I'm sitting watching trains leaving Belfast Central and heading across the bridge over the Lagan (it's a quiet day in the office). A fair few travel wrong road which brings to mind the question: why is it sometimes called 'bang road'? Is it because there's an almighty bang if the signaller gets it wrong?
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'Bang road'
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Is it a single line ? I always understood "Bang road" to mean "wrong road" Single line is different.
Nope, not a single line. It's a twin track with a right diverging junction on the other side of the bridge.
Is one line reversible ? Engineering works ? It's rare to go wrong road and for it to be something you are seeing many trains do I suspect something else than going bang road.
Certainly not an enthusiasts term as I've heard it many times.
Certainly not an enthusiasts term as I've heard it many times.
theageofthetra
On Moderation
Bang Road is an old term for a wrong direction move.
Definitely in use in the industry. I use it all the time!
EM2
Established Member
And yet it's the first piece of railway slang I encountered when I joined in 1988.
I think najaB's surmise is correct, it could result in a bang!
Also used when walking along the track in the same direction as trains, because if you don't move when they approach, you'll definitely feel a bang.
tvsc?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Where are you based?
RPM
Established Member
Likewise. Always been very common parlance as far as I'm aware.
Heard the term getting plenty of use throughout Lincolnshire and Nottingham too.
Especially after various resignallings, where traditionally, many train movement simply wouldn't have taken place. Such as arriving into Lincoln from the East onto platforms 1, 2 or 3 (which used to be 3, 4 and 5!).
Especially after various resignallings, where traditionally, many train movement simply wouldn't have taken place. Such as arriving into Lincoln from the East onto platforms 1, 2 or 3 (which used to be 3, 4 and 5!).
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alxndr
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DarloRich
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is it a euphemism? fnar fnar 
Is it not an authorised movement along the wrong line ie down on the up line?
Is it not an authorised movement along the wrong line ie down on the up line?
The Planner
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+1 here for Bang Road too, used it for years.
rogger13
Member
spot on.
the sniper
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It's used widely in the Midlands, by both new entrants and old hands. I'm sure it's not an enthusiasts term.
It's not so much where I am, as where I've been. Which is everywhere except the Western.
Ploughman
Established Member
Common use of the term BANG ROAD throughout the North.
Used it myself for 25 - 30 years now.
Maybe the poster from Penzance is ex GWR as they were always different to the rest of the country.
Used it myself for 25 - 30 years now.
Maybe the poster from Penzance is ex GWR as they were always different to the rest of the country.
Well as someone who's done eastern - western - southern - western - eastern - western - southern 1969 - 1980 I've never heard the term in use. I must have led a sheltered life.
Llanigraham
On Moderation
You must have Phil.
Certainly used in South Wales and on The Marches.
Certainly used in South Wales and on The Marches.
plastictaffy
Member
Could the phraes be something to do with detonators?? Usually it's an unusual move, maybe used to set back onto a failed train. The dets would bang, so that might explain it....
Rich McLean
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Regularly used on the Western as well.
That could make sense as well. The lines in question are both bi-di signalled, about one in five or six moves seem to be right-hand side running, some of them both tracks at the same time.
furnessvale
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My personal choice for its origin owes nothing to railway terminology but is simply from the same base as "bang to rights".
341o2
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Exactly, like the driver of a motor vehicle on the right hand side of the road (UK)as in
"Here is a warning to all motorists on the M1 travelling from Birmingham to London....on the northbound carriageway"
Llanigraham
On Moderation
We used it to describe any movement in the wrong direction, which was normally when one of the lines was closed for engineering, or occasionally around a broken down train.
Then its not going "bang road" If there are signals then all is well and good and trains are protected in both directions and the signal box has flow indicators and various other methods of protection.
"wrong road" is literally going the wrong way. The line is only signalled in one direction (going up a down line) No signals and no protection. Its freaky as hell. You have to sound the horn regularly and go real damn slow. It would be like driving the wrong way on the motorway. Bi-Directional lines are signalled in both directions and trains can go any way.
Oh, I get that. But watching the trains brought the question to mind. Thanks for the answers.
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