Which side should the station be

[Wellwhynot]

Should the station be on the left or right side of the loco when it's running or doesn't it matter 

[2e0dtoeric]

It depends! (how long is a piece of string?) On a dual track system, in the UK, the platform can be on the left, or a central 'Island'.

On a single-track, it can be whichever side has room for it - if an ex-dual track, whichever side the NetRail decided to keep open - usually the side with better public access or requiring least repair!

In a multi-platform station, using Crewe as an example - whichever one is best for further routing of the train.

[walkingthedog]

Depends on the surroundings. 

[JJ73]

Really it doesn't matter - that it what both WTD & Eric are saying!!! (Depends on the surroundings)

[Buz]

Hi Wellwhynot

In the real world the station is tailored to operational needs size location public access etc available space is also a factor in the design.

In the model world for single line at least the ideal set up is station buildings on the inside of the track (away from operator) the goods sidings on the out side (closest to the operator) for ease of performing shunting moves.

This arrangement makes it easy to operate minimizes the risk of damage to scenery and structures for this same reason telegraph poles should also go on the inside as much as is practical as well.

It is not always possible to follow the ideal but if used as a guiding principle an easy to operate railway will be the result with hopefully minimal damage from the great hand and elbow in the sky.

regards John

[LCDR]

The question has been answered pretty comprehensively but it is interesting to consider the Great Central Railway London Extension (the last great main line to be built)  where intermediate stations generally had an island platform situated between the up and down lines.

 

This can be seen to good effect at Loughborough Central, Quorn and Woodhouse and Rothley on the preserved GCR.  The advantage is that  facilities do not need to be duplicated and staff don't need to cross between platforms to attend to up and down trains.

 

The disadvantage however is that access from the street is usually by a staircase whereas access to seperate platforms on either side can be at street level.

 

[walkingthedog]

At High Wycombe the up and down platforms are not even opposite each other, just the very ends. 

[LCDR]

 There are a few stations where there is only one main platform used by trains in both directions and ling enough to have trains in opposite directions at the same time. the best examples of this is Cambridge. Cambridge has dead end bays at each end but all through trains are dealt with at a  continuous platform. The north end is platform 4 & 4a, the south end is 1 & 1a signalled both ways. Scissors crossover half way along permits trains to arrive or depart with another train in the other half.

 

Gloucester  platform 1 & 2  is a long one  divided with a crossover half way along, and a lot of trains reverse there. Platform 4 on the other side is used  by passenger trains but for a long time this was mostly used for parcels and mail.

 

The idea of a single platform for all trains was common on the former Broad Gauge Great Western Railway but was soon replaced because it was found to be restrictive.

 

London Victoria Central Side used to have platforms in two sections which could have two different trains which could bypass each other through intermediate crossovers as did York and Newcastle upon Tyne. Newcastle platforms 5,6, 7 & 8 are double length, but only 7 & 8 has an intermediate crossover to allow a train departing  from or arriving into 7 to pass one standing in 8.

 

[LCDR]

 Staggered platforms are also found on the former Eastern Region at a number of stations including Bishop Stortford, Elsenham, Harlow Mill, Roydon, Auldley End, Waterbeach, Watlington, Kennett, Spooner Row, Whittlsea, Howden, Arram, Hornbeam Park, Wylam, Carlton (Notts), Thurgaton, Bleasby, Hykeham, Hayborough, Woodlesford, South Milford, Headingley,  and Heighington. Many have a level crossing between the platforms.

[Postman Prat]

 And then you have Yeovill (Pen Mill) and Horsted Keyes with a platform each side of a single line. No doubt there are others      😎

[2e0dtoeric]

Chester has double-end platforms, with a double-cross in the middle, too, so that the third rail electrics of the Liverpool line can share the platform with the Birmingham - Holyhead trains, and still get round each other.

But that is straying from the original question.

[LCDR]

 Now a quick quiz question. For anyone to have a go at, I need to confess on advance I know some, but probably not all the correct answers so it will be interesting to see whether there are any I haven't thought of.

 

Which through stations nowadays can have trains regularly departing from different platforms in opposite directions but both heading to London?

[Buz]

Hi LC&DR

Working on fading memory here but I don't think Bishops Stortford had staggered platforms I will have to go and check my book later.

Memory tells me the platforms where in line with the booking office / stationmasters house on the river / goods yard side of the station with a covered footbridge that crossed the track and extended passed the ex Dunmow branch platform to the car park on the London road side of the station where there was a smaller booking office.

I am not certain but I think the car park mentioned above is where the turntable used to be, the turntable had gone before I was born.

I was late for school more than once watching trains from the brick bridge on the London  end of the station.

As an aside where would I have to write to, to try and get drawings of the station track layout and buildings etc for when it was a proper station with goods yards etc.

For a very long time now I have wanted to try and make a model of it, the Nags Head pub and my childhood home.

regards John

[LCDR]

 As to which station is furthest from London with services departing  daily to London,  Edinburgh Waverley and possibly Haymarket have to be strong contenders. With West Coast Services via Carlisle and East Coast services via Berwick upon Tweed. Not a huge number but  certainly more than three a day.

 

Perth might also qualify although I don't know if there are any West Coast services from Perth through to London nowadays. and there are very few East Coast ones either.

 

Exeter St Davids also qualifies but is nearer London than Edinburgh.

 

Oh for a current ABC Guide!

 

There was a very interesting statement in a TV programme about the Underground the other day. In the days of Edward Watkin and James Forbes in command of  the Metropolitan Railway and Metropolitan District Railway respectvely some stations on the Inner Circle had two ticket offices each owned by a rival company. One company operated trains clockwise, the other anti-clockwise round the system. An unsuspecting traveller wishing to travel to the next station but who approached the wrong ticket office would be sold a ticket only valid all the way round the system. Somehow I find that a bit hard to swallow because the higher ticket price would be an immediate clue that something wasn't quite right.

 

Roundabout routes do create a few unusual situations. From York the train to Harrogate usually goes forward to Leeds via Horsforth.However the Customer Information display and station announcements make no mention of Leeds, the train is announced to Burley Park, a small station on the outskirts of Leeds. The reason being there is a much quicker and more frequent service via Garforth.

[LCDR]

 Platform extension can remove or reduce platform stagger. Before electrification in 1926  Erith station in North Kent was a typical South Eastern Station with staggered platforms and a wagon  turntable linked cross track between them. This was subsequently removed although one of the wagon turntables remained in situ for a few years. The platforms were extended to about 500 feet to accept 8 car trains formed of 62 foot long carriages. Come the 10 car scheme in 1954-1957 the platforms were further extended and in the 1990s they were further extended to accept 12 car trains.