arrochar & Tarbet station

[PeterR]

Hi,

 

Which book (of the two he has written) by Ian Futers covers 'Arrochar & Tarbert' station please?

 

Yours Peter

[McRuss]

Hello Peter,

 

it is in the book: Modelling Scotlands Railways on page 85

 

Markus

[PeterR]

Thank you Markus - book now ordered.

 

Peter

[edcayton]

Also has a 2 page article in the latest "Model Rail" magazine.

 

Ed

[souwest]

Hi,

If modelling beware - these plans show the siding coming off the running line. It came off the south-bound loop and is clear in the photos.  Also, Scale Trains April 1984 featured this station with lots of photos.

 

Souwest

[souwest]

Hi,

A question, as much on any West Highland station as A&T.

 

How would the station at Arrochar (or Tulloch, or Glenfinnan) or any station on a single line, with a headshunt off the passing loop, and sidings trailing from the headshunt be shunted? 

I presume a northbound freight would drop off any wagons/vans into the headshunt and they would either be towroped, propped or allowed a controlled descent into the sidings.  I know on some branch lines the wagons would be worked to the end of the line and dropped off on the return trip, but the West Highland is no branch, and I cannot see many traders being happy to watch their assets head north to return hours later. 

 

The converse, how would goods vehicles be delivered to the Shandons, the Ardluis and the Bridge of Orchys of the line?  This would seem to have to involve the loco running round, pulling out the vehicles for the sidings and propelling them in. 

 

I would appreciate confirmation of this, or details of what really did happen.

 

Thanks

 

Souwest

[Portchullin Tatty]

Most branches (and this would include the various highland lines, were most likely only shunted in the one direction; to suit the layout of the station.

 

This would mean that the vehicles would complete their outward journey before returning some time later (or vice-versa).

 

It was also necessary to take control of the whole of the block to do the shunt; so no other train could be in the affect section.  All fine with only three trains a day each way!

[GNSRAMemsec]

To haul wagons past the intended receiving station and then take them back again would be very unlikely, especially as has already been mentioned, on longer lines such as the WH and C&O. In my own experience at A&T the northbound would arrive, couple off the engine, go round about and catch the tail end of the rake (which if marshalled correctly, should be for A&T), move back to the Glen Douglas single line then be handsignalled through the facing road into the up loop, then into the head shunt before shunting back into the yard - this may have had to be done in more than one 'bite' off the up loop depending on how many wagons were to be detached. When finished the engine went via the up loop to the Ardlui end then shoved back onto the train and away north. If a brakevan were involved it would of course had to be coupled up to the back of the train again first. I've also seen a simpler method where the northbound ARRIVED in the UP loop via the facing road then carried out shunting from there.