Wimbledon to Waterloo?

[antharro]

Late night musings... it's nearly 5am...

Every time I take a train up to London, it's routed Clapham, Wimbledon, Waterloo. So, my first and last LU trains I see are whatever trains the District sends down to Wimbledon at that time.

I've never counted the tracks at Wimbledon, nor do I know what routings are available. Is it possible for LU trains to be routed over NR metals, and vice versa? I'm assuming there's no electrical way it would work, but is it physically possible?

[ikar]

It could be possible but only if the NR tracks have the 4^th rail

[q8]

Yes It is physically possible but as Ikar says (but gets the wrong way round) only if the lul track circuits were modified to accept running rail return or the trains used had negative shoes fitted. Either way it's unlikely due to expense. Although I have been saying for donkey years that the SLL lines of LUL should do away with the negative rail and adopt third rail only.

[Deleted]

It IS indeed possible to be routed over there by Wimbledon PSB at the home signal (W375).
The only routes we accept are 1 - 4 for the respective platforms, but it is also possible to get a 5 which obviously we wouldn't accept, but is occasionally used by SWT empty stock workings.

[ikar]

alanl said:

It IS indeed possible to be routed over there by Wimbledon PSB at the home signal (W375).
The only routes we accept are 1 - 4 for the respective platforms, but it is also possible to get a 5 which obviously we wouldn't accept, but is occasionally used by SWT empty stock workings.

If you accept route 5 you would be a case of a major disturbance in the area. _{and you would be in BIG trouble}

[q8]

I thought you could not accept a 5 anyway at Wimbledon as the trainstop stays up. (Or used to)

[ikar]

q8 said:

Yes It is physically possible but as Ikar says (but gets the wrong way round) only if the lul track circuits were modified to accept running rail return or the trains used had negative shoes fitted. Either way it's unlikely due to expense. Although I have been saying for donkey years that the SLL lines of LUL should do away with the negative rail and adopt third rail only.

With the SSL adopting the 3^rd rail there can be problems on some places (Hanger Lane Junction)

[Deleted]

q8 said:

I thought you could not accept a 5 anyway at Wimbledon as the trainstop stays up. (Or used to)

I think you're right Q8! I'm sure I can remember that being mentioned during my training.