Which crossover has the highest speed limit?

[Taunton]

Not a crossover. But maybe still of interest. Many years ago, the plain single lead points at Cogload Junction were said to be the longest and hence had the highest line speed (100mph on the main, 90mph on the Athelney) on the Western Region.

(Relatively) recent change, as until 1986 there were four tracks from Taunton to Cogload, not so much paired by direction as the outer tracks for the Bristol line and the inner ones for London, the through platform usage at Taunton station being the same, so Cogload itself had no points once the flyover was built around 1930. There were "high speed" crossovers west of Cogload, but I never knew them used for a passenger service, in fact the only reference I ever saw was the Ian Allan 1964 City of Truro commemoration, with high speed running with Castles, apparently did so returning from Plymouth to Bristol. Even on peak summer Saturdays nonstop holiday trains for the Bristol line were switched this way.

 

[The Planner]

NR60 Mk2 H (32.365 - 34.5. Not sure on the Xing angle adopted) was being developed a few years back

There was talk of the mythical J switch for Handsacre on the Trent Valley. Didn't get very far though.

 

[Merle Haggard]

H switches have been in use for a while.



Whilst the lines are blocked for other traffic during te time of the crossing movements, that’s fine as the trains crossing need paths on both Fast and Slow lines, therefore by definition there can be nothing else around, by plan or otherwise!

Yes, didn't make it clear, but what I meant by all lines blocked is that, when only one train is crossing there will still be one line available e.g., down fast when a train is crossing up slow to up fast.

 

[zwk500]

Yes, didn't make it clear, but what I meant by all lines blocked is that, when only one train is crossing there will still be one line available e.g., down fast when a train is crossing up slow to up fast.

But lining up the parallel moves stops you blocking each line in turn. Because the crossing moves are using all lines at the same time, it minimises the time the junction is blocked to other traffic.

 

[Bald Rick]

Yes, didn't make it clear, but what I meant by all lines blocked is that, when only one train is crossing there will still be one line available e.g., down fast when a train is crossing up slow to up fast.

‘Twas ever thus.

 

[Nippy]

Yes, and it now comes with some pretty horrible kinks to boot - particularly if you’re coming down from the flyover and onto the up fast, connecting with the line from Salisbury.

I’m surprised no-one has mentioned Dolphin Junction yet too? Didcot East has of course been mentioned but little east of there.

Well Dolphin is only 40 isn’t it? It was when I last worked the Slough Workstation approx 2 years ago.