Trivia: Obsolete or unusual stop position or boarding point markers etc.

[paul1609]

A few years ago, I remember seeing "444 Car Stop" boards at Wareham - that seems a very long tain to cater for! On a more serious note, Redhill's 'new' platform 0 has a minimum of 4/5 car stop boards so the three car GWR 165/6s go right up to it, meaning that 90% of the train is beyond the meagre canopy and passengers have a needlessly long walk back to the stairs to exit or interchange. All for the lack of a single 2/3car board at miniscule cost! I've seen many people miss catching trains there because of the needless distance between train and stairs. Southern taking care of their fleet only and ignoring the needs of other TOCs.

The situation at Redhill is done for simplicity a 165/6 coach is approx 3 metres longer than a class 377 or 700 so a 3 car 165 is around 3 1/2 377 cars and 2x 165 cars is about 4 5/8s of a 377. as trains reverse there there is a minimum sighting distance for the starting signal. It makes sense to have the stopping point in the same place for all units.

 

[O L Leigh]

A few years ago, I remember seeing "444 Car Stop" boards at Wareham - that seems a very long tain to cater for!

And I thought Derby had long platforms. There you have 170 Car Stop boards, and they're only halfway down the platform. *Ahem*

One oddity I've seen but don't understand is a Z Stop board at Banbury. Clearly that's not on the route of any sleeper service, so what that's for I could not say.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

My all time favourite is in Clapham Yard-the road nearest to platform 6 has at its "country" end, a series of markers displaying "TMST" with an upside down black triange. First found these on the way to school once and thought it was amazing the siding was obviously once a designated berth for Eurostars many moons ago.

 

[43055]

And I thought Derby had long platforms. There you have 170 Car Stop boards, and they're only halfway down the platform. *Ahem*

That's so the 170's stop before the Axle Counter in the middle of the platform. It's the same with '1 car stop' at the 'b' end where the Crewe services normally stop for the 153's.

 

[LowLevel]

That's so the 170's stop before the Axle Counter in the middle of the platform. It's the same with '1 car stop' at the 'b' end where the Crewe services normally stop for the 153's.

Superb design that was, "partial traverse error"

Should have stuck with track circuits for the station area like they did at Nottingham, you know where you are with those and if you do go a bit wrong it doesn't bugger the system up.

 

[StephenHunter]

And I thought Derby had long platforms. There you have 170 Car Stop boards, and they're only halfway down the platform. *Ahem*

One oddity I've seen but don't understand is a Z Stop board at Banbury. Clearly that's not on the route of any sleeper service, so what that's for I could not say.

Sleepers did use to serve Banbury.

 

[MrEd]

Sleepers did use to serve Banbury.

How many years ago was that though, and where did they run to? I’m thinking that it must have been pre-Beeching, i.e. in the steam era?

 

[jopsuk]

some of the platforms around the Cambridge area are gaining a right mess of stop boards, with special ones for Thameslink Class 700s, GA 755s (some of which have pan up/pan down instructions) and I believe now Class 720s, in addition to those for 4/8/12 car 20m carriage units (Class 317, 321, 379 and 387).

Plus on the West Anglia some stations have on single poles stacked 4/8/12 boards due to using different colours for each, so where the stop position is the same for all trains all three are apparently needed

 

[_toommm_]

Leaving Ashburys, you have these unusual stop boards with ‘3 Car’ on the top. Does anyone know what these are used for and why they’re so unusually designed?

 

[Kite159]

Axminster, maybe even Honiton with HST stop boards.

 

[Deafdoggie]

Kidsgrove has a "VT4/5" marker on platform 2 (the down Manchester platform) despite no Voyager trains calling.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Leaving Ashburys, you have these unusual stop boards with ‘3 Car’ on the top. Does anyone know what these are used for and why they’re so unusually designed?

View attachment 89632

They're "rear clear" markers rather than stop car markers.

They're used for reversing moves. Tells you you're inside the signal so that's where you stop to change ends

 

[HamworthyGoods]

How many years ago was that though, and where did they run to? I’m thinking that it must have been pre-Beeching, i.e. in the steam era?

The Glasgow to Poole sleeper ceased around 1992

 

[_toommm_]

They're "rear clear" markers rather than stop car markers.

They're used for reversing moves. Tells you you're inside the signal so that's where you stop to change ends

Ahh thank you!

 

[221101 Voyager]

I believe the Gold / Blue / Purple Zone actually dates from InterCity days pre-privatisation rather than Great Western; I’ve definitely seen these signs on the WCML.

Yes, I can remember announcements at certain WCML stations saying which zone First Class was in, I think the signs were still at some of them a few years ago - possibly there are still some in situ?

I know for a fact my local stop at Milton Keynes Central has all of them in place still.

Here is a few photos where some of the signs can be seen.

Purple Zone Sign - Platform 6

221106 at Milton Keynes Central

Explore James Stokes InterCity 2021's photos on Flickr. James Stokes InterCity 2021 has uploaded 13048 photos to Flickr.

www.flickr.com

Gold Zone Sign - Platform 6

LNWR advert at Milton Keynes Central | 25th October 2020

Explore James Stokes InterCity 2021's photos on Flickr. James Stokes InterCity 2021 has uploaded 13048 photos to Flickr.

www.flickr.com

Blue Zone Sign - Platform 5

350404 at Milton Keynes Central | 25th October 2020

2K12 1151 Milton Keynes Central to London Euston.

www.flickr.com

Orange Zone Signs Platforms 3 & 6

390129 at Milton Keynes Central | 3rd November 2020

1M11 1037 Glasgow Central to London Euston

www.flickr.com

Why is there an orange zone, blue zone and purple zone, does anyone know?

At a guess, Gold Zone is definitely first class, right?

 

[Steddenm]

Gold was first class, orange is where the buffet was, purple was standard class and blue is where smoking used to be. Well AFAIK.

EDIT: See correction below

 

[dciuk]

Axminster, maybe even Honiton with HST stop boards.

I think Pinhoe and possibly Wimple/Feniton also have these. Probably date back to before the Axminster loop when diverted Paddington services called at these stations in lieu of the curtailed Waterloo service, although Axminster and Honiton have probably seen HST's call more recently. Presumably no more since the Paddington services are now run by class 800/802, unless Cross Country Trains decide to use this diversion

 

[61653 HTAFC]

They've been extended now so into longer applies, but Deighton had 3-car class 158 boards located a few metres beyond the foot of the platform end ramps, from when the "Grand Tour" service called there.

 

[O L Leigh]

That's so the 170's stop before the Axle Counter in the middle of the platform. It's the same with '1 car stop' at the 'b' end where the Crewe services normally stop for the 153's.

Yes I am aware of their purpose. I was just joining in the comedy about apparently ridiculously long platforms.

The Glasgow to Poole sleeper ceased around 1992

These boards are not from that period (assuming that there would have been boards for loco-hauled services at that point in time).

 

[1D53]

York retains a number of GNER and Northern Spirit stop boards.

 

[Halish Railway]

They've been extended now so into longer applies, but Deighton had 3-car class 158 boards located a few metres beyond the foot of the platform end ramps, from when the "Grand Tour" service called there.

Please enlighten me on what this “Grand Tour” service is.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Please enlighten me on what this “Grand Tour” service is.

During the Serco/Abellio Northern franchise, for a while the Wakefield to Huddersfield, and the Huddersfield to Selby via Leeds and Bradford services were joined at Huddersfield in order to save a unit. This service was advertised in full at either end (but with false destinations at Leeds and Huddersfield) so was nicknamed the "Grand Tour" by both staff and enthusiasts.

The advantage of more efficient diagramming was rather negated by the use of 3-car 158s on some of the services (it interworked with other Calder Valley services) which was hugely overcapacity for the HUD-WKF section. This also meant that some of the busier Calder Valley services were run with a single 2-car Pacer.

 

[221101 Voyager]

Gold was first class, orange is where the buffet was, purple was standard class and blue is where smoking used to be. Well AFAIK.

Interesting, Thanks for that info as I now know what they all mean.

 

[Steddenm]

Interesting, Thanks for that info as I now know what they all mean.

I have a correction to make...

Gold	First Class (London End)
Blue	First Class and Buffet
Purple	Standard Class
Orange	Standard Class with Smoking (Country End)

Some WCML stations still have the coloured zones in situ.

Other operators, including GWR, now have numbered zones (1-10) which tell passengers where each coach is.

 

[hexagon789]

I know for a fact my local stop at Milton Keynes Central has all of them in place still.

Here is a few photos where some of the signs can be seen.

Purple Zone Sign - Platform 6

221106 at Milton Keynes Central

Explore James Stokes InterCity 2021's photos on Flickr. James Stokes InterCity 2021 has uploaded 13048 photos to Flickr.

www.flickr.com

Gold Zone Sign - Platform 6

LNWR advert at Milton Keynes Central | 25th October 2020

Explore James Stokes InterCity 2021's photos on Flickr. James Stokes InterCity 2021 has uploaded 13048 photos to Flickr.

www.flickr.com

Blue Zone Sign - Platform 5

350404 at Milton Keynes Central | 25th October 2020

2K12 1151 Milton Keynes Central to London Euston.

www.flickr.com

Orange Zone Signs Platforms 3 & 6

390129 at Milton Keynes Central | 3rd November 2020

1M11 1037 Glasgow Central to London Euston

www.flickr.com

Why is there an orange zone, blue zone and purple zone, does anyone know?

At a guess, Gold Zone is definitely first class, right?

Interesting, for some reason I only recall 3 zones but that's just my memory.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That seems like they retrofitted to platform 6 (which was added in the 2000s, or was it early 2010s?) even though they were no longer used by then!

The Zones were orange, purple, blue and gold, in no particular order. They were just used for coach positions. Though gold was usually at the south end so did represent 1st.

 

[hexagon789]

That seems like they retrofitted to platform 6 (which was added in the 2000s, or was it early 2010s?) even though they were no longer used by then!

The Zones were orange, purple, blue and gold, in no particular order. They were just used for coach positions. Though gold was usually at the south end so did represent 1st.

I definitely remember announcements for 'First Class in the 'Gold Zone'".

 

[Ianno87]

That seems like they retrofitted to platform 6 (which was added in the 2000s, or was it early 2010s?) even though they were no longer used by then!

Presumably, the actual signs must either have been manufactured, or pilfered from somewhere else?

 

[bearhugger]

There are still 373 stop markers at some locations on the East Coast Main Line. There are also still 91+Mark 4 stop boards at the stations north of York which are no longer served by 91s.

I will have to keep an eye out for the 91 boards next time I'm at Darlington or Thirsk.

 

[Whistler40145]

Does Preston still have the markers for DVTs, along with the coloured zone areas?