Biggest railway intersection/junction in the UK??

[Fyodor48]

Hi everyone this is my first ever post on the forum board.
I would be grateful if anyone could confirm or otherwise the following.
I recently listened to a lecture (not on railways) it was a recording from about 1984 or so. The lecturer during the talk made reference to an old pastime of Train Spotting, coming from Newcastle as a lad he would go to what he claimed was the biggest railway intersection in the world which was in the Newcastle area. He showed a picture from an old Railway magazine.
If this junction/intersection still exists could you tell me where? He added it’s where all trains from the south traverse on their way to Scotland and return obviously!!
Sincere thanks
Fyodor48

 

[Quakkerillo]

I assume you're talking about this junction, just east of Newcastle station: https://www.flickr.com/photos/twm_news/15554224063
However, it has been severely simplified/downgraded/resized nowadays: https://www.flickr.com/photos/limitofshunt/10959925373/

The line that goes to the bottom/right corner is for services towards Berwick, Edinburgh, and beyond, as well as - back in the days - local routes Nort-East of Newcastle; the line to the left bottom goes towards Sunderland and Middlesbrough, as well as having a loop around the South of the station to reconnect with what is beyond the station from the photos' viewpoint; lines towards Carlisle, as well as York/The South.

 

[30907]

Google Images of Newcastle East junction will give you a wide choice of views in both directions, showing the crossings closer up (I think that is what is strictly meant by the "largest..." and it was an engineering masterpiece) and the castle keep which was a spotters' and photographers' haunt.

The reason the junction is so much simpler now is that nearly all the local traffic has transferred underground to the Metro. It must be much easier to maintain and I think it allows higher speeds.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Whilst the junction at Newcastle was impressive I doubt that it was ever the biggest in Britain, let alone the world. I suppose that the specific term ‘intersection’ might debar somewhere like Clapham Junction or the approaches to London Bridge but these had and still have far more trains (purely as examples).

Welcome to the Forum, Fyodor48.

 

[alistairlees]

Whilst the junction at Newcastle was impressive I doubt that it was ever the biggest in Britain, let alone the world. I suppose that the specific term ‘intersection’ might debar somewhere like Clapham Junction or the approaches to London Bridge but these had and still have far more trains (purely as examples).

Welcome to the Forum, Fyodor48.

I think perhaps it was the largest / most complex diamond crossing in Britain, and that's what the OP was referring to? As opposed to the largest intersection generally? Otherwise I would agree.

 

[delt1c]

I can just remember the original , with all the diamond crossings and points, must have been a signalmans nightmare to operate. As an aside just wondering how many diamond crossings are left

 

[alistairlees]

I can just remember the original , with all the diamond crossings and points, must have been a signalmans nightmare to operate. As an aside just wondering how many diamond crossings are left

None. It’s just one double slip. I think Lewisham is probably in with a shout for most diamond crossings in one location - eight I think at the west end of the station.

 

[Taunton]

Clapham Junction may well have the most trains passing, but they broadly run parallel without too much intersecting.

Newcastle east end may well once upon a time have had the most diamond crossings all in one place. I can't think of anywhere else that even came close.

 

[Fyodor48]

I assume you're talking about this junction, just east of Newcastle station: https://www.flickr.com/photos/twm_news/15554224063
However, it has been severely simplified/downgraded/resized nowadays: https://www.flickr.com/photos/limitofshunt/10959925373/

The line that goes to the bottom/right corner is for services towards Berwick, Edinburgh, and beyond, as well as - back in the days - local routes Nort-East of Newcastle; the line to the left bottom goes towards Sunderland and Middlesbrough, as well as having a loop around the South of the station to reconnect with what is beyond the station from the photos' viewpoint; lines towards Carlisle, as well as York/The South.

I am very grateful to you for taking the time to reply, as well as giving me so much up to date information. When the gentleman referred to it being the biggest junction of its type in the world, with an old railway magazine to support his assertion. But I do think that he was referring to a time when he was a lad doing train-spotting which was probably back in the 50’s and 60’s .
Nevertheless I look forward travelling down from Glasgow to take some pictures.
Again, thank you so so much for taking the time to put together such an exhaustive reply.
Best
Fyodor48