D stock at HSK Outer Rail

[Deleted]

Can a passenger route be offered to a D stock-driving T/Op from the NB District to the Outer Rail platform at HSK?

[Colin]

Yes a D stock train can be routed in passenger service to platform 2 at High street kensington, though no further than that because of short platforms!

Though a very rare occurance, there are a number of reasons for doing this manovure. A couple of examples would be a service suspension in the city meaning lot's of trains need to diverted or a train needs to be turned (literally as D stock's can only operate a certain way round for coupling reasons)
A D stock can get there either from Earls Court or more unusually from Gloucester Road. The driver will then change ends and, when the signal clears it can be routed again to either Earls Court or Gloucester Road. Technically when leaving in this direction the train can be in service though there is no mirror or monitor's, so unless station staff are available it's out of service. The really weird thing now is that when a train departs for Earls Court, the signal clears with a route to the right but the train actually goes to the left onto the inner rail before going right and onto Earls Court.

[Deleted]

That's because the trailing crossover is in between the platforms and the double flat junction. I wonder why it was designed like that.

[Dstock7080]

Having taken a D Stock to Edgware Road pfm2, a 'few' January's ago, I can say that it was a nice experience to 'pick-up' at HSt Ken pfm1 with the old platform describer reading "West Kensington and Barons Court".

By the way, this was a semi-intentional move!-

Due to very late running on the old Ealing>HSt service I was given the wrong route at Earl's Court pfm1 (EC7's clear for GRd). After waiting for a 'release' to be taken I went up to ED23 outside HSt. This then cleared for pfm2! I got on the radio to get this confirmed. During the conversation I said "to save any further delay, why don't I reverse via pfm2?".
"Yes, driver- I'll speak to the Signalman, thanks."
I then moved off for platform2. After detraining and changing ends I waited for the signal (ED12) back to Earl's Court. After a few minutes, the Supervisor arrived & told me I was going to Edgware Road.
"NO!" I said "I'm going to Earl's Court!"
He responded again, "NO you've GOT to go to Edgware Road!".
I changed ends again, & carried onto Edgware Road. On the approach to pfm2, I could see a 'welcoming committee' of staff waving me to a stand. The Area Manager there said that "we'll have problems accommodating a D Stock in here". I told him he was talking RUBBISH & promptly pulled the train foward to be level with the starting signal! I left the cab & walked to the West End, seeing about a cars-length of free space in the platform. I then quickly closed the cab door & departed for Ealing!

The outcome was, that during the radio conversation outside HSt (ED23), the Controller told the Signalman that I would reverse via pfm2- however, the Signalman responded by saying- "he CAN'T!!" as No.13points had been scotched & clipped the previous night! By this time I had already made the move into pfm2!!.

[Deleted]

An interesting tale there, 7080! I think I'd be on the phone to my ASLEF rep before taking an order from the SS to take a D stock to ERd these days!

[Deleted]

AlanL said:

An interesting tale there, 7080! I think I'd be on the phone to my ASLEF rep before taking an order from the SS to take a D stock to ERd these days!

That is, if citysig doesn't come along and smack you first

(The inner platforms at ERD can't hold D stock anymore; the starters have all been repositioned and the overlaps will only take 300ft trains)

[james]

DStock7080 said:

The outcome was, that during the radio conversation outside HSt (ED23), the Controller told the Signalman that I would reverse via pfm2- however, the Signalman responded by saying- "he CAN'T!!" as No.13points had been scotched & clipped the previous night! By this time I had already made the move into pfm2!!.

What was there to stop you wrong-railing to the crossover at the North end of the Triangle Sidings and getting back onto the WB Local there? Is the signal system not equipped for such a move?

[Colin]

I take it you mean from the Eastbound line between Earls Court and High St Kensington. You're quite correct that's a C stock only move for two reasons. Fisrtly the shunt signal can only clear with routes for triangle sidings (a D stock cannot fit in there) and there is not enough distance between signals to accomdate a D stock for this move anyway.

Also I made a mistake in my origonal reply. When reversing at platform 2 at High St Kensington, there is a mirror for D stocks! should a C stock be reversing, that driver would have no mirror.

[trainopd78]

COLIN said:

I take it you mean from the Eastbound line between Earls Court and High St Kensington. You're quite correct that's a C stock only move for two reasons. Fisrtly the shunt signal can only clear with routes for triangle sidings (a D stock cannot fit in there) and there is not enough distance between signals to accomdate a D stock for this move anyway.

Also I made a mistake in my origonal reply. When reversing at platform 2 at High St Kensington, there is a mirror for D stocks! should a C stock be reversing, that driver would have no mirror.

There are 2 stopping marks on platform 2 at High Street Ken, so as long as you have been told in advance, you can stop on the C stock stopping mark, change ends and be in line with the monitors.

[Colin]

I stand corrected !!