Signals at Highgate

[Tubeboy]

I think it is me daydreaming, but passing through Highgate on the n/b today, 2/3 of the way along the platform, i heard what sounded like a trainstop raising. Is there an approach controlled signal, like the one at kennington on the s/b city branch[ 10 mph]. I know there is one on the n/b just before East finchley [30 mph].

[Deleted]

Not sure there matey, been a while since I've been up that way, and from memory, I do not recall a Trainstop on the NB road at Highgate

[frankoids]

No you're not dreaming there is a trainstop about 2/3 of the way along the platform.

It does have a signal number A510c, but there is no aspect with it so it is treated like a "policeman" like you get in
sidings and at terminus stations.

I've seen the trainstop raised a few times, you have to be pretty close to the train in front to see it raised and even then it's difficult as the trainstop is very dirty.

At least you now know you're not going mad

[Tubeboy]

Thanks for that frankoids. All the years ive been travelling on the northern and i have never noticed it!. Its funny, the driver was cautiously approaching every platform [undershot at Euston]. I think it might have been their sweat day! At Highgate, i know the platform took 9 cars but the driver belted the train along! I thought they werent going to stop. They braked hard halfway along the platform.

[Deleted]

The really screwy thing is why such a trainstop would be needed in such a looooonnnggg platform...

[Deleted]

Probably just because of that! To stop drivers getting too over enthusiastic and realising too late that they've not left themselves enough room to stop before the starter!

Sam

[Deleted]

or protecting a set of points

[Deleted]

There are no points anywhere at Highgate n/b, and the trainstop is literally four or five car lengths from the platform headwall. I suspect that ca55ie is right, and that it was put there to make drivers slow down in time to stop in the right place.

[Deleted]

dont know the area it was just a stab in the dark

[Deleted]

How is that platform going to be when ATO is installed. (I will probably look like Barney's picture by then!) The trains would run into the platfrom very quickly.

[mandgc]

I thought the Intermediate train stop, in conjunction with the speed controlled approach to the Platform, was to stop a second train short in the event of the first train stopping( in emergency) just clear of the Platform and so still occupying the Starting Signal overlap.

[Deleted]

rob said:

How is that platform going to be when ATO is installed. (I will probably look like Barney's picture by then!) The trains would run into the platfrom very quickly.

I suspect the train will brake as it would for any other station, however the point that it starts braking, may be the platform ramp, due to its length.

[Deleted]

It would love to be on a 95 without the limiter going round that part of the Northern. fast to say the least. Are we expecting speeds in excess of the central on the Jubilee ATO and what would the line speed be. 3 lines mentioned... which line is this board for?

[Deleted]

rob said:

It would love to be on a 95 without the limiter going round that part of the Northern. fast to say the least. Are we expecting speeds in excess of the central on the Jubilee ATO and what would the line speed be. 3 lines mentioned... which line is this board for?

I would be surprised if they make 95ts back up to their full potential, as they are good enough at the moment, all be it a bit slow on some parts....

[Deleted]

metapprentice said:

rob said:

It would love to be on a 95 without the limiter going round that part of the Northern. fast to say the least. Are we expecting speeds in excess of the central on the Jubilee ATO and what would the line speed be. 3 lines mentioned... which line is this board for?

I would be surprised if they make 95ts back up to their full potential, as they are good enough at the moment, all be it a bit slow on some parts....

If the new CBTC signalling allows for faster performance, and the (?upgraded) power supply allows for faster performance, then I'm sure the 95TS will be uprated to 100% power. I have heard figures of 35tph being banded about for the Northern Line upgrade, and that would be very difficult to reach with the present train performance.

However the current performance suits the existing signalling system quite nicely.

[mandgc]

Highgate Signals.

When the line as opened in 1939, and before the Low Level station was, itself, opened only one Home signal was provided on the NB line (A 510).The Auto Signals from Archway were - A504, A506, A508, A510 and A514.
Obviously two Home signals have since been provided (A510A and A510B with Trainstop A510C) . A 512 was, possibly, for a Starting signal after the station opened for passengers.

I do not know the present arrangements.

[Deleted]

stephenk said:

However the current performance suits the existing signalling system quite nicely.

Aye otherwise there would be trains up the back of each other and probably more spads if the trains were faster. I would like to see one on ull power though! THRASH! lol

[Phil]

metapprentice said:

Aye otherwise there would be trains up the back of each other and probably more spads if the trains were faster. I would like to see one on ull power though! THRASH! lol

MSO, as a potential t/op at some stage it's a bit worrying to hear you imply that with increased performance there will be more SPADs. Are there NO Northern t/ops professional enough to adjust their braking techniques to cater for the extra power??

[trainopd78]

I think what MSO was trying to say, is that the current signalling is sighted for trains of current performance as are the overlaps, so any increase in speed would have to be matched by the new signalling.

But I also agree that any driver worth his salt wouldn't speed in a section, improved performance or not, it's just the driver would have to drive under a different technique and change coasting and braking points.