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Steam at Mallaig

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bionic

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Just out of interest, could someone kindly explain the process for the Jacobite steam engine running around its train at Mallaig to run back to Fort William.

I saw a recent photo of the rear coach tight up to the blocks in platform 2 ready to head back south. I'm assuming the train originally comes into platform 1 and there are a number of shunts involved to get back to platform 2 for the return leg, some of them presumably blind shunts.
 
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david737

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You are correct, it arrives in plat 1 runs round and then shunts to plat 2 where it can be shut in to clear the Arisaig-Mallaig section for the Scotrail service train. I think the same applies to the afternoon trip as well.
 
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30907

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david737 said:
You are correct, it arrives in plat 1 runs round and then shunts to plat 2 where it can be shut in to clear the Arisaig-Mallaig section for the Scotrail service train. I think the same applies to the afternoon trip as well.
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Correct according to RTT.
 
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bionic

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Ok, cheers folks. I did wonder how it worked with all the single line token block working up there. I'll have to try to get my hands on a track diagram of Mallaig to see how they get the loco out.
 
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Tomnick

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bionic said:
Ok, cheers folks. I did wonder how it worked with all the single line token block working up there. I'll have to try to get my hands on a track diagram of Mallaig to see how they get the loco out.
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There's a run-round loop on the west side, adjacent to the platform 1 line - it's a fairly typical run round operation: draw forward clear of the points at the north end, back through the loop and out the other end onto the single line, then back onto the train. There's definitely a ground frame to control the movements at the south end, as well as the shunt into platform 2 and subsequent departure, and I'd guess that there's one at the other end too. There's a bit of an explanation of how the ground frames are released under RETB here.
 
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bionic

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Tomnick said:
There's a run-round loop on the west side, adjacent to the platform 1 line - it's a fairly typical run round operation: draw forward clear of the points at the north end, back through the loop and out the other end onto the single line, then back onto the train. There's definitely a ground frame to control the movements at the south end, as well as the shunt into platform 2 and subsequent departure, and I'd guess that there's one at the other end too. There's a bit of an explanation of how the ground frames are released under RETB here.
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That link was a very informative read. Cheers.
 
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Tomnick

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bionic said:
That link was a very informative read. Cheers.
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You've got me curious now! There's some more specific information here which confirms that there's a ground frame at each end. I'd guess that an ordinary token ("section token") can't be issued from Glenfinnan (long section) or Arisaig with a train occupying platform 1 at Mallaig, but I could be wrong. It'd probably still be preferable to shunt the Jacobite clear into platform 2 than to faff about with the ground frame to get the unit into and back out of platform 2, even if it is possible for it to approach with platform 1 occupied. Fascinating stuff!
 
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bionic

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Good video. Trademark safe working practice from the WCR crews there, jumping off while the train is still moving. I think I've got the gist of what goes on there with the steam now though. The RETB links were a very interesting read. An education. Thanks all.
 
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