Distant view of unidentified station

[Peter Mugridge]

Can anyone suggest why all the sleepers in the foreground are concealed under a layer of something, though visible under the points and in the right hand sidings? Seems a bit odd for a running line. Also, there appears to be a point rod in the foreground. Where is it going? Is it directly controlled from the box?

That's just ballast; they used to completely cover sleepers with ballast like that.

 

[Gloster]

Can anyone suggest why all the sleepers in the foreground are concealed under a layer of something, though visible under the points and in the right hand sidings? Seems a bit odd for a running line. Also, there appears to be a point rod in the foreground. Where is it going? Is it directly controlled from the box?

At one time it was not uncommon to have much deeper ballasting. The rodding appears to continue alongside the rail for a short way after the divergence to the right, then pass under the line and then continue to the box. There are presumably a set of points behind the photographer.

 

[Rescars]

At one time it was not uncommon to have much deeper ballasting. The rodding appears to continue alongside the rail for a short way after the divergence to the right, then pass under the line and then continue to the box. There are presumably a set of points behind the photographer.

Can we deduce if the points out of the picture were facing or trailing? If facing, would point locks have been fitted? If so, would the locks have required a separate rod from the box to activate them?

 

[30907]

If facing, would point locks have been fitted? If so, would the locks have required a separate rod from the box to activate them?

Yes and yes, by the period of that signalbox, surely?

 

[edwin_m]

Can we deduce if the points out of the picture were facing or trailing? If facing, would point locks have been fitted? If so, would the locks have required a separate rod from the box to activate them?

This is almost certainly a layout for left hand running, with all visible points trailing to through movements so not requiring facing point locks. The signal to the left at the far end of the platform on the left side provides more support for this.

Like most goods yards and sidings, the one one the right here is accessed by trailing connections for the direction of travel on the nearer running line. The one on the left may also be - I can't make out if there is a connection near the platform end. This orientation is to avoid facing points but also so a locomotive can shunt wagons in and out without getting trapped against the buffer stops. However, the right and possibly the left have short kickback tracks that can only be worked by one of:

1. The locomotive doing the shunting starting out at the head of a train on the further running line, and reversing three times
2. Shunting by means of a rope from a locomotive on an adjacent track
3. Shunting without any locomotive, for example by horse or capstan
4. Being able to run round, possibly meaning the rodding that passes beneath the camera controls to a second crossover.

I'm inclined to think 4 is the most likely, but the rodding may be for the entrance to the goods yard to the left instead, if that is behind the camera instead of near the platform.