Selsdon station

[bangor-toad]

Hi all,
I wonder if anyone knows the answer to this...

I was coming on a train on the Oxted branch recently and I was staring out the window at the old Selsdon station. The station used to be at the junction from the Oxted branch up to News Addington.

The route has long been closed (part of the route is now used by Croydon Tramlink) but the southern-most part of the route was used for access to a small oil terminal (I think). Anyway, this closed ages ago and the junction was lifted but the old branch track remains in-situ.

So, why is this severed branch still protected by a shunt signal?
Surely when the junction was removed the S&T stuff was all altered? Why does this shunt signal on an otherwise disconnected bit of track remain powered?

Cheers,
Jason

 

[John Webb]

It is sometimes cheaper to leave the signal in place, even if it's not by any track, rather than alter the interlocking either electrically or in a computer set-up. This is mostly due to the elaborate checking procedures any such alteration requires.

 

[bangor-toad]

Hi,
Yes I thought it might be due to interlocking but there used to be significant trackwork as part of the same junction. All of these shunt signals were removed when the junction was removed and replaced by "normal" track. That must have required alteratons to the interlocking so I was surprised to see this last outpost from a long lost route left alone, all lit up offering guidance to a train that will never come

Cheers,
Jason

 

[robvulpes]

Hi all,
......I was coming on a train on the Oxted branch recently and I was staring out the window at the old Selsdon station. The station used to be at the junction from the Oxted branch up to News Addington. .....

Just a point of correction - the line from Selsdon went to Elmers End via Woodside. There was never heavy rail to New Addington.


Rob
Croydon