Herbie Posted May 23, 2023 Share Posted May 23, 2023 If you have four parallel lines (A-D) are there set rules on what each line is, or does it just vary on location? Say I had two express and two stopping/freight trains would it matter which line had which train. For example:A&B are fast up and down, C&D could be stopping up and down lines.A&D could be stopping lines, with B&C fast lines up and down.And if it makes a difference I am planning early 1980s layout, era 7/8 crossover.Thanks for reading, any help appreciated as getting back into this after twenty years and planning a new TT120 layout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5Dublo2 Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 I think that depends on Region/LocationThe GWR mainline out of Paddington towards Swindon has:A - Express DownB - Express UpC - Stopping/Relief DownD - Stopping/Relief UpHowever the SR/South West Mainline out of Waterloo to Basingstoke hasA - Stopping/Relief DownB - Express DownC - Express UpD - Stopping/Relief UpI have no idea what the East East Coast Mainline (LNER) or any sections of the Midland Region may do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moccasin Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 East Coast Main Line between Northallerton and York has the slow lines either side of the fast lines. It changes a few miles north of York at Skelton Bridge, where the up slow (towards London) crosses over to join the down slow. This then allows the fast lines into the station and the slow lines to take the avoiding lines around the west. This arrangement continues for a bit further south to Colton junction where the fast lines diverge to Doncaster on what was the Selby diversion built in the 80s as the UK's first high speed line (built as 125mph).I think further south on the ECML, the fast lines are in the centre again.West Coast Main Line also has both arrangements I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Potterton Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 I think you will find that it can vary even on the same line. For example, as 5Dublo2 says, the main line out of Paddington has the fast lines on one side and the relief on the other. However, further along the line towards Bristol the relief lines were placed either side of the fast ones between Didcot and Swindon. Admittedly I'm talking about the 1950's and 60's before the relief lines in this area were taken out of use. I admit I do not know what the situation there is now, although I believe there are four running lines again, whether they are laid as at Paddington or as they were in the 1950's I have no idea. Thinking about it, this post probably isn't a lot of help to you, sorry, but it does illustrate what has happened historically, (I hope!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Spare Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 The Great Central was constructed economically with intermediate stations that were served by just a single island platform set between the two inner tracks, passenger access being from a road overbridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herbie Posted May 24, 2023 Author Share Posted May 24, 2023 Thanks all.As not going for a specific region, I can make it depend on whatever station layout I go for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Matthews Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 Where I work on the Wessex route, the outer lines are usually slow and the inner lines fast. Quite a few stations only have platforms on the outer lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulleidboy Posted May 26, 2023 Share Posted May 26, 2023 I am the same as M.Matthews, being in Hampshire and served by London Waterloo. The four lines from Waterloo actually split at the bottom of my road at Worting Junction, where two lines go off to Southampton and Bournemouth and the other two go to Salisbury and Exeter. On leaving Waterloo the slow lines are both on the left hand side (as you leave the station), but at Wimbledon one slow line, via an overpass, moves to the far side, giving a Slow, Fast,Fast, Slow configuration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Matthews Posted May 26, 2023 Share Posted May 26, 2023 @Bulleidboy ahh yes! I completely forgot about that. It has been the cause on confusion previously on possessions!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rallymatt Posted May 26, 2023 Share Posted May 26, 2023 It’s like most things railway, it depends and can vary! As Moccasin explained on ECML between Northallerton and York has B&C as Up and Down Fast respectively Slow Up and Down as A&D (looking south) The Thirsk section was my regular watching haunt in late 70’s early 80’s. I am sure the station at Thirsk had ‘stopping expresses’ 125 services on the platforms next to B&C, but by mid 80’s that was finished and stopping trains only accessed A&D. I think the platform edges may have been removed, certainly fencing went up and possibly the fast lines re-aligned. Probably all as more pushes were made to speed up journey times and allow full speed running through Thirsk. Point is, that there is so much scope for creating it your way as long as it makes sense to you 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RB51 Posted May 26, 2023 Share Posted May 26, 2023 Great graphic M.Matthews. R- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Matthews Posted May 28, 2023 Share Posted May 28, 2023 @RogerB thanks! That’s just part of a safe work pack that I’m given for a job. Probably got most of the network in the south if you ever need it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulleidboy Posted May 28, 2023 Share Posted May 28, 2023 @M.Matthews - I know that part of the line fairly well having commuted from Basingstoke to Waterloo, twice a day from the beginning of April 1972 until the end of March 2009. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moccasin Posted May 28, 2023 Share Posted May 28, 2023 If you want to check out track layouts, this website shows current track layouts (diagrammatically) and also signalling. In some locations I doubt track layout has changed much from era 7/8, but even if it has the principles haven’t changed.The link below shows York but the site has track diagrams for the whole network. https://www.opentraintimes.com/maps/signalling/yrk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herbie Posted May 29, 2023 Author Share Posted May 29, 2023 All very interesting.Certainly wont be do any overpasses to swap them around though!Thanks again for all the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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