Rugby Platforms

[thefab444]

Might take a trip up to Rugby this week to see some freight, is it currently easy to photo freight workings on the far lines as I heard there was some "platform engineering works"?

 

[Techniquest]

Easy enough as far as I'm aware!

 

[87015]

On the down everything for the Trent Valley has to pass through on the platform road, which isn't great for phots.

http://redcow.fotopic.net/p30427337.html

The engineering work is on the former down goods line. Think its Rugby remodelling plan Z!

 

[thefab444]

Ok thanks, I thought I read somewhere that the actual platforms themselves were being modified; that is to say lots of those steel barriers everywhere.

How many platforms are there at Rugby? 2 through & 4 bay?

 

[yorkie]

Just be prepared to get some abuse from Geoff Arden and minions if you step a foot near the yellow line.

Oh, and that's the yellow line that's about 2 metres from the edge of a platform with a 20mph restriction on it, which is nowhere near the fast lines.

 

[thefab444]

Thanks for the info guys, much appreciated!

One last thing, can anyone recommend a good spot for photting?

 

[Techniquest]

I suggest the end of the Birmingham-bound platform, but moving to the London-bound one now and again is not a bad idea.

 

[thefab444]

Cheers, gonna go to Nuneaton as well.

Thanks once again.

 

[Techniquest]

Tamworth is better than Nuneaton, by a LONG way, in my books!

 

[thefab444]

Pour quoi?

 

[yorkie]

Nuneaton isn't that great for photography, though a lot does come through. Tamworth is a little better, although it can be difficult to be in 2 places at once! But, to be honest, although you'll see a lot of stuff (on a weekday) you won't get great photos at any of those places.

You will get far better photos at Water Orton (foot crossing) though

Water Orton http://yorkie.fotopic.net/p32583677.html

Can I also suggest Rugeley Trent Valley? http://yorkie.fotopic.net/p33111156.html

Granted it's more hassle getting to these places, but if you want decent photos, then believe me it's worth it!

I'd be up for another Trent valley wandering photting meet some time - perhaps in the Spring when the clocks go forward?

 

[tubenutter]

There seems to be a new platform being constructed where the former Down Goods was, though I havent seen anything written about it so am only saying what it looks like is happening! I am not aware of anything happening to the current platforms. As for the platform layout, there are 2 through platforms as you say, and there are certainly spaces for 4 bays although Im not sure if they're all in passenger use (loco's are always occupying most of them).

That's probably no help to you at all but for once I can actually say something accurate!

 

[yorkie]

Yes it will be a more convential layout like Doncaster, with the fast lines through the middle (125mph) and platforms either side.

A diagram was in Modern Railways a while back, and no doubt will be again some time. All main flows are fully segregated to ensure conflicting movements are at a minimum.

 

[Nick W]

Yes it will be a more convential layout like Doncaster, with the fast lines through the middle (125mph) and platforms either side.

Which isn't the best operationally and makes interchange harder.

 

[thefab444]

Found the north of Platform 2 (IIRC) was quite good, you could take pics of the goods loops without caternary posts getting in the way.

 

[tubenutter]

That's where I go I think. Although (and even living in Rugby) I always get confused as to which is platform 1 and which is 2, it doesnt really matter!

 

[thefab444]

The Southbound platform anyway.

 

[tubenutter]

yeh that one

 

[james60059]

Tamworth is better than Nuneaton, by a LONG way, in my books!

I'll second that as well, even though Nuneaton is my local. In fact I'm hoping to go there on Friday :tongue8:

Best Wishes

James

 

[thefab444]

Yer, it was very hard to take pics from.

 

[westcoaster]

The Southbound platform anyway.

that's both the through platforms then as one is bi-directional, we use the southend bays, normally the downside one?

if i were to take pic's there i would use the north end of either platform/bay's?

 

[voyagerdude220]

Tamworth is better than Nuneaton, by a LONG way, in my books!

I loved the time i had in Tamworth, between 19:55 ish and 21:00ish a while back. Tamworth is probably my favourite location for trainspotting/foting.

I was very annoyed at the fact that my connecting Pendo (still with bill lights on) was sat in the LL northbound platform, whilst my Voyager arrived on the HL northbound platform. As i got to the Pendo, it released its brakes and went.

The dispatcher from my Voyager came down, and just said that it often happens (Signaller putting freight in front of Voyager Birmingham-Tamworth) despite the Voyager leaving on time at New Street.

The friendly fellow enthusiasts on the HL n/b platform showed me a copy of the expected freight for the hour, and i also got a front side photo of a Pendo racing through Tamworth at high speed.

I enjoyed the variety of traffic which came through, mixture of speeds, and the time went very quickly. I was glad i was in FC, as i was ready for a drink and freshly made sandwhiches.

Sorry to be off topic, but why doesn't VWC offer any hot food on Pendos during the evening, in FC anymore? (Apart from the excellent Primo services which i once sampled on a value first)

 

[tubenutter]

that's both the through platforms then as one is bi-directional, we use the southend bays, normally the downside one?

if i were to take pic's there i would use the north end of either platform/bay's?

Well, even if one is technically bi-directional, Southbound trains generally leave from one platform and Northbound from the other.

Lets describe the platform in a way that surely cant be argued with:

You go up the ramp from the entrance, and it is the through platform on your left.

 

[yorkie]

Lets describe the platform in a way that surely cant be argued with:

How about "Up Platform"? Up meaning the line that is generally used toward London. (Someone will now tell me it's called something else I bet!)

 

[Techniquest]

I'm getting my Track maps book out...

Line towards London, platform 2 at Rugby, is officially known as 'Up Slow'.

Line FROM London, platform 1 at Rugby, is officially known as 'Up & Down Slow'.

From my own experience, the best spots are on the London end of platform 2, as well as moving to the London end of platform 1 as and when movements go up that line.

 

[tubenutter]

The Track map books for the rugby area are now completely wrong anyway

EDIT: Ive just realised how old the thread is

 

[westcoaster]

The Track map books for the rugby area are now completely wrong anyway

EDIT: Ive just realised how old the thread is

umm got new sectional appendix the other, day hillmorton junc is now in place but not commissioned iirc

 

[Bonemaster]

Just be prepared to get some abuse from Geoff Arden and minions if you step a foot near the yellow line.

Oh, and that's the yellow line that's about 2 metres from the edge of a platform with a 20mph restriction on it, which is nowhere near the fast lines.

Just to add some clarity to this, they started getting funny after someone was hit by a passing Freightliner at low speed, since then the Yellow lines have been strictly enforced.

As for the plans, as far as I was aware the plan was almost to leave the original station as it was (for reasons of cost), and build two platforms one on either side primarily for services too and from Coventry.

As for good spots in the area to visit Water Orton is always well worth a punt as is nearby Whitacre Junction. Nuneaton is always well worth a visit too, however I gather that from my last visit enthusiast behavior is being 'closely monitored' following 'incidents'. For the car drivers there are several good places on the West Coast line, such as Cathiron, Essenhall, and Shilton.

 

[Beaker]

Just be prepared to get some abuse from Geoff Arden and minions if you step a foot near the yellow line.

Oh, and that's the yellow line that's about 2 metres from the edge of a platform with a 20mph restriction on it, which is nowhere near the fast lines.

Would that be the yellow line your not supposed to cross anyway if photting ?

 

[yorkie]

Would that be the yellow line your not supposed to cross anyway if photting ?

Photting has nothing to do with it, but I witnessed an enthiast being shouted at because one foot was on the yellow line. The guy looked around at where the shouting was coming from and had a look of disbelief when he realised he was shouting at him. Bear in mind this yellow line is a very long way from the platform edge and the linespeed is very slow (20mph)? it was quite disproportionate. No trains were in sight. Had it been anywhere else he'd not have been particularly near the yellow line!

Meanwhile, on LU the yellow line is something like 30cm away from the edge yet on some lines the trains enter at a speed of something like 50mph. It really makes no sense at all.

Is someone stood, say 1 metre from the edge really at risk at Rugby with it's slow speed limit yet not at risk at somewhere with a faster speed limit that happens to have a yellow line nearer the edge? Of course not! The laws of physics are no different at Rugby.