Sun VI

Afternoon Michael, I couldn't begin to count the number of times that I've been to, or through, Waterloo / Waterloo East, but I've never been on the Waterloo & City Line, and knew nothing about it. So reading-up about it on Wikipedia was both interesting and surprising (seems like I don't get out much). I did find this comment regarding the track formation at the City end, as installed when the line opened in 1898: 'At the new City station there were two platforms and either could be used by an arriving train, reversing in the platform. The track connections at the approach were a double slip, not a scissors, so a train could not leave while another was arriving.' Can you provide any further information? I agree with your comment: 'Scissors tend to be used where space is at a premium whereas branch lines tend to be in the middle of nowhere with lots of room.' This is why I'm so fascinated to find examples of scissors crossovers being used in unexpected places. At Great Shefford, which started this all off for me, there wasn't even a signal box. Thanks for your interest.

That lower photograph is a revelation - it must be one of the shortest scissor crossovers constructed. What a fantastic piece of track work - any volunteers to model it? It's on the 1922 25" OS map, Derbyshire XV.13, thank you very much.

An excellent photo there, thanks Steven.

Afternoon Howard, There certainly was a conventional scissors crossover controlled by Paignton North box as shown here: https://www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/gwe/S911.htm However, I took a look at Paignton South Box ( https://www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/gwe/S912.htm ) and found that there was, in effect, another feeding the sidings and goods shed on the west of the line. This was more sprawling and rather more complex as, for one diagonal, it was laid out as trailing right hand turnout off up line to crossover to right hand turnout to siding. The other diagonal was a double slip on the up through line to crossover to double slip in the goods yard. The trailing track from the through line double slip went back to the through down line. The diagram makes it clear, but wouldn't that all make a fascinating model? Hope to see you soon at ExGOG.

Afternoon Stephen B, I've had a quick look but can't find any track diagrams. Very interesting that there is a scissors crossover on a modern facility - can you point us to any photo's or diagrams?

Hello RusP, Oh, that Wells branch, not the Wells in Somerset. Found it here: https://maps.nls.uk/view/120849152 and also here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_School_railway_station which includes a clear track diagram. Thanks.

Hello IanN, I think that I've found Elbowend junction here: https://maps.nls.uk/view/82882194 just to the south of Dunfermline. However, on the map it's labeled as 'Charlestown Junction' - is this the right place?

Hello HH, I've found the one at Corwen, it came under Corwen East for signalling: https://www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/gww/S3263.htm I also had a look at Corwen West. There's no scissors crossover, but there is a single slip off the branch line leading straight into a double slip, looks interesting to me.

That's crystal clear, thanks. The OS sheet I referred to was revised in 1920 and published in 1922, so I assume that the crossing was installed after 1920.

Thank you again Miss P, Upper Lydbrook is quite clear here: https://maps.nls.uk/view/109725316#zoom=8&lat=8175&lon=10155&layers=BT A fascinating bit of trackwork that looks a little more like a single slip than a scissors, but well worth viewing. I've found a photo that, I think, shows it in the distance here: https://forest-of-dean.net/gallery/lydbrook/pages/page_53.html

Thank you Miss P, Speech House Road station is on the Gloucestershire XXXI.13 25" to the mile OS sheet published in 1922 ( https://maps.nls.uk/view/109725376 ), however I can't make out a scissors crossover. Could it have been a later addition?

Thanks Tim, I found that one on the 1938 OS 25 inch sheet, Somerset X12 ( https://maps.nls.uk/view/106018922 ). Looks like an interesting subject for modelling.

Yes, thanks for that, I've just found it here: https://maps.nls.uk/view/120895129 It's on the OS 25 inches England and Wales 1928, sheet Herefordshire XVII.3, down at the bottom.

Good morning All, can any of you erudite folk enlighten me? Do you know of any places where scissors crossovers were placed on branch lines or in other unusual locations? My own knowledge is very limited (in this respect and many others), the only one of which I am aware was at Great Shefford on the Lambourn Valley line. Any others?

Hello Man of Kent, Some further books that you may find of interest: Lost Railways of Kent, by Leslie Oppitz, published Countryside Books of Newbury, Berkshire, 2003 and six reprints to 2019. ISBN 1 85306 803 9 The Cement Railways of Kent, by B.D. Stoyel and R.W. Kidner, published The Oakwood Press of Headington, Oxford, 1973 with a second enlarged edition in 1990. ISBN 0 85361 370 2 Military Railways in Kent, by R.M. Lyne, published by North Kent Books, 1983. ISBN 0 9505733 9 6 No doubt there are more. I haven’t heard of Gordon Edgar’s books before, so thanks to all for the recommendation. Regarding the following: ‘EDIT: I meant to add that 2 wagon length sidings do tend to look short - but again, depending on the setting and overall design, they can be made to look perfectly plausible. Edited April 8 by marc smith’ It should be possible to achieve this by running the siding(s) to the side panel of the layout. Then, instead of a buffer stop, cut an old wagon crossways in two and position one piece at the end of the siding to suggest the siding continues off scene. Cut off the coupling from this dummy end so there’s no chance for a shunted wagon to hook up, then you have a siding that appears feasible (I hope) while still only having a two wagon capacity. Low relief buildings are used all the time – so why not low relief wagons? I haven’t tried this but would be very interested to see the result. Good luck!