Ribblehead Station layout

Leylandlad · 24 Apr 2014

Called in for a while today as I was in the area...

Always makes me wonder why did they bother building the northbound platform (1993)?

BR single tracked the viaduct early 1990s so the track could be moved into the middle. Why didn't they single track it through the station and use the old platform both ways?

Could still have had access from the old quarry siding onto the single line.

Would have made no real difference to capacity, anyway the signal to access the single line section as at the south end of the northbound platform anyway!

Anyone any ideas?

BTW...also saw an unidentified A4+support coach heading north between Settle Jnc and Station. Was it going to Carlisle?!

Cheers

RailUK Forums

yorksrob · 24 Apr 2014

It is a fair question.

I've a feeling that the line over the viaduct was singled before Ribblehead station had properly re-opened, therefore BR probably didn't see the point in continuing the single track through the station.

As I understand it, the new down platform was at least partly a Friends of the Settle - Carlisle project.

(please feel free to correct if I'm wrong).

On the plus side, if there is a pathing conflict, at least a down passenger train can wait in the platform whilst an up train passes, rather than having to wait, then stop at the station.

Tomnick · 24 Apr 2014

It can't - the down passenger would have to wait just short of the station.

yorksrob · 24 Apr 2014

Tomnick said:
It can't - the down passenger would have to wait just short of the station.

That's a bit of a shame. I guess it must have been more expensive to extend the single line section than build a new platform.

Leylandlad · 24 Apr 2014

yorksrob said:
It is a fair question.

I've a feeling that the line over the viaduct was singled before Ribblehead station had properly re-opened, therefore BR probably didn't see the point in continuing the single track through the station.

As I understand it, the new down platform was at least partly a Friends of the Settle - Carlisle project.

(please feel free to correct if I'm wrong).

On the plus side, if there is a pathing conflict, at least a down passenger train can wait in the platform whilst an up train passes, rather than having to wait, then stop at the station.

The intermediate stations reopened in 1986. Pretty sure the singling was early 90's when they did the viaduct work.

There was no northbound service from Ribblehead until the new platform was built.

As you say, presumably down to cost. It always bugs me though every time I visit why they did it that way :roll:

andythebrave · 24 Apr 2014

Tomnick said:
It can't - the down passenger would have to wait just short of the station.

Isn't there one of those (don't know the name for them) ground level small signals beyond the north end of the northbound platform to control access to the single section?

yorksrob · 24 Apr 2014

Leylandlad said:
As you say, presumably down to cost. It always bugs me though every time I visit why they did it that way :roll:

It certainly looks very dramatic at night if you stand at the viaduct end and watch the lights receding into the distance.

Tomnick · 24 Apr 2014

andythebrave said:
Isn't there one of those (don't know the name for them) ground level small signals beyond the north end of the northbound platform to control access to the single section?

The Down Home is a three-aspect colour light signal, just in rear of the platform. I didn't think there were any GPLs (ground position light!) around there at all, but you couldn't drop a passenger train down to one to await the single line in any case.

Leylandlad · 24 Apr 2014

yorksrob said:
It certainly looks very dramatic at night if you stand at the viaduct end and watch the lights receding into the distance.

Agreed....

Even more dramatic if you've miscalculated your walk time up Ingleborough or wherever and that's the last train disappearing into the distance :lol:

yorksrob · 24 Apr 2014

Leylandlad said:
Agreed....

Even more dramatic if you've miscalculated your walk time up Ingleborough or wherever and that's the last train disappearing into the distance

I know that feeling

(Except the walking up Ingleborough bit :lol:

).

EltonRoad · 24 Apr 2014

Leylandlad said:
BTW...also saw an unidentified A4+support coach heading north between Settle Jnc and Station. Was it going to Carlisle?!

Cheers

60009 Union of South Africa en route from York NRM to Bo'ness via Carlisle!

TheBigD · 24 Apr 2014

Leylandlad said:
The intermediate stations reopened in 1986. Pretty sure the singling was early 90's when they did the viaduct work.

There was no northbound service from Ribblehead until the new platform was built.

As you say, presumably down to cost. It always bugs me though every time I visit why they did it that way :roll:

The line across the viaduct was singled in 1985...

Xenophon PCDGS · 24 Apr 2014

The original northbound platform was demolished in 1970 in order to enable the construction of the transfer sidings that were used by the limestone trains which carried the output from Ribblehead Quarry.

Crossover · 24 Apr 2014

I get a feeling there may be a GPL on the exit from the sidings near the platform, though naturally irrelevant to the mainline anyway and not applicable to passenger services

55018ballymoss · 25 Apr 2014

And there are also rumours that the line will be restored to double track over the viaduct eventually, as running a single line down the middle of the viaduct is actually causing more damage to the viaduct than double track (as that is what the viaduct structure was designed for).
From an operator's point of view, double track would just make life easier, and might just take out a serious speed restriction on a steep climb...

RichmondCommu · 30 Apr 2014

55018ballymoss said:
And there are also rumours that the line will be restored to double track over the viaduct eventually, as running a single line down the middle of the viaduct is actually causing more damage to the viaduct than double track (as that is what the viaduct structure was designed for).
From an operator's point of view, double track would just make life easier, and might just take out a serious speed restriction on a steep climb...

If this was to happen I'm assuming that the down loop at Blea Moor would be reinstated?

Tomnick · 30 Apr 2014

Was there ever a down loop there? I thought that there was just a single-ended refuge siding on the down side. I'm not saying that a loop wouldn't be useful, just that reinstating a siding with just a trailing connection wouldn't achieve much!

61653 HTAFC · 30 Apr 2014

Tomnick said:
Was there ever a down loop there? I thought that there was just a single-ended refuge siding on the down side. I'm not saying that a loop wouldn't be useful, just that reinstating a siding with just a trailing connection wouldn't achieve much!

Photos from around 1980 appear to show loops on either side of the mains.

Tomnick · 30 Apr 2014

Just researched further, and yes, that was indeed the case - thanks for the correction!

RichmondCommu · 30 Apr 2014

61653 HTAFC said:
Photos from around 1980 appear to show loops on either side of the mains.

The down loop closed when the route over the viaduct was singled.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Tomnick said:
Just researched further, and yes, that was indeed the case - thanks for the correction!

In all fairness there were just refuge sidings until the early 1940's when the loops were installed.

55018ballymoss · 1 May 2014

RichmondCommu said:
The down loop closed when the route over the viaduct was singled.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

In all fairness there were just refuge sidings until the early 1940's when the loops were installed.

That is not quite correct.
I have a photo from the early eighties which shows both up and down loops, and a trailing connection from the down loop into a down cripple siding.

As for if they would reinstate a down loop if the viaduct was redoubled, it would depend on the cost/benefit analysis.
From a selfish point of view it would be nice if they extended the down loop at Hellifield so I could recess coal trains without having any awkward propelling moves, but again not sure it would pass any analysis.

RichmondCommu · 2 May 2014

55018ballymoss said:
That is not quite correct.
I have a photo from the early eighties which shows both up and down loops, and a trailing connection from the down loop into a down cripple siding.

As for if they would reinstate a down loop if the viaduct was redoubled, it would depend on the cost/benefit analysis.
From a selfish point of view it would be nice if they extended the down loop at Hellifield so I could recess coal trains without having any awkward propelling moves, but again not sure it would pass any analysis.

To be honest I didn't mention the down cripple as I didn't think it was particularly relevant

. If the down loop was to be reinstated I very much doubt that the cripple siding would receive the same attention although I think the track work still exists. Surely the reinstatement of the loop would be a no brainer given the capacity improvements that it would be bring?

apk55 · 2 May 2014

The loops at Blea Moor would have been used a lot in the past. The southbound loop would have been used for freight trains to pin wagon brakes before the steep descent to Settle junction and the nortbound loop used to detach and hold bankers before they returned south.

Ribblehead Station layout

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