Track Signals

[Welshy1717]

Just looking on RealTimeTrains to see what movement & action is coming through, I see that there is the usual empty coaching stock being transported.



Which then i was left puzzled by a West Hampstead signal just outside Bedford...... Now Hampstead is like a few miles away. the other side of Luton.


Do services really get held back by other trains that far away.

 

[800301]

In short yes, for pathing reasons, last night my empty stock was due to be held at T1728 just outside Reading for a few mins awaiting a platform but in reality I was 30 early so didn’t have to

Just looking on RealTimeTrains to see what movement & action is coming through, I see that there is the usual empty coaching stock being transported.

View attachment 211038

Which then i was left puzzled by a West Hampstead signal just outside Bedford...... Now Hampstead is like a few miles away. the other side of Luton.


Do services really get held back by other trains that far away.

The signal you are talking about is just outside of Bedford depot, but is controlled by West Hampstead

Live map of London St Pancras International to Sharnbrook Junction

See trains move in real-time on our live map of London St Pancras International to Sharnbrook Junction

www.opentraintimes.com

 

[Welshy1717]

In short yes, for pathing reasons, last night my empty stock was due to be held at T1728 just outside Reading for a few mins awaiting a platform but in reality I was 30 early so didn’t have to


The signal you are talking about is just outside of Bedford depot, but is controlled by West Hampstead

Live map of London St Pancras International to Sharnbrook Junction

See trains move in real-time on our live map of London St Pancras International to Sharnbrook Junction

www.opentraintimes.com

that signal network site looks more advanced then Traksy..... will use this.

 

[zwk500]

that signal network site looks more advanced then Traksy..... will use this.

Its the same data, just drawn differently. Same with signalmaps.co.uk

 

[GB]

Its the same data, just drawn differently. Same with signalmaps.co.uk

Might be the same data but not all data is utilised equally. Signalmaps has much better routing information and displays position of points.

 

[Bald Rick]

Just looking on RealTimeTrains to see what movement & action is coming through, I see that there is the usual empty coaching stock being transported.

View attachment 211038

Which then i was left puzzled by a West Hampstead signal just outside Bedford...... Now Hampstead is like a few miles away. the other side of Luton.


Do services really get held back by other trains that far away.

View attachment 211036

I’m not quite sure what you mean.

But to expalin a little, WH601 signal is controlled from West Hampstead, but located on the Up Slow line, south of Bedford and just south of the entrance / exit of Bedford Cauldwell Walk ‘depot’. It is a ‘shunt’ signal and allows a train to head northbound on the Up Slow Line, which is usually used southbound. A train so signalled ca be routed into Cauldwell Walk, or along the Up Slow to WH467 signal, and thence into Bedford station (either Platfrom 1 or 2).

Because trains often reverse just south of WH601, either coming out of, or into the depot, it is a formal ‘timing point’ in the timetable.

 

[Crossover]

that signal network site looks more advanced then Traksy..... will use this.

From memory, it’s less extensive coverage compared to Traksy

 

[John Webb]

West Hampstead Power Signalling Box completely took over signalling on the Midland Main Line in December 1979 as a precursor to the electrification of the line to Bedford. It covered from St Pancras to north of Bedford, the change-over to other signalling point varying a bit over the years

Originally an 'Entrance - Exit' panel some 50+ft long, it was converted at Christmas 2023 to 4 computer screens and renamed West Hampstead SCC (Signalling Control Centre).

It interfaces south of St Pancras to the Three Bridges ROC (Railway Operating Centre) and north of Bedford to the East Midlands ROC at Derby. West Hampstead PSB was due to be closed and its area split between these two ROCs, but Covid and other factors caused a change of plan leading to the 2023 conversion and retention as an SCC.