First post - Thought i'd make a fun post: oddly shaped stations

[Max]

Grosmont is quite strange to start with, but even stranger since the modern day 'main line' is historically the branch line. Even stranger that the mile posts on the Esk Valley line remain constant with this (mileposts run from Pickering-Whitby, with a separate sequence of mileposts for Battersby-Grosmont).

http://www.docbrown.info/docspics/eskvalleyline/P9288797.jpg

 

[IanD]

it is overground under underground

I think you'll find it's underground over overground

Stratford (London) has the most complicated layout of any station I've been to.

Willesden Junction also has an interesting layout with a bay, fast lines bypassing, overground on a very tight curve, underground above ground and overground over over- and underground (or underground level with and under overground). Plus 3 different passenger access points 2 of which are via very long footpaths.

Retford is a bit like Tamworth but more of an L than an X.

 

[JGR]

Colchester is a somewhat odd station, platforms 3 and 4 are laid out end to end, to form a single rather long platform. Platform 4 ends with a buffer stop and a crossover to merge with the adjacent up main line which run past platform 3.
It's handy as the stoppers can park at platform 4 and be overtaken by/connect with the Norwich expresses which call at platform 3.

 

[jopsuk]

Waverly has 3 "double" platforms a bit like that, but without the buffers- and Cambridge has one of them.

 

[L&Y Robert]

Folkestone harbour (now disused). Accrington. Cogan.

 

[PR1Berske]

Willesden Junction didn't half confuse me first time I had to use it =/

 

[Fishplate]

Wow, this is quite an interesting post. I quite like all of the google map stitching errors, there was one I found a while ago of a very long tyne and wear metro carriage.

I think Fareham is quite odd, it has three platforms but the second platform track is cut off at one end, I only ever see cancelled trains sitting in platform two waiting to join the next service. oddly, platform one is furthest away from the booking office which seems to confuse some people

 

[D6975]

The old layout at Limerick Junction was odd, as was the normal operating procedure for Waterford trains.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I'm intrigued by Limerick Jn's layout too - just how did the Waterford trains operate?

More generally, there are quite a few interesting station layouts in the Republic - for example Heuston's p10, the only through line and well over 1/4 of a mile from the station!

 

[DXMachina]

The one time that I have stopped at Hellifield (Saw D200 go past so mid 1980s and I was under 10) it seemed to have 2 separate sets of platforms - the others on an avoiding-line separated by a small area of trees and scrubland

Just looked at it on Satellite view and the remote platforms are no longer there. Did they ever exist or is this confused memory?

 

[jopsuk]

Raynes Park is odd.
It is at the junction of the South West Mainline and Mole Valley Line.

The Up branch line crosses under the mainline some distance from the station. It and the main Up slow share a wedge shaped island platform that tapers towards the junction itself. Look out from the Up Main though directly across the tracks, and you'll see four tracks but no platforms opposite. The Down junction is located towards the south west end of the Up platform. The Down branch curves away from the main line, with another (wider) wedge shaped island. The two islands are connected by a diagonal footbridge- there are no Fast platforms

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I would add to that; the down Epsom platform at Raynes Park is on a downhill gradient as well as being curved whereas the down Surbiton part of the platform remains straight and level, so it's not just wedge shaped but also develops a height difference between the two outer ends!

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

Willesden Junction didn't half confuse me first time I had to use it =/

This. I think I just followed the signs, very complex layout IMHO.

 

[Jona26]

Also Earlestown

Can anyone enlighten me as to whether Virginia Water was ever a full "triangular" station or was the Chertsey - Longcross chord non-platform?

 

[Toots]

The one time that I have stopped at Hellifield (Saw D200 go past so mid 1980s and I was under 10) it seemed to have 2 separate sets of platforms - the others on an avoiding-line separated by a small area of trees and scrubland

Just looked at it on Satellite view and the remote platforms are no longer there. Did they ever exist or is this confused memory?

A confused memory...It is, and was, an island platform with a bay at the south end and goods loops either side.
Shotton is an example of one location with two stations at right angles to one another....

 

[terryc]

Also Earlestown

Unusual as there are only 5 platforms, as opposed to 6.
Platform 3 is used for both up and down services on a single line, whilst 1&2 and 4&5 cover twin track.
Platform 3 to 5 being a hefty trek on foot! (1 to 5 being longer, but can't see why anyone would need to do it )

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Unusual as there are only 5 platforms, as opposed to 6.
Platform 3 is used for both up and down services on a single line, whilst 1&2 and 4&5 cover twin track.
Platform 3 to 5 being a hefty trek on foot! (1 to 5 being longer, but can't see why anyone would need to do it )

Shipley also has 5- The Skipton/Bradford axis has a single bi-directional platform (though it was once double- you can see the remains of the opposite platform from P5). That said, it never had double platforms on all 3 sides, as pre-electrification the Leeds/Skipton axis had only one platform, with Southbound services crossing over.

 

[D6975]

I'm intrigued by Limerick Jn's layout too - just how did the Waterford trains operate?

More generally, there are quite a few interesting station layouts in the Republic - for example Heuston's p10, the only through line and well over 1/4 of a mile from the station!

Back in the days of 141/181 + cravens, the 15:55 Limerick - Rosslare H would come off the Limerick line, take the through line to the west side of the station platforms and into a headshunt down at the Cork end of the station. It would then reverse into the south facing bay platform. It would then do this backwards as it were, pulling forwards into the headshunt before reversing all the way back up onto the Limerick line, then proceeding towards Waterford across the diamonds to the north of the station. The reason for this was that the north bay had the 121 push-pull shuttle in there at the same time. (the morning Lim - Waterford did this too because the morning Ross- Lim was in the north bay)

The Waterford/Rosslare-Limerick on the night time would come across the diamonds onto the Limerick line, reverse into the north bay, then go to Limerick from there just like the normal loco hauled shuttle turn. This was never timed to be there at the same time as the 121, hence the use of the north bay.

187 in the south bay on the 15:55 Lim-Ross (16:25 off the Jn)

 

[David Goddard]

Can anyone enlighten me as to whether Virginia Water was ever a full "triangular" station or was the Chertsey - Longcross chord non-platform?

It wasnt. The angle of the remaining platforms is too acute, and the chord was too far from the station. Attached is a shot from Google Earth, and I have marked the rough path of the chord in red.


The following extract is from Wikipedia:
History

The line from Staines to Ascot including this station, was opened by the London and South Western Railway on 4 June 1856; the section to Weybridge opened on 1 October 1866. Formerly a chord south of the station connected the Chertsey and Reading lines.

 

[IanD]

Shipley also has 5- The Skipton/Bradford axis has a single bi-directional platform (though it was once double- you can see the remains of the opposite platform from P5). That said, it never had double platforms on all 3 sides, as pre-electrification the Leeds/Skipton axis had only one platform, with Southbound services crossing over.

Originally, there were no platforms on the Leeds/Skipton axis with stopping trains reversing. Then one platform was added on the car park side. Then years later the 5th usable platform was added on the opposite side with a pedestrian exit and everything was renumbered.

 

[Jona26]

It wasnt. The angle of the remaining platforms is too acute, and the chord was too far from the station. Attached is a shot from Google Earth, and I have marked the rough path of the chord in red.


The following extract is from Wikipedia:
History

The line from Staines to Ascot including this station, was opened by the London and South Western Railway on 4 June 1856; the section to Weybridge opened on 1 October 1866. Formerly a chord south of the station connected the Chertsey and Reading lines.

Thanks David !

 

[Deerfold]

Shipley is the only station in the UK with platforms on all sides of a triangle junction, something that really should have been used more.

You're really stuffed if you decide you want to extend the platforms though (which is why the London - Skipton service dows not stop at Shipley Northbound so it has 1 tpd from London but 2 to London).

 

[Buttsy]

Shipley is the only station in the UK with platforms on all sides of a triangle junction, something that really should have been used more.

Earlstown is also a triangular station and historically Ambergate and Queensbury were similar.

 

[Deerfold]

Earlstown is also a triangular station

As has been pointed out a couple of times already!