Gas Factory Junction to Bow Junction

[lehomme]

Hi all, my first post, so be gentle.

Does anyone know of any restrictions on the Gas Factory Junction - Bow Junction link? I know C2C's 357s go along there sometimes, and they're comprised of 20m carriages. Is there a carriage length limit? Speed limit? Peculiar loading gauge? Any info gratefully received.

I have searched this forum for answers but didn't find anything.

Thanks!

 

[rower40]

It's been host to a railtour or two, so I can't think there'd be many special restrictions.

However, getting across all four lines at Bow Junction to reach the Temple Mills lines and thence to the North London Line would likely be a timetabling nightmare.

One ECS train per day goes there for LTS drivers to retain route knowledge of the diversionary route from Fenchurch Street to Barking via Bow Junction, Stratford, Forest Gate Junction and Woodgrange Park.

 

[alholmes]

Not aware of any restrictions on type of trains - class 357s go along it daily, and older stock used to travel on it daily before then e.g. class 312. Also get occasional Network Rail trains and the RHTT, so classes 37, 47, 66 as well. I've also seen steam engines a few years back.

Main restriction is speed - at Bow Junction there's a sharp curve, so speed is limited to about 15 MPH, I think.

 

[12CSVT]

Is this line bi-directional ?

I have never seen London bound passenger services use this line, but have occasionally seen it used for eastbound services.

 

[Eagle]

Is this line bi-directional ?

I have never seen London bound passenger services use this line, but have occasionally seen it used for eastbound services.

It's being used both ways fairly regularly on weekends at the moment, to serve Westfield Stratford.

Here's the services for this Saturday.

 

[chappers]

There is a weight restriction for freight trains (on the rare occasion they use it), can't remember what it is exactly off the top of my head

 

[lehomme]

Okay, firstly, thanks very much for the replies. Pretty specific and interesting. It makes me wonder what type of users there are on here. I'm guessing not just enthusiasts, but a few current and ex railway workers too. Anyway, a couple of follow up questions:

Train Type Restrictions: I've done some further digging, and found the Anglia Sectional Appendix which appears to suggest that it's only classes 8, 20, 31, 33, 58, 60, 66, 97, 321, 322, 357, and Mk1 and Mk2 carriages are allowed on the line. Does that suggest a vehicle length limit? And how to explain alholmes seeing a class 47 on there?

Getting across Bow Junction to the North London Line: judging by the departure boards, Stratford is one busy station. Are there any trains that pass straight through without stopping to watch out for?

 

[O L Leigh]

No. It just means that other types and classes of traction haven't been cleared to use the line. It's not the same thing as a ban or a restriction.

Other types could use this line if Nitwit Rail give clearance. After all, a Cl315 or Cl317 have the same outward dimensions and power consumption as a Cl321, and yet they are not currently cleared.

O L Leigh

 

[jopsuk]

People seem to misunderstand that lists of what is cleared are inclusive, not exclusive- they start from blank, and get stock added as and when it is required (if it can be), rather than starting with a big list of everything and scoring out what can't use a line. Not appearing on a list is in no way an indication that stock won't fit.

 

[Searle]

Getting across Bow Junction to the North London Line: judging by the departure boards, Stratford is one busy station. Are there any trains that pass straight through without stopping to watch out for?

Just one train an hour each way goes through without stopping, the fast Liverpool Street - Norwich service, although it seems like a lot of ECS and Freights run through too. A complete list for a typical day is here

 

[miikey]

The line is Bi-Directional 30mph each way. 20mph over the S&C at each end.
The radius on the Bow Jn end is 604m with a Cant of 54mm.
There is a special instruction that Light Locos and Loco Hauled trains do not exceed 20mph.

 

[Whistler40145]

How come Class 37 is omitted from the list of traction passed. I was on a Pathfinder Tour Buffer Puffer in 2004, top n tailed by 37047 & 37203 which traversed Bow Jn to Gas Factory Junction?

Has the class since then been removed from the list?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Ploughman]

The line is Bi-Directional 30mph each way. 20mph over the S&C at each end.
The radius on the Bow Jn end is 604m with a Cant of 54mm.
There is a special instruction that Light Locos and Loco Hauled trains do not exceed 20mph.

So the Bow Jcn end runs into a Cant transition then.
Is it rising or falling?

 

[Dstock7080]

Also seen LO 4-car 172 working from East Ham depot via Bow Junction.

 

[PeterY]

I had my ride today on the c2c service along that stretch of line. Nothing fantastic but it's off my list of rare track.

 

[IanD]

Me too, 1022 off Stratford. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[tractakid]

I was at Stratford today cross platform from a c2c. Couldn't ride it though as I was in the middle of a tube challenge. It was destined for Shoeburyness so had already done the track in question but I haven't done c2c from Stratford to Barking either. Quite frustrating.