Wrong stick at East Putney

[Deleted]

I once asked if anyone had ever been caught out at W362 by the sudden operation of the ground frame at East Putney. When last I asked, no one had.

I'm just curious as to whether or not that ground frame and crossover have always been there, or if they replaced an older, unsignalled, loose crossover north of the District platforms at East Putney. If it was a replacement, does anyone here have any memories of seeing it in use?

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theonekea said:

I once asked if anyone had ever been caught out at W362 by the sudden operation of the ground frame at East Putney. When last I asked, no one had.

Dont quote me on this, however if the ground frame is operated, the Signal before it (which is the Wimbo side of the tunnel) will remain at danger, as it is a 'SEMI'.

Am I right, or totally wrong ?

[q8]

That ground frame was not there in my time but there was a crossover on the LONDON side of the DR platforms at E.Putney. It was controlled from the (then) East Putney box. This came in very handy at times especially when Earl's Court was busy reversing trains west to east on Putney Bridge during cock-ups on the W,dn road.

It also came in useful when a Southern driver did a DD and went onto DR territory. He stopped before he go onto the bridge itself and was subsequently reversed back Wimbledon depot via said crossover.

This crossover was NOT entirely unsignalled either. There was a 3 aspect policeman facing north at the north end of the DR platforms which protected the junction at the other end (Now W3590). This had to be green before any move southward was allowed. That policeman was there even in semaphore days.

IIRC there was also a signal at the end of the wb platform for moves back to Putney Bridge too but I can't recall if it was a colour light or a banjo.

EDIT: Having looked at the diagram the present ground frame appears to be on the site of East Putney box. The Crossove controlled by the GF was also there in my time but like the one the other end was worked by the box. This crossing is numbered 2a and 2b. The northern one was 1a and 1b

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metapprentice said:

theonekea said:

I once asked if anyone had ever been caught out at W362 by the sudden operation of the ground frame at East Putney. When last I asked, no one had.

Dont quote me on this, however if the ground frame is operated, the Signal before it (which is the Wimbo side of the tunnel) will remain at danger, as it is a 'SEMI'.

Am I right, or totally wrong ?

You're right! W362 is the semi on the up District just before East Putney tunnel's southern portal; the plate clearly says "SEMI". I presume that the down starter on platform 3 is also controlled by the ground frame.

[Colin]

The most interesting move at East Putney using the ground frame is East to West, back to Wimbledon - as it means passing a fixed red light . Nice!! ;D ;D

[trainopd78]

Once it has been decided that the ground frame is to be used, the Handsignallers MUST liaise with the Signaller at Wimbledon. It is the Signaller at Wim SCC who will put signal W372 to danger and he/she will not clear the "starter" at East Putney on the Down. If a train is approaching, that train will either be allowed to continue or may be stopped on a handsignal. Returning running signals to danger in front of a passing train is a big no no, except in extreme emergencies.

Once all trains have passed / stopped and all appropriate signals returned to danger, the signaller will allow the ground frame to be unlocked and operated.