	P4	XC	wait 97m
Manchester Piccadilly	Depart	17.06​	P2f	NT				1​
Reddish North	Arrive	17.14​	*****	NT

 

[gazr]

The whole system for mapping Rail Replacement Bus stops is messed up. If the stop is away from the station, it should get it's own TIPLOC location (with coordinates) so mapping software like google can show you the way. The fact a lot RRB stations have two bus stops (one for each direction) and no way to show this also needs looking at.

Grindleford was too far (and too cold) for me to get excited about doing. Hopefully this will be used more often in future. Nice bonus at Bolton- also on my list!

 

[All platforms]

The whole system for mapping Rail Replacement Bus stops is messed up. If the stop is away from the station, it should get it's own TIPLOC location (with coordinates) so mapping software like google can show you the way. The fact a lot RRB stations have two bus stops (one for each direction) and no way to show this also needs looking at.

Grindleford was too far (and too cold) for me to get excited about doing. Hopefully this will be used more often in future. Nice bonus at Bolton- also on my list!

I agree it can be a bit of a shambles if the RRB's are not immediately visible from the platforms. At busy times on platform staff/helpers can mitigate most of any confusion however. What is unforgiveable in my eyes is that where it is less obvious where to go and there are no on train announcements. Even to me eyes it wasn't obvious where to go other than it wouldn't be right outside the station. Many punters wouldn't know that there will be a map on the station somewhere to look this info up. These should be near the station exit wherever possible. A good idea to get the location of each of these onto Google.

It won't be the full P4 loop at Bolton but i am sure i saw there were multiple saturday and sunday use from/to the Preston end in march and on 11/12 April if that's of any interest.

Oh and just spotted multiple use of the full loop Sunday 16 Feb by TP again although i would not bet the house on any/all of them doing it. Has to be done from Preston i think as well. Interestingly all services via Oxford Road are terminating in P13 and then going ECS via the Mayfield Loop over to P14 to start back again. Whether any use of P13a/P14b will be made is unknown. Loads of different services are doing this move today so perhaps unlikely given the passenger separation requirements here. I have done P13a previously on an early morning AW arrive and depart basis but P14b eludes me although it does happen i understand from time to time.

 

[gazr]

I agree it can be a bit of a shambles if the RRB's are not immediately visible from the platforms. At busy times on platform staff/helpers can mitigate most of any confusion however. What is unforgiveable in my eyes is that where it is less obvious where to go and there are no on train announcements. Even to me eyes it wasn't obvious where to go other than it wouldn't be right outside the station. Many punters wouldn't know that there will be a map on the station somewhere to look this info up. These should be near the station exit wherever possible. A good idea to get the location of each of these onto Google.

It won't be the full P4 loop at Bolton but i am sure i saw there were multiple saturday and sunday use from/to the Preston end in march and on 11/12 April if that's of any interest.

Oh and just spotted multiple use of the full loop Sunday 16 Feb by TP again although i would not bet the house on any/all of them doing it. Has to be done from Preston i think as well. Interestingly all services via Oxford Road are terminating in P13 and then going ECS via the Mayfield Loop over to P14 to start back again. Whether any use of P13a/P14b will be made is unknown. Loads of different services are doing this move today so perhaps unlikely given the passenger separation requirements here. I have done P13a previously on an early morning AW arrive and depart basis but P14b eludes me although it does happen i understand from time to time.

I imagine 14b is used for turnbacks heading South...never seen a train use it. I managed 13a on a EMR service, can't remember the circumstances, but it was a through service. Thanks for looking up Bolton, although I'm not too worried and will probably end up scoring both ends on a tour at some point...too far to go unless something else was on (still need P2 there as well). Enjoy the small break whilst the weather is below par for travelling...hopefully sunnier skies ahead.

 

[Kite159]

First time I've heard platform 4 at Bolton being referred to as a loop, considering if anything is a loop it is platform 5.

Pretty sure I've done such a move in the past at Bolton where a Northern service (which called at the likes of Moses Gate) was passed at Bolton by a late running TPE service (with the Northern using platform 4 and TPE on platform 3)

 

[All platforms]

I imagine 14b is used for turnbacks heading South...never seen a train use it. I managed 13a on a EMR service, can't remember the circumstances, but it was a through service. Thanks for looking up Bolton, although I'm not too worried and will probably end up scoring both ends on a tour at some point...too far to go unless something else was on (still need P2 there as well). Enjoy the small break whilst the weather is below par for travelling...hopefully sunnier skies ahead.

I think i managed p13a on a TFW early bird that terminated and departed from there so a bonus crossover on the return. it was a scheduled service too. Edit: And now i am repeating myself i see....

Not sure about the break being too small. If i can go out i will and have already found much to do between KX and Peterborough this Sunday with the ECML between Alexandra Palace and Stevenage shut. Lots of different routings to have a go at. Whether i stay overnight is the next question. I don't mind a fester at a larger station which has proper facilities, although heavy rain or below freezing conditions does not excite me. What i have no wish to do is do the same at places like Chetnole and Faygate or any smaller branch line where the term shelter can be misconstrued. I do have some work to do in certain parts of London and i must be 95+% done there now but for the most part what still awaits me is ruralness, and in great quantities too, with much of the South West and Scotland being my largest remaining targets with the Glasgow and Edinburgh cores largely having done too. Jan and Feb will be quieter than usual months for sure, and yes i can't wait for the longer and warmer days to come back - although my wallet may shy away from that thought. Also i do have non rail things to do occasionally and what better time of the year to get on with that than winter.....

First time I've heard platform 4 at Bolton being referred to as a loop, considering if anything is a loop it is platform 5.

Pretty sure I've done such a move in the past at Bolton where a Northern service (which called at the likes of Moses Gate) was passed at Bolton by a late running TPE service (with the Northern using platform 4 and TPE on platform 3)

Bolton was my home town base for over 40 years in two stints and i have travelled every which way to/from there in thousands of journeys in that time. Pre project of course, but i was always fascinated by the crossover/link between the two lines at the Preston end of the station. Never saw anything use that in all those times and every time i travelled that way they looked rusty and unused. This was well before the P5 line was a twinkle in the planners eye and a number of ancient sidings were there instead at the Manchester end. In fact where P5 is now was a car park and you could even drive up onto the platform area (fenced off from the station!) and was used by businesses based in the offices there to do so. I digress haha. Anyway in my minds eye back then i was racking my brain as to why the crossover existed if it was never used and could only think it was used as part of a loop in an emergency. Yes its not a loop, but a P3 avoiding route i guess and there will be other gaffes (perhaps many) like that to come - probably where old me has a pre-existing memory of something. I seem to remember calling P3 at Theale a bay platform a few years ago because i assumed it was in my ignorance. Still not made my mind up about my midweek London jaunt - a long way to go for something very awkward to do.

 

[Kite159]

I still need to do the track into the loop platform at Theale from the Newbury direction, I was going to do it on a railtour many years ago but the loop got ripped out due to late running. I've done it from the Reading direction when Newbury was getting wired up.

As for Bolton, I suspect when it only had platform 4 available for trains towards Wigan/Preston there was less flexibility to pass another service, especially when TPE were going via Wigan NW

 

[Cricketer8for9]

15 Feb. Down fast, platform 5, at Battersea Park. First time I’ve known it for a good while.

 

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15 Feb. Down fast, platform 5, at Battersea Park. First time I’ve known it for a good while.

Its a rare beast but i was lucky enough to do this on a late night visit early August 2023. Thanks for thinking of me......... My London platform needs are primarily terminus ones i haven't got around to yet but there are a few other outliers that are proving difficult to tick off, so West Drayton P5. Hayes & Harlington P5. Vauxhall P5. Kent House P4 (in use v late this week actually). Earlsfield P1. Wandsworth Town P1. Brent Cross P1. Elmstead Town P1. Chislehurst P1 and the very unlikely use of New Cross Gate P3+4. There are a couple of others that are not difficult as well. Cheers.

 

[jawr256]

As for Bolton, I suspect when it only had platform 4 available for trains towards Wigan/Preston there was less flexibility to pass another service, especially when TPE were going via Wigan NW

Before platform 5 was restored, it was possible to go through platforms 3 and 4 in both directions between Lostock and Manchester, which allowed for overtaking; albeit that would block trains from running the opposite way until the move was completed. The connection from platform 3 to the down line towards Lostock was removed during remodelling.

 

[All platforms]

Before platform 5 was restored, it was possible to go through platforms 3 and 4 in both directions between Lostock and Manchester, which allowed for overtaking; albeit that would block trains from running the opposite way until the move was completed. The connection from platform 3 to the down line towards Lostock was removed during remodelling.

Ah... that removal explains a lot with my memory being of a longish bit of curved track between P3 and the Down line many moons ago. I retired not long before P5 was being restored and i guess the link i am referring to was removed as part of that remodelling. I have of course travelled on the line up to Blackburn line from P3 on quite a few occasions although in my commuting days i don't think it was a normally timetabled move. Still to do this as part of this journey but that can wait until nearer its completion (though this type of thing is never complete of course).

 

[Kite159]

Isn't platform 3 for a Blackburn service normally only something which happens ad-hoc or out of course (i.e. a Manchester service develops a fault on P1 and the signaller puts the next Blackburn via P3 to avoid causing congestion)

 

[All platforms]

Isn't platform 3 for a Blackburn service normally only something which happens ad-hoc or out of course (i.e. a Manchester service develops a fault on P1 and the signaller puts the next Blackburn via P3 to avoid causing congestion)

That's the normal course of events for sure. I commuted up to Bromley Cross for about 20 years and about once a year we got to use P3 - usually because of a late incoming from Blackburn wanting to use P1 at the same time. I have also used P3 going into Manchester from Bromley Cross on the same basis but maybe only 2 or 3 times in that period. At the moment there are 2 booked services on a Sunday using P3 to Blackburn that way - one at 8.15 and one at 23.36 with a 23.33 Monday to Saturday.