WCML and tributaries - Goods Loops

[MarkWi72]

Hi, a question for those involved with timetabling, I imagine. I was chatting to my dad about the use of the goods loops at Tipton (Mond Gas - old Gas works which also had sidings). They are between Dudley Port and Tipton. Used to be controlled by Watery Lane. In the 80s, they had a fair bit of use (from my memory). But are they still used much now? Not a great deal of freight passes that way - less than the 80s. BOC and oil to (empties) from Merseyside has gone.

Then it got me thinking about other loops on the WCML and branches. Where else are there goods loops on double track sections? Are these used often? Which is the busiest loop?

 

[The Planner]

Hi, a question for those involved with timetabling, I imagine. I was chatting to my dad about the use of the goods loops at Tipton (Mond Gas - old Gas works which also had sidings). They are between Dudley Port and Tipton. Used to be controlled by Watery Lane. In the 80s, they had a fair bit of use (from my memory). But are they still used much now? Not a great deal of freight passes that way - less than the 80s. BOC and oil to (empties) from Merseyside has gone.

Then it got me thinking about other loops on the WCML and branches. Where else are there goods loops on double track sections? Are these used often? Which is the busiest loop?

Watery Lane hardly get any use, the only freight that goes along there is for Wolves Steel terminal. Bushbury and Four Ashes have loops though they are generally run as required schedules. The busiest loops will be north of Preston.

 

[driver9000]

The WCML north of Preston is a mix of Goods and Passenger loops and some loops see more use than others.

Preston station has Goods lines running through the station.
Oxheys (Up Passenger).
Barton & Broughton (Down Passenger).
Oubeck (Goods both ways).
Carnforth (2x bi-directional Down and Up Goods, Up Passenger).
Oxenholme (Up Goods).
Grayrigg (Up Goods, Down Passenger).
Tebay (Up and Down Goods bi-directional).
Shap Summit (Up Goods, Down Through Siding).
Harrisons Quarry (Down).
Eden Valley (Up Goods).
Penrith (Down Slow). Not a Goods loop but is frequently used to recess freight.
Plumpton (Up Goods).
Upperby (Up and Down Through Goods).
Kingmoor (Up Passenger).

Of those the longer loops at Oxheys, Barton, Tebay, Eden Valley and Penrith tend to see the most use to hold freight traffic. Once into Scotland the loops are generally Passenger loops between the border and Glasgow.

Quintinshill, Lockerbie, Beattock, Beattock Summit, Abington, Carstairs, Hall Craig Junction, Flemington (Up Goods).

 

[The Puddock]

Once into Scotland the loops are generally Passenger loops between the border and Glasgow.

... Hall Craig Junction, Flemington (Up Goods).

Those two are generally known (since the 1970s Motherwell SC resignalling, anyway) as Law and Dalzell respectively. You've also got the Braidhurst between Motherwell and Mossend.

 

[Condor7]

At Penrith a spur off the mainline going north serves platform 3 which maybe before my time had regular passenger use, these days however the only passenger trains to use it are the very occasional charter trains. As driver9000 says it is regularly used to recess freight and is long enough to take the 4S43 Tesco Express which it regularly does.

 

[The Bear]

The WCML north of Preston is a mix of Goods and Passenger loops and some loops see more use than others.

Preston station has Goods lines running through the station.
Oxheys (Up Passenger).
Barton & Broughton (Down Passenger).
Oubeck (Goods both ways).
Carnforth (2x bi-directional Down and Up Goods, Up Passenger).
Oxenholme (Up Goods).
Grayrigg (Up Goods, Down Passenger).
Tebay (Up and Down Goods bi-directional).
Shap Summit (Up Goods, Down Through Siding).
Harrisons Quarry (Down).
Eden Valley (Up Goods).
Penrith (Down Slow). Not a Goods loop but is frequently used to recess freight.
Plumpton (Up Goods).
Upperby (Up and Down Through Goods).
Kingmoor (Up Passenger).

Of those the longer loops at Oxheys, Barton, Tebay, Eden Valley and Penrith tend to see the most use to hold freight traffic. Once into Scotland the loops are generally Passenger loops between the border and Glasgow.

Quintinshill, Lockerbie, Beattock, Beattock Summit, Abington, Carstairs, Hall Craig Junction, Flemington (Up Goods).

One missed there which is used for Freights is the Oxenholme Down Windermere (the former Oxenholme Down Goods Loop).

At Penrith a spur off the mainline going north serves platform 3 which maybe before my time had regular passenger use, these days however the only passenger trains to use it are the very occasional charter trains. As driver9000 says it is regularly used to recess freight and is long enough to take the 4S43 Tesco Express which it regularly does.

Penrith Down Slow platform3 used to see occasional passenger use in the days of TPE using 185s & 350s as it's only long enough for 4 coaches when the need arose to let a non-stop Pendo passed.
Since the advent of 397s I understand this practice has been discontinued.
The occasional recessing of charters & watering of steam charters continues.

The Tesco train (4S43/4M48) is a very tricky customer, due to its length.
It's worth noting that, on the down once 4S43 has passed Barton & Broughton it is committed until Penrith as no other Loops are long enough. Also once its departed Carlisle Yd & rejoins the mainline at Floriston it is committed until Law Junction.

On the UP, after departure from Eden Valley 4M48 is committed until Oxheys.

Also now that DB have amalgamated it's Malcolm Trains into one long train each way (4S47 & 4M30), the same applies to which loops they can use too. Fortunately these run at night and are pathed over Shap after the last passengers.
With DB ditching it's 90s these long heavy intermodals would be impossible path during the day without the need for double heading (which DB don't seem keen on).

 

[Freightmaster]

Also now that DB have amalgamated it's Malcolm Trains into one long train each way (4S47 & 4M30), the same applies to which loops they can use too. Fortunately these run at night and are pathed over Shap after the last passengers.
With DB ditching it's 90s these long heavy intermodals would be impossible path during the day without the need for double heading (which DB don't seem keen on).

That has changed as of this week, with Freightliner taking over the Grangemouth 'portion' of that traffic from DB.




MARK

 

[InOban]

Is the tesco train longer than the new NR standard (775m)? Because I think that the loops at Carstairs are now that length.

 

[driver9000]

One missed there which is used for Freights is the Oxenholme Down Windermere (the former Oxenholme Down Goods Loop).



Penrith Down Slow platform3 used to see occasional passenger use in the days of TPE using 185s & 350s as it's only long enough for 4 coaches when the need arose to let a non-stop Pendo passed.
Since the advent of 397s I understand this practice has been discontinued.
The occasional recessing of charters & watering of steam charters continues.

Yes you're right there is the Down Windermere at Oxenholme although I've never seen it used to recess freight since conversion to a running line. You're also correct that there is an instruction that prohibits 397s and 802s calling at Penrith platform 3 for passengers although they can pass through non-stop if necessary. This is due to an apparent issue with ASDO