TRIVIA - “reversing loops”

[swt_passenger]

As docks lines have come up, I’d also raise the question of loops allowing access to a TRSMD at both ends, such as next to Eastleigh. Do lines have to be formally passenger cleared, or just have a physical route available?

 

[saismee]

Which direction becomes Up/Down if a line loops back on itself? Does it just switch at an arbitrary point?

 

[swt_passenger]

Which direction becomes Up/Down if a line loops back on itself? Does it just switch at an arbitrary point?

There will usually be a specific chainage shown in the sectional appendix, but I expect there’s no pattern to exactly where they’re put. The same problem of an up/down switch also occurs in every triangular junction, eg coming out of Portsmouth is up to London via Havant and also via Fareham, with the top of the ‘Farlington Triangle’ having the change of direction.

 

[Haywain]

It's not NR but can I add the Northern Line of London Underground, anything from High Barnet, Mill Hill East or Edgware via Charing Cross can use the Kennington loop to head back from whence it came.

 

[edwin_m]

Approaching Stratford from the direction of Tottenham Hale?

 

[D6975]

Temple Meads via St Philips Marsh, not that anything ever would go that way. And Stratford from the Lea Valley

The evening Taunton stopper used to do the SPM loop, enabling it to return to Taunton without running round at TM. The end of loco hauled stoppers put an end to it. Nowadays I'm not even sure it's cleared for regular passenger services.
ps just checked Tottenham Hale-Stratford and it looks like this is still possible.

 

[Haywain]

There are also possibilities for this using such as the loop at Drax power station, or the loop through the sidings at Eastleigh depot (which I did many years ago on a railtour!).

 

[Western Sunset]

The evening Taunton stopper used to do the SPM loop, enabling it to return to Taunton without running round at TM. The end of loco hauled stoppers put an end to it. Nowadays I'm not even sure it's cleared for regular passenger services.

It was used a few years back for passenger stuff when there was extensive engineering work around Bristol TM.

 

[swt_passenger]

Approaching Stratford from the direction of Tottenham Hale?

Also posts #16 and #27 - so it must be true…

 

[steamybrian]

Dungeness loop on the RH&DR

 

[Haywain]

Dungeness loop on the RH&DR

There are large numbers of minor railways that end in a loop but they are neither NR lines or operating "all-stations stoppers".

 

[steamybrian]

There are large numbers of minor railways that end in a loop but they are neither NR lines or operating "all-stations stoppers".

Where are "the large numbers of minor railways..."
the RHDR is a 13 miles long narrow gauge line and hardly "minor".
Most trains stop at all stations (a few miss St Marys Bay and "The Warren" is served by a special trains)

 

[Haywain]

Where are "the large numbers of minor railways..."

All over the country.

the RHDR is a 13 miles long narrow gauge line and hardly "minor".

Minor as in not National Rail.

 

[D6975]

It was used a few years back for passenger stuff when there was extensive engineering work around Bristol TM.

Yes, that's when I did it. I caught a short HST from Parkway to Weston (and another back) and I seem to recall that the service operated under some kind of special measures. We certainly went at very low speed, barely more than walking pace.