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Might it be possible to mark the transformer ratings at the FS sites? These could range from 7.5 to 26.5MVA IIRC for classic and 40 MVA up to AT.
I like the diagrammatic representation of the overlap neutral sections (what used to be called quarter distance TSC's). Also, what is the distinction between MPTSC and MPTSL; is it just a change of nomenclature?
Historically a TSC would be a building (cabin) with the switchgear enclosed within. A location (TSL) was chosen to cater for sites with externally mounted switchgear (SMOS) - Structure Mounted Outdoor Switchgear.
Thank you! I absolutely would if i knew them. The ukpn docs i found may inform me about the ratings in 2014 for locations between bretton and ferme park (I'll have a look later)
I would also like to add intermediate TSC locations which might be able to do if i scrub a few hours of cabride footage. Signalling power supplies would be another thing but they're even harder to find.
I'd been calling them alternative midpoints. I was surprised to find out south kirkby is normally bypassed with the whole leeds line fed from one point. I suppose the leeds line is not that busy (for electric traction).
The other benefit with these maps is that i can now easily build show alternate/degraded feeding arrangements just by changing the colours around
Yeah as said, inside switchgear vs outside switchgear. The other name ive seen is "track sectioning site" (tss) - which i don't like as much because it conflicts with "traction substation" stepping down HVAC and rectifying to DC
I would also like to add intermediate TSC locations which might be able to do if i scrub a few hours of cabride footage. Signalling power supplies would be another thing but they're even harder to find.
I could help you with all the ECML sites (inc. Leeds North West) but only as they were up to 2019. I visited every one during the SCADA upgrade project with the exception of Benton FS. Still bugs me to this day!
Perhaps not, it depends mostly on how I conceptualised the terminology when I first used it. To me, the humble TSC (occasionally called intermediate TSC) is a substation where either side will always be on the same supply no matter what. Whereas the MPTSC is where supplies meet. Even in the platonic ideal of: dual FS — MP — dual FS etc, the midpoint will be bypassed with the same supply on either side in N-2. So an alternative MP is just one that is bridged in Normal feeding but may not be in N-1 or -2. You will also find all sorts of oddities like Copper Mill Jnc where four lines and only two supplies meet. Trains from Hackney towards Tottenham or Chingford go through neutral sections to reach the same supply on either side. Only if you're coming up from the bottom left (Stratford) do you go from green to red supply.
I think because of this, pictures I've actually seen of displays in AC ECRs don't mention a designation of what kind of substation you're looking at (In a way that I expected they would). To them, a substation is where OLE track wires are united at a busbar through circuit breakers. On mimic displays and the like, whether or not a substation has a busbar circuit breaker+OLE neutral section, and/or one or two grid connections - is conceptually treated like a local variation to that substation. I've also found plenty of neutral sections with no substation associated with them, typically when different schemes happen to pass each other. The only way to bridge those gaps would be with the OLE switches that may or may not be manually operated.
Anyway - you don't have to agree with me on alternative mid-point, I'm just explaining my rationale. There are several times I've seen examples of something we would all agree was MPTSC just called TSC.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
I could help you with all the ECML sites (inc. Leeds North West) but only as they were up to 2019. I visited every one during the SCADA upgrade project with the exception of Benton FS. Still bugs me to this day!
That would be very helpful - we could do a fill in the blanks here. It's not that important if you don't have the exact mileages, I'm putting them in for orientation around those I have for neutral sections. Where I don't have info on an OHNS past of present I've put ~ for "around about".
Apologies for the delayed reply, but mileage wise I'm struggling to complete your list. Substations are not shown in the Sectional Appendix as you probably know and East Coast Electrification diagrams don't annotate the mileage of the sites as they're not necessarily on or near the line, so the nearest I can place a site is by the closest OLE structure number (usually by an associated switching structure) which are measured in Kilometres so here we go - hope this helps:
Holloway TSC - E2/24
Ferme Park FS - E06/24
Nene FS - E122/28
Essendine FS - E142/10
Newark FS - E195/21
Balne TSC - E267/02
Colton Junction TSC - E294/16 (there was no neutral section removed from here as it was just an insulated overlap)
Ulgham FS - E468/09
Just for clarity, Ferme Park FS, Nene FS, Newark FS and Ulgham Crossing FS are/were Tee feeds so there is/was no Neutral Section there. Other non mid-point TSCs marked ~ also do not have a NS.
Thank you for those. The mileages are not that important to me, mostly for orientation especially for places I've never heard of, and perhaps to investigate approx. how long feeding distances are and the spacings of iTSCs.
I also went back and looked up at the original maps posted on the first page of this thread (message #7) and they mention some more substations.
- digswell TSL just north of welwyn
- claypool tsc between grantham and newark
- tuxford tsc between north muskham and retford
- tollerton tsc between york and dalton
Some of these would have been listed because they were to be removed i think.
They also do list colton jnc as an mptsc, but (even stranger) they have Holme and Huntingdon both as midpoints!
Thank you for those. The mileages are not that important to me, mostly for orientation especially for places I've never heard of, and perhaps to investigate approx. how long feeding distances are and the spacings of iTSCs.
I also went back and looked up at the original maps posted on the first page of this thread (message #7) and they mention some more substations.
- digswell TSL just north of welwyn
- claypool tsc between grantham and newark
- tuxford tsc between north muskham and retford
- tollerton tsc between york and dalton
Some of these would have been listed because they were to be removed i think.
They also do list colton jnc as an mptsc, but (even stranger) they have Holme and Huntingdon both as midpoints!
Yes, it's nearly right. It's Claypole (not Claypool) and Huntingdon and Colton Jn were definitely not Midpoints. Approximate locations of those others are (in rounded km):-
Digswell TSL - 34 km
Claypole TSC - 186 km
Tuxford TSC - 211 km
Tollerton TSC - 318 km
As added interest to your project, the old Biggleswade TSC was removed (after the Corey's Mill scheme went live), refurbished and reconfigured by Areva (Alstom) at Stafford to become the replacement Feeder Station at Dunton (Thameside line near Laindon in Essex) after the original brick building was literally demolished by a switchgear explosion!
Yes, it's nearly right. It's Claypole (not Claypool) and Huntingdon and Colton Jn were definitely not Midpoints. Approximate locations of those others are (in rounded km):-
Digswell TSL - 34 km
Claypole TSC - 186 km
Tuxford TSC - 211 km
Tollerton TSC - 318 km
As added interest to your project, the old Biggleswade TSC was removed (after the Corey's Mill scheme went live), refurbished and reconfigured by Areva (Alstom) at Stafford to become the replacement Feeder Station at Dunton (Thameside line near Laindon in Essex) after the original brick building was literally demolished by a switchgear explosion!
Colton Jn was planned to get a neutral section on the Leeds lines to allow Ravensthorpe to feed to the ECML if required. So it could have been called an MPTSC by some people. Normally Hambleton feeds through it towards Micklefield.
Originally, the Micklefield to Selby line was planned for electrification under Transpennine Electrification, before that project was cancelled, and Hambleton Jn still includes all the switchgear for that line… should it ever be reinstated!
I think Colton viewed as an mptsc can be explained, but Huntingdon and Holme is just bazaar - maybe a whole mistake?
This means there was another mistake in my maps in that the original midpoint between doncaster and york was Hambleton Junction as well - but as an MPTSC. Just checked the 2001 SA I have.
As added interest to your project, the old Biggleswade TSC was removed (after the Corey's Mill scheme went live), refurbished and reconfigured by Areva (Alstom) at Stafford to become the replacement Feeder Station at Dunton (Thameside line near Laindon in Essex) after the original brick building was literally demolished by a switchgear explosion!
(Been a while, sorry)
Probably best to reformat the substation list, try out the table format?
The "incoming supplies" column describes the equipment at the Network Rail owned site and is about trying to indicate the fairly common occurrence where an FS has 2 grid connections but either only one is normally used (eg: Welwyn, Bytham, Grantham) or only one can be used at any one time due to lack of a neutral section (eg: Essendine, Ardsley,) - if I happen to have come across any info on transformer ratings I'll put that here too - these are gathered from OpenData sources on DNO websites although is incomplete (UKPN info are summer time ratings) ; FSC is firm supply capacity which was published for Kings Cross-Reston as part of infrastructure capability modelling done during the planning of the December 2025 timetable.
The "GSP name" refers to the site owned and operated by the 'grid company' (of various flavours) where the 25kV supply transformers are. Sometimes there is dedicated substation that just house xyz/25kV transformers which often has a name very similar to the NwR feeder station (like Durham Rail or BR Welwyn) or a name that's very different (Ryhall vs Essendine). In these cases, the "Upstream Connection" info tells you what grid infrastructure actually supplies those 25kV transformers. Elsewhere, however, the 25kV transformers are located within a larger substation that has other local connections feeding off it. At DNO sites, the 25kV transformers will be attached directly to the 132kV busbar that is also supporting 66,33,20 or 11kV transformers and/or other 132kV lines (eg: Grantham North, Kirkstall C). At transmission operator sites (NG/SPT), the railway transformers are attached to the 275kV or 400kV busbars that also are supplying 132kV (or other) transformers for DNO usage (eg: Wymondley, Portobello).
Main Route
ECML London – York (ECM 1/LN101, ECM 2–4/LN600)
(datum = Kings Cross)
Mileage
Name
Type
Neutral Section
Incoming supplies
GSP Name/Location
Upstream Connection
Notes
~1.14
Holloway
TSC
No
E2/24
~3.74
Ferme Park
FS
No
x1 18MVA; FSC 20MVA, feeds Kings Cross – Wood Green
BR Ferme Park 132/25kV (UKPN London)
Tottenham-Hornsey 132kV line
E06/24
5.15
Wood Green
FS
Yes
x1 18 MVA; FSC 20MVA, feeds Bowes Park – Hertford North
BR Wood Green 132/25kV (UKPN London)
Tottenham-Hornsey 132kV line
13.21
Potters Bar
TSC
Removed
19.29
Welwyn
FS/SATS
Yes
x2 supplies (18MVA), x1 on standby; FSC 21MVA,
feeds south to Wood Green
BR Welwyn 132/25kV (UKPN Eastern)
Rye House-Welwyn Grid 132kV line
Southern extent of AT
~21.10
Digswell
TSC
No
no AT?
25.73
Langley Junction
SATS/TSC
Yes
TSC for Hertford line
29.77
Coreys Mill
ATFS
Yes
x2 (50kV) 80MVA; FSC 40MVA,
feeds south to Welwyn + Hertford North, and north to Little Barford + Litlington
(25kV transformers at) NG Wymondley 400kV
NG Wymondley 400kV
~32.50
Hitchin
SATS/TSC
Mainline NS removed,
Northern extent of AT
40.58
Biggleswade
TSC
Yes
Normally bridged
49.72
Little Barford
FS
Yes
x2 supplies (21MVA), x1 on standby; FSC 21MVA, feeds to Holme
(25kV transformers at) NG Eaton Socon 400kV
NG Eaton Socon 400kV
~59.20
Huntingdon
TSC
No (removed?)
Some suggestion this was once an MPTSC
69.00
Holme
TSC
Yes
Normal midpoint
~76.09
(former) Nene
FS
No
x1 18MVA, see Bretton
Previously FS, E122/28
78.14
Bretton
FS
Yes
x2 supplies (18MVA), x1 on standby; FSC 12MVA
feeds south to Holme
x2 supplies (10 MVA); FSC 10 MVA, feeds to Chathill and to Reston
Marshall Meadows 132/25kV (SPN SPT)
Low Cocklaw (aka 'Berwick') 132kV via ~4.5km single phase dual circuit 132kV overhead powerline
ECML Scottish border – Edinburgh (ECM 8–9; LN600/SC147)
(miles now count down to Edinburgh)
Mileage
Name
Type
Neutral Section
Incoming Supplies
GSP Name/Location
Upstream Connection
Notes
46.22
Reston
TSC
Yes
Normal Midpoint
33.60
Innerwick
FS
Yes
2x supplies (10 MVA) in parallel & in phase, feeds Reston – Longniddry
Innerwick Rail 132/25kV (SPN SPT)
Torness-Dunbar 132kV line
~23.23
East Linton
TSC
No
13.32
Longniddry
TSC
Yes
Normal Midpoint
03.67
Portobello
FS
Yes (new 2025)
2x supplies (18 MVA), now both in normal use, SI feeds south to Longniddry and S2 north to Haymarket + (reverse via Millerhill) Monktonhall Jnc /(future) Sheriffhall Mains
1x 18MVA
1x 10MVA
(one of these is standby)
Ardsley FSC = 6MVA
feeds South Kirkby – Copley Hill
1x 18MVA from
Scampston Drive 132/25
1x 10MVA from
Station Lane 132/25
(adjacent to each other) (both NPG Yorkshire)
Skelton Grange – Rodley (and Staygate) 132kV line
185.57
Leeds "Copley Hill"
TSL
Yes
1x feeder cable from Armley
Normal Midpoint
TPML: Leeds - York
Leeds – Micklefield Jnc (HUL4; LN836, LN898)
(miles count down from Leeds station (HUL4 20.50) towards datum at Selby Jnc)
Mileage
Name
Type
Neutral Section
Incoming Supplies
Notes
~20.00
(former)Marsh Lane
TSL
No
EB48/17 Replaced by Neville Hill
~18.??
[Neville Hill]
TSC
No
1x feeder cable from Armley
(previously went to Marsh Lane)
under construction?
~10.63
[Micklefield]
TSC
Yes
(planned midpoint)
Micklefield Jnc - Church Fenton (CFM; LN 902)
(miles count down from Micklefield Jnc (CFM 15.62) towards datum at York)
- n/a
Church Fenton (North Jnc) - Colton Jnc (NOC; LN 854)
(miles count down from Church Fenton North Jnc (NOC 10.37) towards datum at York)
Mileage
Name
Type
Neutral Section
Notes
~10.??
Church Fenton
TSC
No
Very unconfirmed, could even be on CFM or the other (south) side of the station.
(5.41)
(Colton Jnc)
(TSC)
On NOC Yes?
TSC with ECML, likely has carrier-wire type neutral section on transpennine line
Airedale/Wharfdale
Leeds (Whitehall) – Skipton (TJC3 (part); LN922)
(Whitehall West Jnc at 195.57, counting higher as you go northwest, datum = St Pancras)
Mileage
Name
Type
Neutral Section
Incoming Supplies
GSP Name/Location
Upstream Connection
Notes
196.13
Armley
TSL
Yes
Normally bridged, Cables to Copley Hill and to Neville Hill (previously Marsh Ln)
197.21
Kirkstall
FS
Yes
2x 18.75MVA; FSC 14MVA, feeds east to Copley Hill + (future) Micklefield and west to Bingley + Ilkley + Bradford
(25kV transformers at) Kirkstall C 132kV (NPG Yorkshire)
@GraphitProjekt - I’m not quite sure if it’s the best choice to use ‘via Berwick’ in the context of Marshall Meadows. It’s certainly fed from the ‘Berwick area’ DNO substation, but the physical location is some way west of Berwick, at a site called Low Cocklaw.
I think my idea was that it all comes from Eccles 400/132 but the single phase 132kV powerline comes from Berwick Grid. I admit, I've been somewhat inconsistent about where i draw the line in the GSP collumn
Minor amendment to your list above for normal feeding.
Ulgham FS has two feeds from the same source (and phase) feeding one busbar with both incoming circuit breakers normally closed. F1 feeds South and F2 feeds North by switching around an Insulated Overlap such that F1 feeds south to Stannington Neutral Section and F1 feeds north to Chathill NS through (and around Shilbottle NS) via a Normally Closed bus section there.
Worth noting that Ulgham also has two Harmonic Filters associated with the incoming feeds to dampen the high level of harmonics produced by the aluminium smelting works fed by Linton.
Minor amendment to your list above for normal feeding.
Ulgham FS has two feeds from the same source (and phase) feeding one busbar with both incoming circuit breakers normally closed. F1 feeds South and F2 feeds North by switching around an Insulated Overlap such that F1 feeds south to Stannington Neutral Section and F1 feeds north to Chathill NS through (and around Shilbottle NS) via a Normally Closed bus section there.
Worth noting that Ulgham also has two Harmonic Filters associated with the incoming feeds to dampen the high level of harmonics produced by the aluminium smelting works fed by Linton.
The Alcan smelting works were demolished about 10 years ago, so have the filters survived the upgrades to Ulgham? I found a planning application that shows the original buildings and the two 1990s harmonic filter cabins all due to be removed.
The Alcan smelting works were demolished about 10 years ago, so have the filters survived the upgrades to Ulgham? I found a planning application that shows the original buildings and the two 1990s harmonic filter cabins all due to be removed.
Thanks for that, table and illustrations have been updated.
I also found out that Bingley only has one transformer so it must be only feeding to Shipley. This means that everything from Leeds to Bingley including Bradford and Ilkley comes off Kirkstall FS. The whole arrangement around Leeds seems quite flexible with Armley and Apperley midpoints normally bridged and extra cables from Armley to Copley Hill and to Marsh Lane or Neville Hill.
(There was a TRUP announcement a year or so ago about a new cable from Armley to a new Neville Hill substation, but I have seen previous indication a cable always went to Marsh Lane).
I wonder what the situations are for Armley or Apperley to actually bridge different supplies?
Thanks for that, table and illustrations have been updated.
I also found out that Bingley only has one transformer so it must be only feeding to Shipley. This means that everything from Leeds to Bingley including Bradford and Ilkley comes off Kirkstall FS. The whole arrangement around Leeds seems quite flexible with Armley and Apperley midpoints normally bridged and extra cables from Armley to Copley Hill and to Marsh Lane or Neville Hill.
(There was a TRUP announcement a year or so ago about a new cable from Armley to a new Neville Hill substation, but I have seen previous indication a cable always went to Marsh Lane).
I wonder what the situations are for Armley or Apperley to actually bridge different supplies?
Marsh Lane TSL was installed as part of the enabling works for the Leeds 1st Project (1999/2000) to keep Neville Hill depot alive whislt the OLE in Leeds Station was isolated during reconstruction. There is a feeder cable from Armley TSL via Whitehall Jn. running alongside the Leeds/Liverpool canal viaduct, through the back of the station and over Marsh Lane Vidauct to the TSL. Marsh Lane Circuit Breakers are interlocked with Armley to prevent paralleling of supplies. How the proposed Neville Hill site will be configured I'm afraid I don't know.
The Leeds North West feeding arrangement was like this back then:
Now that I know Bingley has transformer, that's now how I have it. The other source I have is an image from a PWI presentation on Hambleton Junction SFC. This somewhat suggests Marsh Lane is no longer.
Now that I know Bingley has transformer, that's now how I have it. The other source I have is an image from a PWI presentation on Hambleton Junction SFC. This somewhat suggests Marsh Lane is no longer. View attachment 188014
yeah it's a bit strange, but it's just before and after Hambleton Junction. (But clearly both within PSU2 because of Potteric Carr) - maybe it's 'existing installation' vs 'current proposal'
@GraphitProjekt - I’m not quite sure if it’s the best choice to use ‘via Berwick’ in the context of Marshall Meadows. It’s certainly fed from the ‘Berwick area’ DNO substation, but the physical location is some way west of Berwick, at a site called Low Cocklaw.
The status of Berwick substation is a bit odd. It's listed in the ETYS data under SPT (Scottish Power Transmission), so it's a transmission substation. Its feed from Eccles was recently renovated by SPT, though not upgraded. Functionally, it's a 132/33kV grid supply point, with a pair of 60 MVA transformers, though in this part of the world the DNO is SPD, also part of SPEN.
All quite logical, and like some other GSPs is was left off the transmission network schematics in ETYS. But from ETYS 2020, it has been shown - like this:
That's fine, up to a point - black is for 132 kV circuits and substations - but Marshall Meadows is not listed as as a grid substation. Nor should it be, as traction supplies are not considered part of the transmission network. And you do kind of expect the circuits shown here to be three phase. As to quite why it suddenly appears in 2020 ...
Is it some kind of midway situation where potteric carr was operating but not hambleton jnc so doncaster is halfway in use. So one of the supplies is without a job because of potteric carr.
Unless you mean that Doncaster to South Kirkby was also from Doncaster?
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
The status of Berwick substation is a bit odd. It's listed in the ETYS data under SPT (Scottish Power Transmission), so it's a transmission substation. Its feed from Eccles was recently renovated by SPT, though not upgraded. Functionally, it's a 132/33kV grid supply point, with a pair of 60 MVA transformers, though in this part of the world the DNO is SPD, also part of SPEN.
All quite logical, and like some other GSPs is was left off the transmission network schematics in ETYS. But from ETYS 2020, it has been shown - like this: View attachment 188029
That's fine, up to a point - black is for 132 kV circuits and substations - but Marshall Meadows is not listed as as a grid substation. Nor should it be, as traction supplies are not considered part of the transmission network. And you do kind of expect the circuits shown here to be three phase. As to quite why it suddenly appears in 2020 ...
I suppose because it's part of the scottish system, they consider 132kV to be "transmission" although it's technically in england.
There is planning permission allotted to swap the Berwick to Marshall Meadows (Low cocklaw?) circuits to be 3 phase for 2 SFCs to be installed at Marshall Meadows. But i guess they removed it from maps because suddenly that didn't happen
Now that I know Bingley has transformer, that's now how I have it. The other source I have is an image from a PWI presentation on Hambleton Junction SFC. This somewhat suggests Marsh Lane is no longer. View attachment 188014
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