run around loop formation

I guess it is to do with the space required. Unless you use large radius prototypical points, a long loco would be likely to foul the platform.

Cheers David A. Pritchard

michael cane wrote:

"michael cane"

Don't understand your "points in the middle of the station" comment.

_____ P la t f o r m 1 _____ I______________________________up__ I_____/_________________\__/___down__ I_____ P l a t f o r m 2 ____

Is this what you mean?

Train arriving in Platform 2, the usual arriving platform at this station.

In this case there are two usual options.

If it's a short train, the train engine will stop short of the buffer stop X over, uncouple, draw forward.

The fireman or shunter will operate the X-over from a small frame released from the 'box and the engine will be able to run round its train via platform 1.

If it's a long train, the train engine will draw forward to the stops and a pilot engine will remove the carriage, shunt them into platform 1 and release the train engine.

In other cases, the train engine will reverse and shunt the carriages back out along the main and either run around out there (Via other un-shown crossovers) or shunt the stock into (un-shown) carriage sidings and run around there. Or not,. It may leave the stock in the carriage sidings for a shunter to take care of.

So you see, there are numerous answers all of which are correct.

-- Cheers Roger T.

"michael cane" wrote

Either method might be used at a given location. If the train is piloted, it might be necessary to detach the pilot and run it round separately if together, the points would be fouled. This can enable a train longer than the loop to be handled as the train engine can move the train while the pilot is on the relief road. Great fun in a model, less so in 12 inches to the foot.

Sometime a traverser, sector plate or turntable would be used to save space. Hayes in Kent had such a turntable until it was rendered redundant by electrification.

A further method might be to have an loco on the relief road when a train arrives, ready to depart with the train, after which the recently arrived loco can move on to the relief road ready to repeat the movement.

• In UK usage, if a train has more than one loco at the front under separate manual control, the loco attached to the train is called the train engine and its driver is in overall control and the remaining locos are called pilots.

In message , Terry O'Brien writes

So did Addiscombe, Bromley North, etc. ...

Bromley North? There isn't room to swing a cat ...

It always makes me wonder just how that line keeps in business, I suppose that it's OK for shoppers who live near Grove Pk but that's about it, makes me wonder why don't run a couple of London services in the morning and evening.

Anyway as an aside, she who has to be obeyed allowed me out of the house today with my plastic so I popped into Chatterton Road for a few odds and sods. She thought I was getting a couple of pieces of plastic card to finish of the goods shed, oh how little she knows, one turntable and a few models for the youngsters to put together later ...

... oh back to the point, many months ago, in one of the near weekly chats about the best way to clean tracks I'm sure it was you who recommended a rubber made by the 00 association and sold (I'm sure amongst many places) at Chatterton Road. Well to cut a long story short he had some out by the till so I treated myself to one of those as well. And now having just returned from giving the track a good scrub I can't imagine how I managed without one for so long ... following ballasting the track was covered in all sorts of grunge, paste, glue, paint, baked on oxides (from extended running), it's cleaned the lot, a quick wipe with electrolube to finish and its like new. So belated thanks for the recommendation.

"Ashley Sanders" wrote

I can't comment on that, but Withernsea (at the end of the branch from Hull) most certainly did, but I suspect it was no bigger than 40' diameter.

John.

When? It looks awfully like a turntable pit now. Keith Make friends in the hobby. Visit Garratt photos for the big steam lovers.

That's what happens when I cut'n'paste. I meant Moor Street had a traverser and North Woolwich a turntable.

It was a tiny little one that could't have turned a decent sized engine, and was obvioulsy only to release smallish tank engines.

I don't know if it is still there. But once upon a time there was a small museum of which the highlight (for me) was a pretty little Nielson 0-4-0 shunter parked o the turntable.

It's been far too many years now.....

Ahhh I see said the blind man ... still, does appear cramped.

I will if I get the chance, actually as I travel from Orpington every day I think that I'd quite enjoy it.

Mine neither, I think I've used it twice - if that.