Turning Steam

[plastictaffy]

I saw the Southbound steam working into Euston today - actually, it flashed past me in between Apsley and Kings Langley.

What I wanted to know is, when it returned on the second half of the tour, how the hell does it get turned so it's facing the same way? Where does it go for either a turntable or triangle?

 

[DarloRich]

From Euston they tend to go to Southhall for servicing via Willesden and Acton (and back) - i guess the route must form a triangle.

 

[33056]

Diesel drag from Euston via Willesden South West Sdgs to Southall. On the return steam from Southall via Acton Canal Wharf to Willesden No.7, reverse then diesel from there to Euston. Times are here on UK Steam.

 

[plastictaffy]

So the track is set out as a triangle somewhere along the route??

 

[Bigfoot]

Yes. The rail equivalent of a 3 point turn.

 

[33056]

If you go to the GW main line via South West Sidings and Acton Wells and return via Acton Canal Wharf the train gets turned.

There are several other ways of turning stuff in the Willesden area by using various combinations of Kensal Green Turnback siding, Mitre Bridge, South West Sidings and the "Up and Down Acton" line between Acton Canal Wharf and Willesden No. 7. Before the "Railnet" came into being, the Scottish postal was always turned every morning using top & tail class 31s usually via Kensal Green and Mitre Bridge though it did use the South West / Acton Canal Wharf route on occasions.

 

[plastictaffy]

Somewhere around here?
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/search/Acton+Wells/@51.5259227,-0.2373842,14z

I'm assuming the mail would be turned purely to avoid having to remarshal it with the guard's van at the rear?

 

[33056]

I'm assuming the mail would be turned purely to avoid having to remarshal it with the guard's van at the rear?

No, it was something to do with certain doors only being on one side. I don't know what changed operationally when the Railnet started up but there was no requirement for the TPO set to be turned in latter years.

When BR was being split up into the various sectors, RES had to turn the train using their own resources and, at one stage, it was going all the way to Birmingham to get turned just to avoid a reversal! Another route a little later on (c.1992) was out to Stratford and back which at least wasn't quite as far.