Killingworth
Established Member
Some pictorial reminders below of the area of the major bottleneck. The train of empties was held in Dore & Totley station to await a path to go north. It was followed down the Hope Valley by another that had to ease itself onto the MML to go south via Bradway Tunnel after crossing Dore West and Dore South Junctions.
The train is taking a fairly tight curve with a 50 restriction for passenger services. Until 1985 it was double track and should be again in another 3-4 years. However the forces of wheels on the curve are considerable, be they fast passenger or heavy freight. Work is constantly being done to rectify movement of the track and in hot weather a watchman is stationed here to monitor it throughout peak hours of sunlight. Hopefully the design of the redoubled track may take this better into account.
In the background you'll see the sensitive area of ancient oak woodland that shouldn't need to be disturbed to excavate space for the new loop behind this train. That will allow a train to await a path between the two routes. The signal protects Dore West Junction, the start of the intended loop/chord.
Currently it's possible for freights to stand in the single track section to await a path because passenger services are missing. The pictures show how much space they take up.
Dore & Totley used to have 4 platforms, all long enough to take 6 carriages. Now there's one that takes 4. There was a major junction to the north with 4 tracks into Sheffield, but after 1985 they were reduced to two. The HVCS restores two 6 carriage platforms but HS2 may restore a 3rd track into Sheffield - by 2040?
The train is taking a fairly tight curve with a 50 restriction for passenger services. Until 1985 it was double track and should be again in another 3-4 years. However the forces of wheels on the curve are considerable, be they fast passenger or heavy freight. Work is constantly being done to rectify movement of the track and in hot weather a watchman is stationed here to monitor it throughout peak hours of sunlight. Hopefully the design of the redoubled track may take this better into account.
In the background you'll see the sensitive area of ancient oak woodland that shouldn't need to be disturbed to excavate space for the new loop behind this train. That will allow a train to await a path between the two routes. The signal protects Dore West Junction, the start of the intended loop/chord.
Currently it's possible for freights to stand in the single track section to await a path because passenger services are missing. The pictures show how much space they take up.
Dore & Totley used to have 4 platforms, all long enough to take 6 carriages. Now there's one that takes 4. There was a major junction to the north with 4 tracks into Sheffield, but after 1985 they were reduced to two. The HVCS restores two 6 carriage platforms but HS2 may restore a 3rd track into Sheffield - by 2040?