Steam train turn round at Victoria station?

[jimjams]

Where do they turn round the steam locomotives at Victoria station?
I imagine that there are no longer any Loco turntables available near by.

 

[JonathanH]

Where do they turn round the steam locomotives at Victoria station?
I imagine that there are no longer any Loco turntables available near by.

They don't turn round steam locomotives at Victoria Station. They are brought into the station with a diesel locomotive on the other end of the coaching stock.

(I assume you mean London Victoria.)

 

[zwk500]

Locos turn by going round the triangle at Stewart's Lane, Formed by Stewart's Lane Jn, Factory Jn/Wandsworth Road station and Longhedge jns. There is no turntable nearby.

 

[30907]

It would be unusual for an engine to need to turn near Victoria.

Depending on where the engine and empty carriages come from and go to, it may be that there will be a reversal somewhere en route in one direction..
For example, I notice that today there has been a special, which has come empty from Southall and will go back there (but without reversing) - so it may be that the steam engine next needs to leave southall in the opposite direction.

PS Welcome to the forum.

 

[zwk500]

It would be unusual for an engine to need to turn near Victoria.

Not unusual at all, DB regularly run back-to-back steam VSOE specials that require the engine to turn at Stewart's Lane. It's more usual to turn locos from Stewart's lane prior to their next working, rather than immediately after the inward working to Victoria, but depends on Crew hours and the next job.

Depending on where the engine and empty carriages come from and go to, it may be that there will be a reversal somewhere en route in one direction..
For example, I notice that today there has been a special, which has come empty from Southall and will go back there (but without reversing) - so it may be that the steam engine next needs to leave southall in the opposite direction.

Indeed, LSL and WCR tours will usually turn on their way to Southall or the WCML, either at Willesden (West London/South West/No 7 triangle) or at Greenford as convenient. Both often ask for double paths to be put in, one turning the other not, so that they have flexibility in case unexpected things happen with their operations.

PS Welcome to the forum.

Oops! Yes, Welcome.

 

[30907]

Not unusual at all, DB regularly run back-to-back steam VSOE specials that require the engine to turn at Stewart's Lane. It's more usual to turn locos from Stewart's lane prior to their next working, rather than immediately after the inward working to Victoria, but depends on Crew hours and the next job.

Apologies, I had forgotten the DB workings which are based down there.

Indeed, LSL and WCR tours will usually turn on their way to Southall or the WCML, either at Willesden (West London/South West/No 7 triangle) or at Greenford as convenient. Both often ask for double paths to be put in, one turning the other not, so that they have flexibility in case unexpected things happen with their operations.

Oops! Yes, Welcome.

 

[zwk500]

Apologies, I had forgotten the DB workings which are based down there.

No worries!

For the OP - Stewart's Lane (DB) next to Victoria (Eastern side) and Southall (WCRC and LSL) on the GWML are the main steam depots in London nowadays. AFAIK steam has only been stabled elsewhere in London due to failure, late running causing possessions to block the route or other exceptional circumstances.

 

[jimjams]

They don't turn round steam locomotives at Victoria Station. They are brought into the station with a diesel locomotive on the other end of the coaching stock.

(I assume you mean London Victoria.)

Many thanks JonathanH, I never thought of that. I was hoping to take my grandson (6yrs old) to see his first steam train this w/e at Victoria Station. jimjams.

 

[JonathanH]

Many thanks JonathanH, I never thought of that. I was hoping to take my grandson (6yrs old) to see his first steam train this w/e at Victoria Station. jimjams.

Yes, the best way to see the steam train is when it comes into Victoria on its return journey because then it will be leading into platform 2.

Unfortunately the trip to Dover today had a diesel locomotive on both ends. The trip to Bristol with Duchess of Sutherland will have had a class 47 on the concourse end for its outward journey at 0847, but the steam engine will be at the platform end at 2237 later. The 47 will take the stock back to Southall with the steam locomotive on the back.

 

[jimjams]

Yes, the best way to see the steam train is when it comes into Victoria on its return journey because then it will be leading into platform 2.

Unfortunately the trip to Dover today had a diesel locomotive on both ends. The trip to Bristol with Duchess of Sutherland will have had a class 47 on the concourse end for its outward journey at 0847, but the steam engine will be at the platform end at 2237 later. The 47 will take the stock back to Southall with the steam locomotive on the back.

Many thanks again JonathanH for your very informative information, unfortunately the grandson when down with a bad cold so will have to postpone a visit to Victoria Stn until the next steam trip.
jimjams

 

[43066]

Many thanks again JonathanH for your very informative information, unfortunately the grandson when down with a bad cold so will have to postpone a visit to Victoria Stn until the next steam trip.
jimjams

If you look carefully can see the curved wall where the old turntable used to be, just to the south of the station, on the western side of the tracks.

 

[30907]

Future reference: a steam train heading out of Victoria will be working hard up Grosvenor Bank to the river bridge. Off Ebury Bridge south of the station, on the west side, there is a well-used (judging by a photo search) safe (footpath) location for viewing trains. Someone more familiar with the area might confirm.

 

[Deepgreen]

Future reference: a steam train heading out of Victoria will be working hard up Grosvenor Bank to the river bridge. Off Ebury Bridge south of the station, on the west side, there is a well-used (judging by a photo search) safe (footpath) location for viewing trains. Someone more familiar with the area might confirm.

There is the NR and BTP entrance just by the bridge which is ungated, and where you can stand to view the tracks leading up to Grosvenor Bridge.

 

[30907]

There is the NR and BTP entrance just by the bridge which is ungated, and where you can stand to view the tracks leding up to Grosvenor Bridge.

Thanks, I think that's the one.

 

[Deepgreen]

For reference these are the views either side of the bridge (the one looking towards the station is over a very high wall).

 

[4COR]

If you look carefully can see the curved wall where the old turntable used to be, just to the south of the station, on the western side of the tracks.

I had never noticed that before!

Looking at old aerial photos, there was also one on the eastern side of the station (which makes sense - one for the central region and one for the eastern region - otherwise to turn a loco from the eastern side on the western turntable would have been a royal pain). The eastern one looks to have been roughly when the square brick buildings are behind @Deepgreen's picture of Tornado going up Grosvenor Bank - between the carriage shed and Ebury Bridge.

 

[WizCastro197]

For reference these are the views either side of the bridge (the one looking towards the station is over a very high wall).

This photo must've been taken a while ago, since I am very sure that 'Welcome to Victoria' sign has been completely vandalised with graffiti

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Dec 2022 ==

If you look carefully can see the curved wall where the old turntable used to be, just to the south of the station, on the western side of the tracks.

Do you mean this
?

 

[zwk500]

Do you mean this
?

Lines up with historic maps: https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sid....49087&lon=-0.14795&layers=10&right=ESRIWorld

 

[43066]

Do you mean this
?

Yep that’s it!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Dec 2022 ==

Looking at old aerial photos, there was also one on the eastern side of the station (which makes sense - one for the central region and one for the eastern region - otherwise to turn a loco from the eastern side on the western turntable would have been a royal pain). The eastern one looks to have been roughly when the square brick buildings are behind @Deepgreen's picture of Tornado going up Grosvenor Bank - between the carriage shed and Ebury Bridge.

Thanks I hadn’t appreciated that had been there. No visible remnants at all, sadly.

 

[jimjams]

Many thanks to all you good railUK forum fans with your very interesting advise regarding the historic positions of the old locomotive turntables out side Victoria Station.
I intend to do a recon before a take my grandson down there for when the next steam trip comes up.
A special thanks also to you deepgreen for allowing me to see your vast collections of photos, together with some amusing comments!
I wish all you people on the forum a very happy New Year.
jimjams

 

[WizCastro197]

Many thanks to all you good railUK forum fans with your very interesting advise regarding the historic positions of the old locomotive turntables out side Victoria Station.
I intend to do a recon before a take my grandson down there for when the next steam trip comes up.
A special thanks also to you deepgreen for allowing me to see your vast collections of photos, together with some amusing comments!
I wish all you people on the forum a very happy New Year.
jimjams

You as well and enjoy your day with your grandson.