Brockenhurst to be demolished !!!!

[Kris]

I've heard from various sources that Brockenhurst Station is to be demolished !!!! This is because of the Disability Discrimination Act and asbestos in the roof.

Something must be done. Brockenhurst is a fine old country station and has what is probably the only luggage traverser left in the country. This must have a preservation order on it !

Okay - if they have to attend to asbestos in the roof - fair enough; but it should be rebuilt in the original style. The footbridge is to be demolished and a new one put in with lifts. At the moment, disabled access is via the traverser or a barrow crossing on the downside.

 

[Ascot]

Yeah if i was a rasberry i wouldn't want to have to be wheeled along some broken bangor bridge. I'd have the lifts like other places do on the modern railway, that's for preserved stuff.

 

[richa2002]

Doesn't look very broken to me...

 

[Kris]

Yeah if i was a rasberry i wouldn't want to have to be wheeled along some broken bangor bridge. I'd have the lifts like other places do on the modern railway, that's for preserved stuff.

Yeah. Cos' New Street's such a beautiful station. Not!

 

[Demps]

Fook me this looks like a good Peice of UE, wish it was up north. what is the status with the buildings, i guess it has a waiting room and office etc. Shouldnt be too hard for access. Im taking it that the line pictured is in use.

 

[Coxster]

Surely it is much quicker, Ascot, to be wheeled across that than to have to wait for a lift, go up, along the bridge, wait for the lift and go back down again.

 

[Oracle]

I have only ever seen one disabled passenger need assistance. The big problemo was that the SA had to wait 30 minutes for the signalman to ensure that the P1 line was clear so that the platform could be used. He told the couple that there would be lifts in the future. However it is probably easier getting onto P3&4 as it's a matter of going down to the LC, along the footpath, let in via the locked gate, then across the P4 line which can only be traversed in the Down direction, and then up the P3&4 ramp.

 

[thefab444]

I haven't seen the bridge deployed in ages...

The station itself has two ticket windows and a lobby for the purchase of tickets, not exactly a waiting room. On the platforms there is a sweet shop, waiting room on both islands, toilets and the usual staff offices.

 

[WessexWarrior]

How would you go about 'demolishing' a station like Brockenhurst though? It seems to be in use constantly throughout the day, and is the only way to get through to Lymington, Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth.

Surely the upheaval would be massive? Also, a station of that age and architecture would surely be protected in some way.

 

[Tom]

Weekend blockades?

 

[Ascot]

Health and safety laws come into it, common sence is out the window though even if you can jump on it and it won't brake.. again with the modern railway theme.

Wasn't comparing to new street everyone knows it's the black hole of the national rail.

 

[devon_metro]

Always wandered what that walkway was!

 

[Nick W]

Surely it is much quicker, Ascot, to be wheeled across that than to have to wait for a lift, go up, along the bridge, wait for the lift and go back down again.

Exactly, in theory it's a much simpler solution to the problem, and in the past you could have had a latch interlocked with the signalbox to allow it to be used anytime nothing is signalled.

Unfortunately these days, the signaller is miles away and a simple bridge isn't considered good enough.

 

[Jim]

Ever noticed though at Brock, that the Warhem shuttle stops just "over" the movable walkway

 

[Tom]

The walkway is interlocked with the signalling and to be released has to be in an unoccupied track circuit...

 

[Tomnick]

Exactly, in theory it's a much simpler solution to the problem, and in the past you could have had a latch interlocked with the signalbox to allow it to be used anytime nothing is signalled.

Unfortunately these days, the signaller is miles away and a simple bridge isn't considered good enough.

Signalman's not miles away - he's about 100 yards away, if that. The method of operation, I believe, isn't vastly different to what you've described - a release is given by the signalman to the 'bridge operator' (for want of a better description) which then locks protecting signals at danger until the bridge is returned (and locked) to normal. That'd be the same whether the signalman was across the running lines, in Poole, or in Derby - I don't see how distance is an issue at all.

 

[Tom]

Just to re-iterate that the signaller is 100 yards away (more like 50 IMHO)...

Signalboxes down the line are at:
Wimbledon (London - New Malden area)
Surbiton (New Malden area - Weybridge)
Woking (Weybridge - Winchfield I think)
Basingstoke (Winchfield - Winchester)
Eastleigh (Winchester - Beaulieu Road)
Brockenhurst (Beaulieu Road - New Milton IIRC)
Bournemouth (New Milton - between Parkstone & Poole)
--- those viewing Quail trackmaps will note WBZ, which was removed with the BM resignalling ---
--- WFB is now BC ---
Poole (between Parkstone & Poole - Holton Heath)
Wareham (Holton Heath - between Wool & Moreton)
Wool (crossing box only)
Dorchester Sth (between Wool & Moreton - Weymouth)

 

[Hentis]

Just to re-iterate that the signaller is 100 yards away (more like 50 IMHO)...

Signalboxes down the line are at:
Wimbledon (London - New Malden area)
Surbiton (New Malden area - Weybridge)
Woking (Weybridge - Winchfield I think)
Basingstoke (Winchfield - Winchester)
Eastleigh (Winchester - Beaulieu Road)
Brockenhurst (Beaulieu Road - New Milton IIRC)
Bournemouth (New Milton - between Parkstone & Poole)
--- those viewing Quail trackmaps will note WBZ, which was removed with the BM resignalling ---
--- WFB is now BC ---
Poole (between Parkstone & Poole - Holton Heath)
Wareham (Holton Heath - between Wool & Moreton)
Wool (crossing box only)
Dorchester Sth (between Wool & Moreton - Weymouth)

You missed out Hamworthy (HW) it can be locked out from Poole forming a nice long run to Wareham.

From my News page dated 21st September 2006

Current suggestions are that signalling installations west of Bournemouth (down to Weymouth) are to be swept away by the addition of another panel at Bournemouth ASC (Area Signalling Center). This is due around 2010 in time for when the Olympics reach Weymouth.This will presumably bring in the axel counter controlled signalling between Parkstone & Weymouth. Dorchester box is thought to have "electrics" that are near life expired. Also Hamworthy Box is quietly sinking at one end. What's thought to have influenced the decision is a culmination of new installation of signaling equipment thought to be required for services running from Swanage to Wareham and hopefully Bournemouth. As well as re doubling of the single line between Moreton & Dorchester in preparation for increased expected traffic from aforementioned 2012 Olympics. So all in all interesting times lay ahead.

it will also quite possibly see the end of the only WOrking Semaphore signal left on the Waterloo - Weymouth route at Hamworthy Junction.

Cheers

Hentis

 

[Tom]

Oh yep, Hamworthy, although that isn't always used so didn't include it.

 

[Coxster]

Basingstoke (Winchfield - Winchester)
Eastleigh (Winchester - Beaulieu Road)

Basingstoke [YW] (auto signals prefix WA) starts control at Farnborough and runs through to the first roadbridge beyond Battledown flyover, from where Eastleigh takes over.

 

[Oracle]

only WOrking Semaphore signal left on the Waterloo - Weymouth route at Hamworthy Junction.

Plus, stretching a point, two double-brackets and a single semaphore at Marchwood on the Fawley Branch. Operated at Marchwood of course.

 

[Tomnick]

Unless things have changed vastly recently, Wool's a full, proper block post, not just a gatebox.

 

[Tom]

Wool is a proper block post going north on the AB circuit IIRC, not going south where it just controls the signal protecting the gate, according to Quail anyway.

 

[Tomnick]

Wool is a proper block post going north on the AB circuit IIRC, not going south where it just controls the signal protecting the gate, according to Quail anyway.

The situation, as far as I can work out from ROTP, Quail and photos, is that the section from Wool to Wareham is AB in both directions. Wool works TCB with Dorchester in the down direction, and AB in the up direction (because Dorchester works the single line junction at Moreton remotely, so wouldn't be able to confirm that trains were complete as they leave the double line). Either way, it's a full block post (yes, in both directions!) and not just a gatebox.

 

[Kris]

AB Poole to Wool on the Down and Moreton to Poole on the up.

The siding at Holton Heath was track circuited on the cheap. This is what led to the crash that killed Clive Brooker after he jumped.

They only did the siding and not the track beyond it. The signalman saw that the freight was in the siding but what he didn't know because of the AB beyond the siding was that it was too long to fit.

To complicate matters - the Eastleigh guard Eddie was Polish and the signalman didn't understand him properly and thought he had confirmed that the train was safely shut away in the siding.

I don't know why - when the Eastleigh crew took the train back out of the siding, the signalman didn't see that the track circuits were unoccupied. It was however a new siding and one of the few workings into there.

The Eastleigh driver - Arthur (English?) and the guard carried on towards Poole on the AB with the freight and the signalman made the fatal error of turning the signals to green behind him.

Clive came up from Wool with a light 33 on greens and as he rounded the bend at Holton saw the freight in front. Mindful that most cab crushes are fatal - Clive jumped. Unfortunately his head struck a concrete post at the side of the track.

A real nice bloke, gentleman. Never a bad word about anybody and never swore. My last memory is offering him a cup of tea as a guard and him walking back towards me at Soton Parkway with one of those little green ex BR buffet cups.

 

[37427]

Brokenhurst can't be demolised! Where will the Lymington Pier 3-CIGs terminate???

 

[Coxster]

Brokenhurst can't be demolised! Where will the Lymington Pier 3-CIGs terminate???

Substitute the service with buses - just like during any line blockage.

 

[kettlefan]

I like Brockenhurst, its always pleasent waiting for a wonderful 442 there...sorry what?....oh sorry a 450/444 piece of rubbish.

Seriously though, it is a nice station, wonder if they will demolish the Lowmacs in the sidings? Probably rusted to the rails by now!!!

 

[5872]

Substitute the service with buses - just like during any line blockage.

Brokenhurst can't be demolised! Where will the Lymington Pier 3-CIGs terminate???

What are you lot blabbering about? they aint gunna close the station!hock: :happy8:

 

[Tom]

They have to close the station to rebuild it.