The 'Most pointless railway paraphernalia you can photograph' thread

[JustinStacey.x]

I'll start it off; this shot, of a single aspect signal at Dalmuir (YY 599), always displaying a danger aspect, at the Terminus of platform 5, as if to say 'stop here'...

...What exactly is the train going to do, try and crash through the buffer stop?! That signal has to be utterly pointless!

Can you beat it?

 

[GB]

The only thing I can think of is that the line used to continue somewhere but has since had buffer stops put in. Why else would there be a signal with a sub on it be there?
:?
It is most odd.

 

[JustinStacey.x]

Thats a good point... but if they were going to put up a buffer stop and make platform 5 qa terminus, you'd think they'd do the job properly and remove the signal!

 

[GB]

Very true.

Perhaps it is/was cheaper to leave everything in situ?

 

[JustinStacey.x]

Lol knowing us probably. There's plenty of stations here which have old disused platforms for instance gathering moss such as the old terminus stop at Corkerhill; no one up here starts a job and finishes it!

 

[MCR247]

I'm not sure how long a signal bulb lasts for, but it looks like its been a bay for a while, and would the bulb not have needed replacing yet?

 

[JustinStacey.x]

If left burning constantly incandescent lightbulbs can last phenominal amounts of time; for instance the centennial lightbulb which has been going for over 100 years.

I reckon it will be a good while yet before that baby burns out.

 

[Old Timer]

Its only "pointless" because you don't know why it is there.

There could well be a good reason as to why.

Not knowing the track layout there it is not clear whether it applies to the bay, or the the running line on the left hand side.

Assuming it is the bay, then it could well be there to allow for a future connection beyond the buffer stops. It is much easier, and more efficient for a whole variety of reasons, to install and leave partially commissioned a signal such as this if an extension is anticipated within a reasonable time.

Infrastructure engineers are not altogether stupid.

 

[me123]

I don't know Dalmuir, but could it be for the next platform along? (I assume, P4, which I think is the Clydebank-bound platform?). Some trains may terminate there, and the shunt signal would allow them to proceed to the West of the station? That would actually make a great deal of sense, given my vague knowledge of the track.

Or, my other hypothesis, it's to show trains where to stop in the dark: the buffers don't look altogether clear.

 

[Old Timer]

The buffer stops will be fitted with retroreflective markings, and there are also lights provided.

The buffer stop lights are interlocked with the signal leading into the bay platform. It will not clear from Red unless the buffer stop lights are alight.

 

[43021HST]

I can do better than thet somewhere I have a picture of an edging slab at Reading station

 

[me123]

The buffer stops will be fitted with retroreflective markings, and there are also lights provided.

The buffer stop lights are interlocked with the signal leading into the bay platform. It will not clear from Red unless the buffer stop lights are alight.

So, it's more likely to be for Platform 4 I take it? It would certainly make a great deal of sense, although I'd need to either visit the station (no time for a wee while) or see pictures (hint hint ) before I would commit myself to that hypothesis.

 

[generalvegitable]

This photo is probably one of the most useless things in the UK

I would say that it is worse than what it replaced (when they came out I was about 9/10 so obsessed with gadgets and when I first got on one I thought 'hey this is like star trek' and was not bothered about the important things) and they should be scrapped or their design flaws should be fixed immediately

 

[JustinStacey.x]

So, it's more likely to be for Platform 4 I take it? It would certainly make a great deal of sense, although I'd need to either visit the station (no time for a wee while) or see pictures (hint hint ) before I would commit myself to that hypothesis.

Platform four the trains go the other way.
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Assuming it is the bay, then it could well be there to allow for a future connection beyond the buffer stops. It is much easier, and more efficient for a whole variety of reasons, to install and leave partially commissioned a signal such as this if an extension is anticipated within a reasonable time.

If this were actually the case then surely enough it would be logical to install at least a dual aspect signal and simply keep it at a danger aspect rather than installing a single aspect lamp that will then have to be changed when and if the line does get expanded through that bay. Personally I can't see that happening as the bay is used for services which terminate at Dalmuir so why expand a bay which is simply used for turnarounds anyway.

 

[Old Timer]

Platform four the trains go the other way.
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If this were actually the case then surely enough it would be logical to install at least a dual aspect signal and simply keep it at a danger aspect rather than installing a single aspect lamp that will then have to be changed when and if the line does get expanded through that bay. Personally I can't see that happening as the bay is used for services which terminate at Dalmuir so why expand a bay which is simply used for turnarounds anyway.

So it is probably there for trains terminating on Platform 4 from Glasgow

 

[JustinStacey.x]

This photo is probably one of the most useless things in the UK

I would ask you to explain; but look how well that went down in the Linux thread... talking nonsense again I see.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

So it is probably there for trains terminating on Platform 4 from Glasgow

they.go.the.other.way.on.that.platform.

 

[Old Timer]

I understand that, but there may well be signalling controls to allow a train to terminate in that particular platform.

I have some very old route training video footage of that route somewhere in my loft at home and seem to recall that you could terminate in that platform. Mind you that is some years old.

 

[me123]

Platform four the trains go the other way.

Normally, yes. But a single aspect signal at this location would allow trains to approach Dalmuir from Clydebank, cross onto the other line as if it were going onto Platform 5, but continue straight on into Platform 4 and terminate there (so it won't be used for trains going through to Dumbarton). It would also explain the shunt signal, which could be used for shunt movements to the West of the station. As I say, though, passenger services to Helensburgh and Balloch will certainly not run through this platform.

A similar example can be seen at Coatbridge Sunnyside Platform 1. At this station, P1 is used for Glasgow and Helensburgh-bound services. But, at the Airdrie end is a single aspect signal, like this one, which means trains can terminate on the platform if required. It sometimes happens if there's engineering works on, or if there's an emergency line closure in Airdrie.

Yet another example can be seen on Simsig at Baldock Station (KX sim). Indeed, the team at Simsig also make professional simulations, not on release to us mere mortals of course, and one of these is apparently for Yoker IECC.

 

[Geezertronic]

This photo is probably one of the most useless things in the UK

I would suggest your comment is more useless... as a regular traveller on the 390s (80ish Birmingham to Euston and return trips so far this year) I couldn't disagree more.

 

[Swift-Deere]

This photo is probably one of the most useless things in the UK

I would only agree because they weren't designed and built in the UK
but as a train they are good they look great and go well

 

[JustinStacey.x]

You'll get used to it Geezertronic...

Old timer, me123, thanks for your explanations. I guess it's not so pointless afterall, but it does still look kind of funny sitting there.I know one thing for sure; I can always be certain what aspect it will be showing!

 

[jon0844]

I would only agree because they weren't designed and built in the UK

We may be good at design (and we still design stuff for companies throughout the world) but built in the UK? One thing we've become very bad at is building things of late - cars, trains and even houses!

 

[GB]

While I do no know the route or area, I would be very suprised if the signal applied to the running line to the left of the picture.

 

[JustinStacey.x]

Me too; it's hard to see at the zoom level I was using but looking at the signal it just looks as if it's 'aimed' at the terminus platform, hence why I took the picture in the first place because I saw it and thought 'what the hell?'

 

[campainr]

Mmmmm. Sorry if this has already been mentioned, but I think the red aspect is there in tandem with the shunt signal. As the shunt signal is not capable of displaying a red aspect, only a calling on one, the main aspect is there to act as a danger signal, displayed all the time, and then the two bulbs are used only when shunting. Trains probably have to stop in the platform before commencing the shunt movement, which is why the red aspect is displayed constantly.

As for it's position, if you follow the centre line of the platform, you can see that the signal post is right on it, so I'd say its not particularly aimed at either of the two platforms.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Main aspect goes to main aspect, in otherwords, the red and subsidiary signal is there, instead of a normal 'shunt' signal, because the previous signal can show a single yellow when routeing a train onto which ever line this signal actually applies to.

 

[me123]

campainr, you are correct as far as I can see.

In the case of Dalmuir, trains approaching from Clydebank can go into Platforms 3, 4 or 5. Platform 3 is used for trains towards Helensburgh Central and Balloch. Platform 4 (which we're discussing) is generally not used, but can be used for terminating trains which obviously may be shunted to the West of the station. Platform 5 is the bay platform.

Justin, I understand exactly what you mean; it looks as though it's for P5. I think that's because it's on the RHS of the track, which is rather unconventional but perfectly legitimate. I've looked at another picture of Dalmuir and it seems the most likely solution because there's no signal on the LHS of the track (between P3 and 4).

 

[Aictos]

The buffer stop lights are interlocked with the signal leading into the bay platform. It will not clear from Red unless the buffer stop lights are alight.

I didn't know that OT, thanks for the brief lesson

 

[starrymarkb]

I would only agree because they weren't designed and built in the UK
but as a train they are good they look great and go well

They were assembled in the UK at Washward Heath...

 

[devon_metro]

I'll start it off; this shot, of a single aspect signal at Dalmuir (YY 599), always displaying a danger aspect, at the Terminus of platform 5, as if to say 'stop here'...

...What exactly is the train going to do, try and crash through the buffer stop?! That signal has to be utterly pointless!

Can you beat it?

Can I suggest that next time you post such a load of rubbish you know what you are talking about.

Anybody with a basic knowledge of signalling can see that the signal applies to the left hand line, a bay does not have to be signalled for obvious reasons. The shunt signal is also a give away and is a call on operated, as described above. Now please, consider the bandwidth next time as this thread is a load of utter nonsense.