Reversing in service

[43106]

There used to be a Birmingham - Edinburgh - Aberdeen XC service (in both directions) that reversed at Edinburgh at Waverley
There was (may still be) a service up the WCML that reversed at Carstairs on Edinburgh - Carlisle - Preston - beyond services. This used to happen a lot when Birmingham/Liverpool/Manchester trains to Glasgow & Edinburgh used to split at Carstairs, with the Edinburgh portion reversing.
On a SWunday in September 1996, I travelled on an HST from Birmingham to Edinburgh that called and reversed at Glasgow Central. It used to be a regular scheduled event.
GNER services between Skipton/Bradford/Harrogate and Kings Cross reversed at Leeds. Some still do.
Before the City Chord Line was built (just north of Glasgow Queen Street), Glasgow - Cumbernauld trains used to reverse at or near Springburn.
I believe that years ago York/Darlington - Sunderland - Newcastle trains reversed at Middlesborough.
In the late 1970s, I went from Stafford to Edinburgh when a lot of the WCML was closed. When we arrived at Preston, we reversed and went via Blackburn and Hellifield, rejoining the WCML at Carlisle.
In the 1950's I went from Leamington Spa to West Cumberland that entailed reversing at Rugby.

 

[me123]

There used to be a Birmingham - Edinburgh - Aberdeen XC service (in both directions) that reversed at Edinburgh at Waverley

Alas, since XC ceased services on the WCML (Well, most of it anyway) this does not happen any more at all All Aberdeen-Birmingham services are now sent down the ECML. Although the service continued right up to December 2007. Virgin are now the sole operators of Edinburgh/Glasgow-Birmingham services and they no longer serve Aberdeen.

There was (may still be) a service up the WCML that reversed at Carstairs on Edinburgh - Carlisle - Preston - beyond services. This used to happen a lot when Birmingham/Liverpool/Manchester trains to Glasgow & Edinburgh used to split at Carstairs, with the Edinburgh portion reversing.
On a SWunday in September 1996, I travelled on an HST from Birmingham to Edinburgh that called and reversed at Glasgow Central. It used to be a regular scheduled event.

Again, this hasn't happened in a while, and certainly not since Voyagers and Pendos took over. However, the Lowland Caledonian Sleeper still does! Northbound, in the morning, the sleeper divides at Carstairs with the front portion continuing to Glasgow and the rear portion joining onto another 90 to reverse to Edinburgh.

Similarly, SB, The Edinburgh portion stables North of Carstairs to await the arrival of the Glasgow portion. At that point, the Edinburgh train is reversed to attach to the Glasgow one before continuing South.

Open to corrections for this, especially for the Southbound Sleeper.

 

[djw1981]

That is correct for SB sleeper AIUI and helps with the rotation of each sleeper set between the various locations, including to Inverness for maintenance.

 

[laseandre]

Kyle of lochalsh-Aberdeen services reverse at Inverness.

Would they be the parliamentary trains? If so, they don't call at Inverness I think, they use the third chord of the station triangle.

 

[me123]

They do call at Inverness; I've been on the train (to Huntly) and the front 2 carriages of the train divide and terminate at Inverness, with the rear 2 reversing to Kyle. However, I think that the train does something different on a Wednesday or something? :?

 

[djw1981]

IIRc its how some of the 158's get transfered down to Haymarket etc and the IS based 158s working down on Central belt can return to base.

 

[Oracle]

I was once on a Bristol TM-Paddington HST that reversed and turned around at Dr Days Junction. Presumably it had become turned from say Cardiff-TM?

 

[djw1981]

They do call at Inverness; I've been on the train (to Huntly) and the front 2 carriages of the train divide and terminate at Inverness, with the rear 2 reversing to Kyle. However, I think that the train does something different on a Wednesday or something? :?

IIRC it only does it in one direction? And there is a crew change at Inverness, so I think it could be split easily into 2 services......but they choose not to. And yet late running on one portion would seriously affect the Inv-Kyle scton given the amount of single tracking.

 

[me123]

When I was on the train, there weren't any passengers going to Kyle, either. Most seemed to alight at or before Inverness. And I was in the Kyle portion! Sure, when the ferries were on, it was a convenient interchange to get to Skye but with the bridge in place (as it has been for some time now!) the buses to Sky are becoming a better option for most people. One train a day M-F in one direction isn't a particularly wonderful service, and certainly not enough to establish a large market for the direct service; I'm sure those that that do go wouldn't mind changing.

 

[djw1981]

Indeed, a fair chunk of the Kyle market is from Central belt, traveling via Perth & Aviemore.

Other reversing moves will be the Kingussie to Invergordon 'Invernet' services. I can't remember if this is one service, or changes headcode in Inverness, but it is the same unit....

I suppose a 3rd commuter leg could be added from Elgin to reduce congestion in Inverness city, which would further add to reversing moves..

 

[P156KWJ]

sorry if it's been mentioned, can't be bothered looking through the whole thread
XC on all routes through Sheffield reverse after coming off Barrow Hill to go north or vice versa, Norwich to Liverpool reverses at Sheffield (well, not at the moment, engineering works). Also, the one a day EMT London-Burton reverses at Derby, and FScR reverses twice on the Inverness-Wick, at Georgemas and Thurso. Why not do what BR did, get 2 units, and split them at Georgemas :???:

 

[djw1981]

The XC Sheffield one is only temporary IIRC, which may indeed be how this thread started...If you can't be bothered to read the thread its not exactly respectful to the other posters :roll

The FSR thing is because the loadings do not require a 4car train (with 2 drivers and 2 guards), and because there is not the additional rolling stock (a problem which you in EMT-land will be aware of) to run empty / near empty units around the country.