Staff Halts / Official Stops At Locations

[RichmondCommu]

G'day everyone,

I thought that this might make for an interesting thread. Essentially we're looking for staff halts past or present and official stops at locations to drop off drinking water etc.

I'll kick things off by suggesting the staff halt that once served Mottram Yard on the Woodhead route. Although not very long the halt was lit by four modern looking lamps which suggests that it was well used.

Any other suggestions would be gratefully received!

Kind regards,

Richmond Commuter!

 

[theironroad]

Durnsford Road staff halt near Wimbledon is still used by a couple of passenger trains between 0500-0600.

As these stop at Wimbledon and Earlsfield, trains must be either on the up fast or crossed from the up slow to up fast at Wimbledon. Once they've picked up or dropped off at the staff halt they must be routed back to the up slow otherwise they won't be able to call at Earlsfield.

 

[billh]

Mottram Staff Halt was going to be my suggestion- the only one I know.The yard finally closed in July 1981. That was not the end of the halt though, there were staff trains scheduled to call there well into the 1990s run at unlikely times of the night. Presumably there were railway staff living in the area, possibly retired by 2000? The staff trains ran unusual routes, I think there was one from Piccadilly, reversed at Guide Bridge and went to Stockport.

 

[30907]

I've bitten!

SR till 1970s at least:
Hoo Junction, Folkestone Warren (PWay staff I think), Folkestone East after closure to passengers, Wimbledon (Dunsford Road) , Meldon Quarry, Lancing Works (complete with its special train). Probably more!

Numerous signalboxes and gate boxes for water - the stops were listed in WTTs.

I have a vague recollection that Chislet Colliery remained open for staff for a while.

 

[30907]

I think there was one from Piccadilly, reversed at Guide Bridge and went to Stockport.

There were a few in the late BR era that did Stockport-Guide Br in the small hours AND called intermediately (of course, Reddish S and Denton were and are still open as we know, so it's slightly stretching the definition of a Staff Halt).

 

[6Gman]

G'day everyone,

I thought that this might make for an interesting thread. Essentially we're looking for staff halts past or present and official stops at locations to drop off drinking water etc.

I'll kick things off by suggesting the staff halt that once served Mottram Yard on the Woodhead route. Although not very long the halt was lit by four modern looking lamps which suggests that it was well used.

Any other suggestions would be gratefully received!

Kind regards,

Richmond Commuter!

Not far away there was a staff platform at Longsight (Down side only I think) to get staff between Longsight Depot and Piccadilly. Not sure when its use ceased - and I think the platform was still there until quite recently.

 

[Ash Bridge]

I'm sure there is one alongside Longsight Depot, not sure if still in use but it appears to be visible on Google Earth.

Edit: I see I was beaten to it

 

[6Gman]

There was a staff platform within what is now the DBS Depot at Crewe (the one time ETD) served by a daily staff train to/from the Stoke area. It was also used (back in the early 70s?) for Open Day shuttles.

I believe it originated with the closure of the NSR Works at Stoke.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Mottram Staff Halt was going to be my suggestion- the only one I know.The yard finally closed in July 1981. That was not the end of the halt though, there were staff trains scheduled to call there well into the 1990s run at unlikely times of the night. Presumably there were railway staff living in the area, possibly retired by 2000? The staff trains ran unusual routes, I think there was one from Piccadilly, reversed at Guide Bridge and went to Stockport.

Tremendous stuff; many thanks for this In all honesty I'm surprised that Mottram yard lasted as long as it did given the run down in traffic on the Woodhead route.

 

[RichmondCommu]

There was a staff platform within what is now the DBS Depot at Crewe (the one time ETD) served by a daily staff train to/from the Stoke area. It was also used (back in the early 70s?) for Open Day shuttles.

I believe it originated with the closure of the NSR Works at Stoke.

Sorry just realised where you meant!

 

[RichmondCommu]

I'm sure there is one alongside Longsight Depot, not sure if still in use but it appears to be visible on Google Earth.

Edit: I see I was beaten to it

That reminds me of cabbing a class 40 at Piccadilly. Having gained permission to get in the cab (three of us) we then asked the driver if he would take us to Longsight. He then asked how on earth we would get back to the station. By bus we chorused! At which point we were ordered out of the cab (with a smile )

 

[billh]

Tremendous stuff; many thanks for this In all honesty I'm surprised that Mottram yard lasted as long as it did given the run down in traffic on the Woodhead route.

The marshalling yard had closed in early 1970's and track lifted. The 8 "reception" roads at the eastern end remained in use until Woodhead closed,mostly with coal trains bound for Fiddlers Ferry. Surprisingly perhaps, there is currently a coal flow from Yorkshire (Ferrybridge) PS to Fiddlers, only while stocks last!

 

[RichmondCommu]

The marshalling yard had closed in early 1970's and track lifted. The 8 "reception" roads at the eastern end remained in use until Woodhead closed,mostly with coal trains bound for Fiddlers Ferry. Surprisingly perhaps, there is currently a coal flow from Yorkshire (Ferrybridge) PS to Fiddlers, only while stocks last!

Did the loco changes take place there or was everything swapped over at Guide Bridge?

 

[Ash Bridge]

That reminds me of cabbing a class 40 at Piccadilly. Having gained permission to get in the cab (three of us) we then asked the driver if he would take us to Longsight. He then asked how on earth we would get back to the station. By bus we chorused! At which point we were ordered out of the cab (with a smile )

Well at least it was worth a try,

It did work for a friend and myself once from Piccadilly to Stockport in the cab of a 310 on a Birmingham New St. bound semi fast, can you imagine that happening today?

 

[billh]

Did the loco changes take place there or was everything swapped over at Guide Bridge?

Neither, locos changed at Godley Junction/Brookfold trains then routed Apethorne, Woodley and CLC through Stockport(Tiviot Dale).Usually a 47 to FF.

 

[billh]

Well at least it was worth a try,

It did work for a friend and myself once from Piccadilly to Stockport in the cab of a 310 on a Birmingham New St. bound semi fast, can you imagine that happening today?

Well, I was invited for a trip in an EM1(then numbered 260xx) from Guide Bridge to Ashton Moss yard and return,with a rake of wagons in tow- I didn't even have to ask. I was about aged 9 , didn't know any of the engine crew. It was a great thing for me , I arrived back safely at GB. That route was de-electrified by 1970 so you can guess how long ago it was. Can you imagine THAT happening today?

 

[bengley]

Battersea Pier Staff Halt is used regularly

 

[30907]

Battersea Pier Staff Halt is used regularly

Missed that one!

 

[4973]

G'day everyone,

I thought that this might make for an interesting thread. Essentially we're looking for staff halts past or present and official stops at locations to drop off drinking water etc.

I believe that during steam days just about every signal box on the system had calls to deliver coal.

Droylsden Goods Yard box had water delivered by loco each day.

 

[Jimini]

Two that spring to mind:

1) Stratford Market Depot halt on the Jubilee Line.

2) Some early / late trains on the BML fasts stop at Selhurst to pick up / drop off staff heading to the depot.

 

[tsr]

2) Some early / late trains on the BML fasts stop at Selhurst to pick up / drop off staff heading to the depot.

Although Selhurst is officially a staff stop (on a lot of trains, all of which I've used on some occasion...), it's really just an unadvertised call which can be omitted without providing replacement transport (mainly if the train is diverted via Norwood Jn, or cancelled) and the station is usually open for business. Overnight, the booking hall is secured at Selhurst, and therefore the public right of way through the station is maintained by means of the maintenance access gate on Selhurst Road combined with a route through the subway, thus the station is open for passenger use except in specific maintenance-related scenarios (eg. electrical or structural work on the station itself).

Norwood Junction is also a staff stop, principally on Thameslink overnight services when they're sent that way, but it is strictly for staff only.

There are also numerous other overnight staff stops around the Southern network, especially in the Metro area via Balham, Streatham Hill and/or West Croydon, and on the BML. Information could be gleaned from RTT - but it's not always 100% accurate and I have no desire to post all the specifics on here...

 

[LowLevel]

Not far away there was a staff platform at Longsight (Down side only I think) to get staff between Longsight Depot and Piccadilly. Not sure when its use ceased - and I think the platform was still there until quite recently.

They're there on both sides (the upside one is next to the concrete overbridge).

 

[Blindtraveler]

The Edinburgh trams depot is an official staff only stop on the route and odly is announced on the PIS with a message saying for staff only!

 

[deltic1989]

I'm sure there is one alongside Longsight Depot, not sure if still in use but it appears to be visible on Google Earth.

Edit: I see I was beaten to it

I don't think that the Longsight staff halt is still in use, or if it is VT staff don't use it. One of my nightly duties at work is to arrange transport for the VT staff from Longsight to Piccadilly, and vice versa.

 

[D1009]

Not far away there was a staff platform at Longsight (Down side only I think) to get staff between Longsight Depot and Piccadilly. Not sure when its use ceased - and I think the platform was still there until quite recently.

It was there when I passed it yesterday. I remember travelling on a late night staff DMU from Crewe to Piccadilly in the 1970s which stopped at it.ere

Wasn't there one in the Folkestone East area?

 

[steamybrian]

I've bitten!

SR till 1970s at least:
Hoo Junction, Folkestone Warren (PWay staff I think), Folkestone East after closure to passengers, Wimbledon (Dunsford Road) , Meldon Quarry, Lancing Works (complete with its special train). Probably more!

Numerous signalboxes and gate boxes for water - the stops were listed in WTTs.

I have a vague recollection that Chislet Colliery remained open for staff for a while.

In the Southern Region area add-
Shakespeare Cliff Halt- used until mid 1990s for Channel Tunnel workers.
Alderbury Junction which I believe was in use until mid 1960s when line to West Moors closed.
Hothfield after passenger station closed in 1959 platforms were used by signalmen at adjacent signal box for several years.
St Leonards West Marina After station closed for passengers in 1967 platforms were used by signalmen/ train crew for several years.

 

[Ianno87]

Two that spring to mind:

1) Stratford Market Depot halt on the Jubilee Line.

2) Some early / late trains on the BML fasts stop at Selhurst to pick up / drop off staff heading to the depot.

Not on the "Main Line", but the Victoria line empty train moves between Seven Sisters and Northumberland Park depot double up as staff shuttles. They're much less common now that almost all of the service goes through to Walthamstow - those that do are extensions of Seven Sisters terminators that have a Diamond symbol shown on their destination display.

 

[Bodiddly]

Garscadden, near Yoker Depot is a passenger station but is also a staff halt. The official walking route to the depot is via Kinnellar Drive and Craggan Drive. I have been on limited stoppers before that have stopped here for a driver change.
This thread reminds me of the BR days when trains heading past Eastfield Depot would quite regularly slow to a crawl alongside the depot to drop off a driver on the mainline so he could cross over to the depot after the train had passed. A practise that would be quite frowned upon these days!

 

[philthetube]

On the Metropolitan line some trains used to stop at Neasden for crew relief early morning, not sure if they still do, you also see trains stopping at Neasden to dropp staff off, sometimes officially, sometimes not.

 

[30907]

In the Southern Region area add-
Shakespeare Cliff Halt- used until mid 1990s for Channel Tunnel workers.
Alderbury Junction which I believe was in use until mid 1960s when line to West Moors closed.
Hothfield after passenger station closed in 1959 platforms were used by signalmen at adjacent signal box for several years.
St Leonards West Marina After station closed for passengers in 1967 platforms were used by signalmen/ train crew for several years.

Thanks. Shakespeare Cliff was IIRC used by PWay as well for years.

1961 WTT doesn't show any stops by passenger trains at Alderbury Jn, but I can well imagine an unofficial arrangement since all the Salisbury and Dorset trains would have slowed for token exchange.