Trivia: Services that reverse away from stations/platforms?

[Taunton]

The Southall IC125 accident in 1997 was attributed in no small part to a known defective and isolated AWS on departure from Swansea, and then not going round the triangle at Landore and reversing to put the opposite, good cab leading. Was this ever even contemplated before the accident, and was it ever done afterwards?

 

[Minilad]

Not sure if it's in the current timetable, but certainly last year one XC a day (can't remember if it was 2046 or 2146?) from Reading to Birmingham reversed at Foxhall Junction, just after Didcot, so to keep a parly service on the west-north curve there.

Oddly, the display on the outside doors of the train (always a Voyager) at Reading displayed "Foxhall Junction" as the next station, while the PiS inside (if not overridden by the driver) would announce "The next station is Foxhall Junction". Just one slight problem: no platforms...

2146 and yes it still goes that way. I did it myself last week. It also runs via Stechford - Aston - Soho between International and New St and it isn't unknown for a few track basher types to be on the train specifically for the routing.
I have had an instance of being routed via the Didcot avoiding line and the guard telling me he had an irate passenger on board as he wanted to do the other curve at Didcot!

When XC Birmingham - Manchester trains are diverted via Nuneaton and the Trent Valley they stop to reverse at Nuneaton and the doors are not opened

 

[30907]

I think it may be 2 per day, Monday-Sat.

Just thought, does Bere Alston count?

It did originally, because the points were beyond the station, but that was changed a good while back so trains now reverse in the former down platform.

 

[TheEdge]

Not quite fulfilling the criteria but worthy of mention is EMT's occasional use of the Ely Avoiding loop to turn 158 units en route at the loss of the Ely stop.

Used last week when the tailing cab at Norwich was defective and normal reversing at Ely would have put said defective cab at the front.

 

[Taunton]

Nobody has mentioned Limerick Junction so far.

In recent years the layout has been changed to be more straightforward, but it is at the crossing of the main Dublin-Cork with the cross country Limerick-Waterford lines, which cross at right angles on the flat just north of the station.

The station, a principal call on both routes, had platforms not on the main lines, but a long double-length through platform, Cambridge style. Dublin-Cork, and vice-versa, trains would pass it on the main line, then reverse across crossovers into the platform. As it was common for trains both ways to be there at the same time, they would stand with the locomotives facing one another. They departed directly over the same crossovers (not at the same moment ...).

Trains from Waterford would cross the main line, then reverse down a connection into their platform, while those to Waterford would reverse after arriving direct from Limerick back to the junction, then set off forward again across the main line.

I believe the local expression was "Every train has to go through it or past it before it can get into it".

 

[70014IronDuke]

Not quite fulfilling the criteria but worthy of mention is EMT's occasional use of the Ely Avoiding loop to turn 158 units en route at the loss of the Ely stop.

Used last week when the tailing cab at Norwich was defective and normal reversing at Ely would have put said defective cab at the front.

Very neat, but what do passengers for/from Ely do?

I suppose pax for are booted off at Thetford/Brandon, but Ely to Nottingham/Sheffield etc must be right miffed. :cry:

xxxx
EDIT ps OTOH, I suppose it's one way of maintaining route knowledge that way

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Nobody has mentioned Limerick Junction so far.

In recent years the layout has been changed to be more straightforward, but it is at the crossing of the main Dublin-Cork with the cross country Limerick-Waterford lines, which cross at right angles on the flat just north of the station.

The station, a principal call on both routes, had platforms not on the main lines, but a long double-length through platform, Cambridge style. Dublin-Cork, and vice-versa, trains would pass it on the main line, then reverse across crossovers into the platform. As it was common for trains both ways to be there at the same time, they would stand with the locomotives facing one another. They departed directly over the same crossovers (not at the same moment ...).

Trains from Waterford would cross the main line, then reverse down a connection into their platform, while those to Waterford would reverse after arriving direct from Limerick back to the junction, then set off forward again across the main line.

I believe the local expression was "Every train has to go through it or past it before it can get into it".

I remember reading about the unusual arrangements there. What's the situation today?

I'm not sure, but I have a vague memory of an unusual way of working at Sandhills during closure of the tunnel through Liverpool city centre. Inbound Ormskirk services would form the next Southport service, and any through passengers were told by the guard to stay on board (as it was p***ing it down!) while the unit reversed in the turnback siding. Not sure if this was strictly within the rules, but it did mean I'd covered some rare track! It was around the time of the fleet refurbishment, as the outbound journey was unrefurbished but the return (on which the guard did not allow passengers to remain on board during the reversal) was a refurbished unit. As it turned out, the ex-Southport unit formed a Kirkby service anyway rather than an Ormskirk.

 

[JoeGJ1984]

Wrexham & Shropshire used some diversionary routes during engineering work which require reversals - one instance they went down the WCML and some fiddling about and revsals to get to Marylebone (don't know the route). And once when the line from Shrewsbury to Wellington was shut, they went from Shrewsbury to Crewe (doors not opened), reversed and went to Wolverhampton via Stafford.

 

[swcovas]

HOWL trains at Llanelli. Sometimes fun watching the look on some people's faces if they not familiar with the line as the train makes it way out of Llanelli!

 

[Class 170101]

Not sure if it's in the current timetable, but certainly last year one XC a day (can't remember if it was 2046 or 2146?) from Reading to Birmingham reversed at Foxhall Junction, just after Didcot, so to keep a parly service on the west-north curve there.

Oddly, the display on the outside doors of the train (always a Voyager) at Reading displayed "Foxhall Junction" as the next station, while the PiS inside (if not overridden by the driver) would announce "The next station is Foxhall Junction". Just one slight problem: no platforms...

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P37032/2015/08/03/advanced
Schedule for you :P

ATW did one a year or so back reversing at Bushbury Jn (just north of Wolverhampton) for their Birmingham to Mid Wales services.

 

[Kite159]

Will the FGW HSTs between Bath Spa & Chippenham from the 18th July to 31st July, reversing at Bradford Junction due to Box tunnel being closed count?

 

[Class 170101]

Wrexham & Shropshire used some diversionary routes during engineering work which require reversals - one instance they went down the WCML and some fiddling about and revsals to get to Marylebone (don't know the route). And once when the line from Shrewsbury to Wellington was shut, they went from Shrewsbury to Crewe (doors not opened), reversed and went to Wolverhampton via Stafford.

Marylebone to Neasden South Jn, Reverse, thence to Acton Wells Jn, Reverse, thence onto WCML at Willesden No.7 Jn.

Virgin have also done Euston via Slow Lines to Wembley, Reverse, Then Willesden Relief Lines to Mitre Bridge Jn, Reverse, then via SW Sidings, Poplar Lines, Greenford and Chiletrn Lines to Birmingham International. (NB Usual Route is to use Fast Lines to access SW Sidings.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I think I read somewhere that they use the Whitehall curve, then reverse at Engine Shed Junction on the ex-Midland line, then re-trace their steps over the Whitehall curve and to the Leeds-Doncaster main line, passing through Wakefield Westgate and down for their stop at Kirkgate.

Also in the past they have taken Whitehall curve and approached Kirkgate from the opposite direction to normal and reverse at Kirkgate.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

HOWL trains at Llanelli. Sometimes fun watching the look on some people's faces if they not familiar with the line as the train makes it way out of Llanelli!

Don't they reverse in the platform as part of a scheduled call, though? As mentioned upthread the list of services that do that would be very long...

 

[Class 170101]

When FGW HSTs were getting diverted over the Chiltern Lines recently, they reversed at Banbury. Technically the doors should have remained locked as this was not a booked set down/pick up stop. FGW HST's also reverse at Reading West in service if the set needs to be turned for any reason, but the doors remain locked (not all coaches are on the platform anyway)

On previous occasions some have reversed at Aynho Jn itself.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Also in the past they have taken Whitehall curve and approached Kirkgate from the opposite direction to normal and reverse at Kirkgate.

I'd assumed the routing would be Whitehall curve-Woodlesford - Glasshoughton - Monkhill, with Wakey being bustituted along with Halifax, Brighouse and Mirfield. Guess they've run that way too, probably.

Edit: The example you've given (accessing Kirkgate from the Normanton/Altofts direction and leaving towards Crofton and Featherstone) would presumably also include a reversal away from platforms, as there's no direct access to Kirkgate P3 (the only one with access to the Knottingley line) from Normanton and Leeds as far as I'm aware.

 

[D6975]

I remember reading about the unusual arrangements there. What's the situation today?

The need for Cork line trains to reverse at LJ was done away with many years ago. The Waterford line services still reverse and go over the flat crossing, but the south end bay has gone, so the elaborate multiple reversing that the Limerick-Rosslare afternoon train used to do is no more. (As indeed are services beyond Waterford)

 

[Class 170101]

I'd assumed the routing would be Whitehall curve-Woodlesford - Glasshoughton - Monkhill, with Wakey being bustituted along with Halifax, Brighouse and Mirfield. Guess they've run that way too, probably.

Edit: The example you've given (accessing Kirkgate from the Normanton/Altofts direction and leaving towards Crofton and Featherstone) would presumably also include a reversal away from platforms, as there's no direct access to Kirkgate P3 (the only one with access to the Knottingley line) from Normanton and Leeds as far as I'm aware.

Could reverse at Kirkgate Platform 2 and Castleford Platform 1.

However Hull Trains did a reversal at Kirkgate on the line adjacent to Platform 3 when both Selby Bridge Works and Hatfield Collery route was closed (landslip) last year. So ran Shaftholme, Pontefract Monkhill, Wakefield Kirkgate, Reverse, Monkhill, Knottingley, Snaith, Goole thence to Hull.

 

[34D]

Could reverse at Kirkgate Platform 2 and Castleford Platform 1.

Castleford wouldn't be needed due to the altofts curve.

Kirkgate p2 doesn't have access to the line towards Crofton, as someone else stated.

 

[theageofthetra]

Several late night trains leave London Charing Cross go into Cannon St and then reverse out to continue the journey. Causes great confusion to inebriated passengers who fall asleep at the front after Waterloo East and wake up at the back when they reach their destination!

 

[Busaholic]

Several late night trains leave London Charing Cross go into Cannon St and then reverse out to continue the journey. Causes great confusion to inebriated passengers who fall asleep at the front after Waterloo East and wake up at the back when they reach their destination!

That used to happen regularly during weekend engineering works too years ago.

Don't FGW D&C trains diverted via Yeovil also reverse?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

That used to happen regularly during weekend engineering works too years ago.

Don't FGW D&C trains diverted via Yeovil also reverse?

They do, but at Exeter St. David's, so not valid for this thread. The only regular service which qualifies (as opposed to engineering diversions or 'once-a-week' for route retention purposes) seems to be the Looe branch.

 

[tominator]

Don't know if this counts, but Charing Cross/Victoria services to Canterbury West stop at the down platform, then carry on empty a bit towards Ramsgate, then reverse back into the Up platform.

 

[Spamcan81]

Killarney station is on a spur off of the Mallow - Tralee line so trains reverse at the junction a short distance outside the station to continue their journey.

 

[SeanG]

Was that the case at the now closed Guisborough?

 

[berneyarms]

I remember reading about the unusual arrangements there. What's the situation today?

I'm not sure, but I have a vague memory of an unusual way of working at Sandhills during closure of the tunnel through Liverpool city centre. Inbound Ormskirk services would form the next Southport service, and any through passengers were told by the guard to stay on board (as it was p***ing it down!) while the unit reversed in the turnback siding. Not sure if this was strictly within the rules, but it did mean I'd covered some rare track! It was around the time of the fleet refurbishment, as the outbound journey was unrefurbished but the return (on which the guard did not allow passengers to remain on board during the reversal) was a refurbished unit. As it turned out, the ex-Southport unit formed a Kirkby service anyway rather than an Ormskirk.

Limerick Junction is a shell of its former self.

As posted above, until the mid-1970s every train calling at the station on the Dublin-Cork mainline had to reverse at least once.

At that point the two mainline platforms (physically all one long platform) were made into loops, and crossovers installed so that they could both be used as through platforms.

Limerick-Waterford trains continued use the bay platform at the southwest end of the station meaning that they had to run around the back of the station building, cross the level crossing and then stop and reverse into platform 4. Leaving they would pull forward, stop, and then reverse for over a mile around the back of the station again before heading off to Waterford.

The two platforms at the southern end of the station have now been demolished and a much needed expanded car park installed.

The former Limerick bay platform can now take two trains simultaneously, so both the Limerick and Waterford trains can use that, and there is only the one mainline platform in use for trains in either direction.

Limerick Junction-Waterford trains (and v.v.) still have to reverse at least once
to access the station.

The plan is to install a new platform on the down side of Dublin-Cork mainline in the next year to negate the need for down trains to cross over onto the up line, as it can cause unnecessary delays. This platform will only serve trains in the down (Dublin-Cork direction). Waterford trains will still use the bay on the up side.

Although nothing like the 1980s/1990s when in the afternoon you could have Intercity Dublin-Cork and Cork-Dublin services, the Cork-Dublin mail, Limerick-Rosslare and Limerick Junction-Limerick services all arriving and departing within minutes of each other, Limerick Junction can still be a brief hive of activity.

Between 0900 and 0945, there are Waterford-Limerick Junction, Tralee-Dublin, Limerick-Dublin, Limerick-Limerick Junction and Dublin-Cork trains all calling at the station, with two of those having to reverse.

Between 1800 and 1845, there are Waterford-Limerick Junction, Limerick-Limerick Junction, Dublin-Limerick, Cork-Dublin and Dublin-Cork trains all calling at the station, and a Dublin-Tralee train passing through on the mainline.

Then it returns to sleep again!

 

[TB]

A few years ago, engineering work between Leeds and Shipley saw Leeds to Skipton, Morecambe and Carlisle trains diverted via Guiseley and the Baildon branch.

Some turned in the Leeds bound platform, others simply ran just far enough past the relevant signal to turn.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

A few years ago, engineering work between Leeds and Shipley saw Leeds to Skipton, Morecambe and Carlisle trains diverted via Guiseley and the Baildon branch.

Some turned in the Leeds bound platform, others simply ran just far enough past the relevant signal to turn.

That seems an unusual way of working... The usual way is to simply divert the Morecambe and Carlisle services to Bradford vice Leeds.

Didn't Dorchester once have a peculiar arrangement for Waterloo - Weymouth services? Also somewhere on the Waterloo - Exeter line back in the days of the S&D (Templecombe IIRC)?

 

[30907]

Didn't Dorchester once have a peculiar arrangement for Waterloo - Weymouth services? Also somewhere on the Waterloo - Exeter line back in the days of the S&D (Templecombe IIRC)?

Dorchester in the Up direction lasted into the 70's.

All S&D services between Templecombe and points south reversed at Templecombe Jn, with a pilot (or even combined with a Bath train). Long distance trains generally didn't call at all.
There was a platform called Templecombe Lower which was used by a late train from Bournemouth on Saturdays, there being no connections on the LSW line that late.

Going back to the NER, The Scarborough-Whitby line was famed for its reversal outside Scarborough (and its terminal platform which is still visible out by the signal box) but IIRC there was also a brief period in the 60s when trains no longer served Whitby West Cliff but reversed at Bog Hall Jn.

 

[IanXC]

Hill Trains have a diversion for use when Temple Hirst Junction is clipped, they go via Hambelton South Junction, Hambleton West Junction, reverse here and hence to Selby.

The other that comes to mind is the reversals at the Dalmeny loops during the current Winchburgh Tunnel works, allowing Edinburgh to Dunblane services.

 

[30907]

Hill Trains

What a wonderfully inappropriate autocorrec for a city with even fewer hills than Cambridge
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