Trivia: Six Tracks Crossing Six Tracks

[RPM]

A bit of mess room discussion today brought up the subject of the bridge near Northwick Park where the Metropolitan and Chiltern lines cross the West Coast Main Line. In this location we have the Met northbound and southbound fast lines, the Met northbound and southbound slow lines and the Chiltern Line up & down Harrow lines crossing the WCML up and down fast and slow lines and the up and down DC lines. The question is; is there anywhere else in the UK where six running lines (not goods loops) cross six more running lines?

 

[Roast Veg]

The Midland Main Line (plus Thameslink) run underneath four tracks of North London Line and two branching tracks from the NLL to HS1 at Camden.

At Battersea, seven tracks of the SWML are crossed by seven (2+3+2) tracks of the Chatham Main Line and South London Line.

At Belle Isle Junction, 5 ECML tracks pass under 4 NLL plus 2 HS2 tracks, not quite making the cut.

 

[jopsuk]

At Battersea, seven tracks of the SWML are crossed by seven (2+3+2) tracks of the Chatham Main Line and South London Line.

even better, six of those seven tracks are crossed by the two tracks of the Waterloo curve.

Anyway, I think you've miscounted. Including under AND over the total crossing at least six tracks of the SWML is much higher-
4 tracks of the Brighton Lines from Victoria to Clapham Junction going over
2 tracks of the Atlantic Lines terminating at Battersea Park going over
3 tracks of the Chatham lines going over
3 tracks (also Atlantic Lines?) from Victoria to Stewarts Lane and Wandsworth Road going under
2 tracks of the Waterloo curve

Just to the west there's a further four tracks go under (South London Line and Kensington Line(?), plus two more between latchemere & Falcon junctions for WLL southern services, and the same distance to the east now two lines, much deeper, in the shape of the Northern Line Battersea branch! If we include those there's in a fairly short distance 22 tracks crossing 6-18 tracks.

 

[A Challenge]

Surely 4 is the maximum going over in one go there, either the Southern lines into Victoria, over 7 SWML lines or 4 from Longhedge Junction to Latchmere 3/Ludgate Junction going under 13 on the combined SWML/BML?

 

[swt_passenger]

Surely 4 is the maximum going over in one go there, either the Southern lines into Victoria, over 7 SWML lines or 4 from Longhedge Junction to Latchmere 3/Ludgate Junction going under 13 on the combined SWML/BML?

Yes, I wondered about that. The post 1 example they’re on a couple of very close if not connected parallel structures - I suppose the OP needs to clarify.

 

[Roast Veg]

even better, six of those seven tracks are crossed by the two tracks of the Waterloo curve.

Anyway, I think you've miscounted. Including under AND over the total crossing at least six tracks of the SWML is much higher-
4 tracks of the Brighton Lines from Victoria to Clapham Junction going over
2 tracks of the Atlantic Lines terminating at Battersea Park going over
3 tracks of the Chatham lines going over
3 tracks (also Atlantic Lines?) from Victoria to Stewarts Lane and Wandsworth Road going under
2 tracks of the Waterloo curve

Just to the west there's a further four tracks go under (South London Line and Kensington Line(?), plus two more between latchemere & Falcon junctions for WLL southern services, and the same distance to the east now two lines, much deeper, in the shape of the Northern Line Battersea branch! If we include those there's in a fairly short distance 22 tracks crossing 6-18 tracks.

I didn't count the International flyover or the Brighton Mainline (Victoria-Clapham) as they do not reconvene onto the same formation at the north and south side of the SWML respectively. Admittedly the SLL has no physical connection either at Battersea Park station, but it is at least connected from a passenger perspective. Still not quite eligible I suppose.

 

[TheDavibob]

I didn't count the International flyover or the Brighton Mainline (Victoria-Clapham) as they do not reconvene onto the same formation at the north and south side of the SWML respectively. Admittedly the SLL has no physical connection either at Battersea Park station, but it is at least connected from a passenger perspective. Still not quite eligible I suppose.

If reconvening is the required criterion, then the Chiltern (to Aylesbury)/Met/Jubilee crossing the WCML/Overground just east of South Hampstead provides an interesting example. South (beside Lords), the routes are aligned, and from Finsbury Park they run together. They all diverge slightly to cross the WCML, with the Chiltern running above it and the Met/Jubilee beneath. So six tracks crossing six tracks, but splitting the above/below.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Jan 2022 ==

At Belle Isle Junction, 5 ECML tracks pass under 4 NLL plus 2 HS2 tracks, not quite making the cut.

For good measure, I'm pretty sure the Piccadilly is either alongside or directly underneath the ECML there, too, adding another two tracks if you squint.

 

[Tester]

If reconvening is the required criterion, then the Chiltern (to Aylesbury)/Met/Jubilee crossing the WCML/Overground just east of South Hampstead provides an interesting example. South (beside Lords), the routes are aligned, and from Finsbury Park they run together. They all diverge slightly to cross the WCML, with the Chiltern running above it and the Met/Jubilee beneath. So six tracks crossing six tracks, but splitting the above/below.

For those not familiar with the geography, it's interesting to note that, with a slight bit of licence, the twelve tracks crossing at South Hampstead are the same twelve tracks that cross at Northwick Park, having taken completely different routes in between.

 

[Roast Veg]

If reconvening is the required criterion, then the Chiltern (to Aylesbury)/Met/Jubilee crossing the WCML/Overground just east of South Hampstead provides an interesting example. South (beside Lords), the routes are aligned, and from Finsbury Park they run together. They all diverge slightly to cross the WCML, with the Chiltern running above it and the Met/Jubilee beneath. So six tracks crossing six tracks, but splitting the above/below.

I discounted this crossing because, as you say, the south side does not reconvene onto a single formation.

For good measure, I'm pretty sure the Piccadilly is either alongside or directly underneath the ECML there, too, adding another two tracks if you squint.

Ah yes, of course. I make it six tracks over seven at Belle Isle in that case. I'd consider tunnels that intentionally follow the route of a surface railway to be on the same formation, such as the Piccadilly here, HS1 and the NLL, HS2 and the Acton-Northolt and Central Lines, and the Jubilee Line Extension under Waterloo East.

 

[Bald Rick]

The Midland Main Line (plus Thameslink) run underneath four tracks of North London Line and two branching tracks from the NLL to HS1 at Camden.

Strictly speaking, the NLL isn’t four tracks at the crossing, the junction is on the bridge and it is in the process of splitting from 2 to 3 (with the 4th diverging much further east).

 

[Roast Veg]

Strictly speaking, the NLL isn’t four tracks at the crossing, the junction is on the bridge and it is in the process of splitting from 2 to 3 (with the 4th diverging much further east).

Oh yes I see - I mmisinterpreted the Y junction as the tracks going form 2 to 4...

Since I can't count the North London Incline (NLL to ECML), that takes this one off the list.

 

[Bald Rick]

I was going to suggest the Newcastle diamonds (from 50 or so years ago), but suspect that’s not what the OP means...

 

[Inversnecky]

the bridge near Northwick Park where the Metropolitan and Chiltern lines cross the West Coast Main Line. In this location we have the Met northbound and southbound fast lines, the Met northbound and southbound slow lines and the Chiltern Line up & down Harrow lines crossing the WCML up and down fast and slow lines and the up and down DC lines.

This inspired me to have a look:

 

[Tester]

This inspired me to have a look:

View attachment 108547

Very impressive!

As a child (in steam and GC days) I used to watch the trains from the bottom left corner - very good value!

You can make out the remains of Kenton loop at the top.