I talked about this briefly a while ago and wanted to re-visit the question of mileages.
Looking at the railway data site and comparing the distances with my working timetables from the 1950's and '60s there's a difference of around 11 chains (11 less on the newer mileage).
Now I make 11 chains roughly the distance from what was Rose Grove West box to the West junction itself.
Looking at the railway data site, Station Road bridge just before what was Padiham station is marked at 1 mile 40 chains. From this bridge to the station's platform is 2 chains giving the station at 1 mile 42 chains.
If we add on the 11 chains it marks the station at 1 mile 53 chains, exactly as my WTT's state.
I can only think that the modern mileage is from when the area was re-signalled as part of the Preston power box upgrade in 1973, and that the newer milage then actually starts from the physical junction as the signal box has gone, in other words the difference of 11 chains fewer? Do you think that's right?
And as for my list of bridges on my old branch, what distances would be best to use? those from say the '50s and '60s or the newer ones?
And there's one other thing, the railway data site shows Padiham viaduct (west of the former station) at 1 mile 55 chains which I know is correct from the 1960's - the thing is - why has this distance not been changed to 1 mile 44 chains? any ideas?
We also have something similar on the East Lancs line, I was trying to find out where bridge 56 was, it's the railway bridge that spans the Leeds & Liverpool canal just to the west of Rose Grove station. In 1986 this was referenced as being between 20 and 20 and a quarter mile posts, however when you look on the old OS maps it's actually between mile posts Manchester 26 and 27. Did BR put in place the newer miles posts?
Looking at the railway data site and comparing the distances with my working timetables from the 1950's and '60s there's a difference of around 11 chains (11 less on the newer mileage).
Now I make 11 chains roughly the distance from what was Rose Grove West box to the West junction itself.
Looking at the railway data site, Station Road bridge just before what was Padiham station is marked at 1 mile 40 chains. From this bridge to the station's platform is 2 chains giving the station at 1 mile 42 chains.
If we add on the 11 chains it marks the station at 1 mile 53 chains, exactly as my WTT's state.
I can only think that the modern mileage is from when the area was re-signalled as part of the Preston power box upgrade in 1973, and that the newer milage then actually starts from the physical junction as the signal box has gone, in other words the difference of 11 chains fewer? Do you think that's right?
And as for my list of bridges on my old branch, what distances would be best to use? those from say the '50s and '60s or the newer ones?
And there's one other thing, the railway data site shows Padiham viaduct (west of the former station) at 1 mile 55 chains which I know is correct from the 1960's - the thing is - why has this distance not been changed to 1 mile 44 chains? any ideas?
We also have something similar on the East Lancs line, I was trying to find out where bridge 56 was, it's the railway bridge that spans the Leeds & Liverpool canal just to the west of Rose Grove station. In 1986 this was referenced as being between 20 and 20 and a quarter mile posts, however when you look on the old OS maps it's actually between mile posts Manchester 26 and 27. Did BR put in place the newer miles posts?
Last edited: