Larkfield South Curve

[cysrard]

Hello
I just recently moved to Glasgow and my flat over looks the Larkfield South Curve.
I am wondering if there is anyway to know when this section of track is going to be used?
I noticed this section of track is not used often. So far I have only seen two trains on it. An empty train which I assume was going to polmadie and yesterday morning I was very excited to see a very loud and smokey diesel locomotive hauling what I assume was ballast.
Railways are a new interest for me so I am a bit lost as to how others are able to predict and know these things in advance.
Any help at all is appreciated.
Thank you

 

[Welshguy1048]

Hello
I just recently moved to Glasgow and my flat over looks the Larkfield South Curve.
I am wondering if there is anyway to know when this section of track is going to be used?
I noticed this section of track is not used often. So far I have only seen two trains on it. An empty train which I assume was going to polmadie and yesterday morning I was very excited to see a very loud and smokey diesel locomotive hauling what I assume was ballast.
Railways are a new interest for me so I am a bit lost as to how others are able to predict and know these things in advance.
Any help at all is appreciated.
Thank you

Hi @cysrard

This link from Real Time Trains should help - it is the trains that run through Larkfield Junction - which im guessing is near to the South Curve

Realtime Trains | Departures from Larkfield Jn all day on 21/10/2024

Train information at Larkfield Jn all day on 21/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Dave

 

[Mcr Warrior]

To run along the relevant section of line, would a train necessarily have to pass through both Muirfield South Junction AND Larkfield Junction (or vice-versa)?

 

[cysrard]

Hi @cysrard

This link from Real Time Trains should help - it is the trains that run through Larkfield Junction - which im guessing is near to the South Curve

Realtime Trains | Departures from Larkfield Jn all day on 21/10/2024

Train information at Larkfield Jn all day on 21/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Dave

This is a big help yes, thank you!
From this I've gathered there should be empty carriage service train coming through this evening at about 1840

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Oct 2024 ==

To run along the relevant section of line, would a train necessarily have to pass through both Muirfield South Junction AND Larkfield Junction (or vice-versa)?

From what I have gathered so far that is the case and its unusual for trains to go this way.
It only seems to be used if they are coming from crossmyloof direction and aren't calling at Glasgow central but heading east towards Polmadie.
Oddly enough the one this evening is actually heading west I think. It's going to use the curve to go east and then reverse direction to continue on to Corkerhill.
I'm not sure why it can't just go via the terminus south curve

 

[Falcon1200]

I'm not sure why it can't just go via the terminus south curve

The odd empty coach working uses the Larkfield curve to retain Traincrew route knowledge; The route can be used in the event of issues at Muirhouse North Junction. A couple of years ago Sunday services ran this way due to engineering work there.
(Foolishly I didn't take the opportunity to travel the route, for the first time!)

 

[AndrewE]

Time to mention PSUL?
https://www.branchline.uk/PSULintro.php and https://www.branchline.uk/rail_chronology/PSUL/2024.pdf

 

[Welshguy1048]

This is a big help yes, thank you!
From this I've gathered there should be empty carriage service train coming through this evening at about 1840

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Oct 2024 ==


From what I have gathered so far that is the case and its unusual for trains to go this way.
It only seems to be used if they are coming from crossmyloof direction and aren't calling at Glasgow central but heading east towards Polmadie.
Oddly enough the one this evening is actually heading west I think. It's going to use the curve to go east and then reverse direction to continue on to Corkerhill.
I'm not sure why it can't just go via the terminus south curve

Your welcome @cysrard

Dave

 

[Kite159]

Time to mention PSUL?
https://www.branchline.uk/PSULintro.php and https://www.branchline.uk/rail_chronology/PSUL/2024.pdf

If it's the same chord I'm thinking of, then it won't appear on PSUL as it doesn't have any sort of passenger service.

 

[AndrewE]

If it's the same chord I'm thinking of, then it won't appear on PSUL as it doesn't have any sort of passenger service.

That's as maybe, but if you are starting out thinking about railway routing it's still an interesting source of info and worth flagging up...

 

[Watershed]

If it's the same chord I'm thinking of, then it won't appear on PSUL as it doesn't have any sort of passenger service.

I think PSUL does still list some curves that lack a passenger service, just in case a service is reinstated/added in future?

 

[Adrian Barr]

There's a 3S94 working running on this curve most weekday evenings around 9pm (although not tonight).
It's part of the "leaf-busting" effort during autumn, using an MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) like this one: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124971346@N06/49056196998/
These are the timings from yesterday: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H18237/2024-10-21/detailed

yesterday morning I was very excited to see a very loud and smokey diesel locomotive hauling what I assume was ballast.

Nice... that must have been this 6K25 train, with 56105 and 70812 : https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:B06229/2024-10-20/detailed
It shows starting at Larkfield Junction, but it had been doing drainage work at Crossmyloof.

This Cab Ride video on YouTube may be of interest, an early morning "tamper" movement from Giffnock to Rutherglen.
At the 8 minute point in the video, the tamper is signalled onto the Larkfield curve at Muirhouse South Jn - maybe you can spot your flat...

Driver's Eye View - Giffnock GB 5147 to Rutherglen GB858 - 2023 | Mick Lewis

 

[route101]

Is there a tank service from Prestwick to Grangemouth and vice versa still?

Occasionally East Kilbride services get diverted this way, perhaps around Christmas on the bank holidays, not heard it happening for a while now.

 

[Mag_seven]

Is there a tank service from Prestwick to Grangemouth and vice versa still?

There is certainly one in the WTT but it doesn't go Muirhouse Jn - Larkfield Jn, rather it goes Shields Jn - Larkfield Jn