Dawlish Warren - Newton

[dymstocklr]

Last week a friend of mine was returning from Exeter on an all stations to Newton which was diverted onto the up line at Warren, he assumed because of engineering work. Wrong! Just before Teignmouth they were overtaken by an HST on the down line! How long has this been operating practise? And why do I (quite irrationally!) feel uneasy about it?!

Bill

[Siberian Snooper]

The Sea wall through Dawlish has been reversible working for a number of years now, can't remember when but CK or someone else will be able to give chapter and verse. It is not unusual for stoppers to be routed on the "up" to allow out of path non stoppers overtake. And of course when the sea is over topping the wall everything uses the up.

[Captain Kernow]

The Sea wall through Dawlish has been reversible working for a number of years now, can't remember when but CK or someone else will be able to give chapter and verse. It is not unusual for stoppers to be routed on the "up" to allow out of path non stoppers overtake. And of course when the sea is over topping the wall everything uses the up.

This is correct. Agreement was reached with all train operators to use the Up (Reversible) line as a facility to pass/regulate trains a couple of years ago. All appropriate consultations and discussions were carried out and all affected operating staff are happy with the arrangement. It is a sensible and pragmatic use of the infrastructure.

[royaloak]

This is correct. Agreement was reached with all train operators to use the Up (Reversible) line as a facility to pass/regulate trains a couple of years ago. All appropriate consultations and discussions were carried out and all affected operating staff are happy with the arrangement. It is a sensible and pragmatic use of the infrastructure.

Which makes it all the more surprising it was signed off!

 

I drove the reversible a few weeks ago for the first time, it was quite odd being overtaken as I pulled away from dawlish, it was even more surprising leaving Kennaway tunnel and seeing that trains tail lights, made me jump a bit until I remembered I was on the up line!

[dymstocklr]

Thanks for the replies guys. I knew about the bi-directional working set up but not the operation as in this case. An excellent way of maximising track usage -  and it also justifies some of the workings on my layout!

Bill 

[RailWest]

I recall being on a HST some year ago which went Down the Up line thru' Box Tunnel, as there had been an obstruction on the Down line (IIRC some falling masonry from a  bridge strike). Even though I "knew" that it was all OK, I was still glad when we got out the other end safely, especially when you could then look out and see the next Up train waiting at the signal at Bathampton !

[gateman49]

Re Dymstocklr's note, I was the surprised passenger on the down stopper.  I know that the bidirectional signalling has been in place for a number of years but that was my first experience of this happening as a matter of routine rather than exception.  

 

I was so surprised that, when shewing my ticket to the guard (or whatever that person is called nowadays!), I asked whether it was common practice.   His reply was that it was the first time he'd experienced it himself so I assume that it can't be that common a happening.  

 

On approaching both Dawlish and Teignmouth I was then amused to hear the announcement to the effect that alighting passengers  were asked not to wait by the left hand doors  as the train had changed from the down to the up line (modern technology does have some advantages as the doors were steadfastly locked so no accidents could have happened anyway).   

[HELGI]

I think all the main facts have already been mentioned here. In terms of use and how common it is there is no real definitive answer. There are no timetabled reversible moves and there are only a handful of trains a day that can be signalled over it without causing delay to up trains.

 

From the model justification point of view you need not worry Bill as you are not just limited to fast trains overtaking reversible local stopping services. This is the most common move by far but over the time the reversible line has been available all sorts has occurred:

 

Stopper right road for fast to overtake via reversible

Stopper via reversible for freight to overtake right road

Freight via reversible for fast to overtake right road

 

This is just to name a few scenarios. When i say stopper this could be a unit or HST. Freight could be an engine or machine as it is all just a likely.

 

 

 

 

[Captain Kernow]

Bear in mind that the maximum permissible speed when running over the Up (Reversible) line in the Down direction is 50 mph. A higher Down-direction permissible speed when running over the Down Main line in the right direction.

[HELGI]

You know i thought it was 50 as well but the Appendix suggests it is 60mph over the reversible in the down direction. That said the crossovers at either end check the trains hard as they are only 25mph. To trains that call at Dawlish Warren and Teignmouth none of this matters much. Since the crossovers are so close to these locations and they are just pulling away from a stand anyway the time lost traversing the low speed points is virtually nil. This is why the ideal move is to put these trains over the reversible for non stopping trains to pass rather than the other way around, but this does still happen sometimes as i said depending on the circumstances at the time.