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What are those train shakers at London Euston for?

Kentish RYS

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Don't all terminating platforms (ie non-through lines) have them or have had them in the past?

No as they obviously aren't required with Axle Counters or Signal Boxes where the Mark 1 Human Eyeball looking out the window is the method. Then for older installations you have things like electric fouling bar (old enough the pre-grouping LB&SCR had a sign to show where they were so a Light Engine or similar could ensure it was on it). The with the Track Circuits, it depends on the type of track circuit and rolling stock involved. I can imagine where there is only Fixed formation sets (such as an underground line) or some types of Track Circuits are higher power to break through rust and dirt they may not be used, but I don't know the standard to be certain. I do know they are on signalling scheme plans where fitted so someone is presumably making a decision to fit them.
 
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AndrewE

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Carlisle has them on the Tyne Valley/Settle bay platforms and I think Manchester Piccadilly has them as well.

Don't all terminating platforms (ie non-through lines) have them or have had them in the past?

No as they obviously aren't required with Axle Counters or Signal Boxes where the Mark 1 Human Eyeball looking out the window is the method.
or when a branch is worked on "one engine in steam" system, or when a token is issued for the branch. Is this (or the electronic equivalent) how Windermere works?
Then for older installations you have things like electric fouling bar (old enough the pre-grouping LB&SCR had a sign to show where they were so a Light Engine or similar could ensure it was on it). The with the Track Circuits, it depends on the type of track circuit and rolling stock involved. I can imagine where there is only Fixed formation sets (such as an underground line) or some types of Track Circuits are higher power to break through rust and dirt they may not be used, but I don't know the standard to be certain. I do know they are on signalling scheme plans where fitted so someone is presumably making a decision to fit them.
and (possibly even before track circuits) treadles on the track which fed back to mechanical signal box interlockings, I think.
 

Merle Haggard

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No as they obviously aren't required with Axle Counters or Signal Boxes where the Mark 1 Human Eyeball looking out the window is the method. Then for older installations you have things like electric fouling bar (old enough the pre-grouping LB&SCR had a sign to show where they were so a Light Engine or similar could ensure it was on it). The with the Track Circuits, it depends on the type of track circuit and rolling stock involved. I can imagine where there is only Fixed formation sets (such as an underground line) or some types of Track Circuits are higher power to break through rust and dirt they may not be used, but I don't know the standard to be certain. I do know they are on signalling scheme plans where fitted so someone is presumably making a decision to fit them.

I'm not sure that fouling bars were electric in LBSCR days..
I thought that the principle was that an un-desired lever movement of points or signals also lifted the fouling bars. This would be impossible if a train's flanges were resting on it, so preventing lever movement. Just simple signalling mechanics.
 

SERQClass

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28 Oct 2025
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North Thameslink
I'm not sure that fouling bars were electric in LBSCR days..
I thought that the principle was that an un-desired lever movement of points or signals also lifted the fouling bars. This would be impossible if a train's flanges were resting on it, so preventing lever movement. Just simple signalling mechanics.
Electric Fouling Bars did exist, I want to say they were a Sykes product initially from the late 1890s.
The Ffestiniog still use them at Rhiw Goch. Basically just a switch worked off a depression bar which is depressed by the flanges of anything on top of it. Obviously you would need to indicate where a train or loco should stop with some kind of marker so its on top of it as @Kentish RYS says above.
 

Merle Haggard

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Electric Fouling Bars did exist, I want to say they were a Sykes product initially from the late 1890s.
The Ffestiniog still use them at Rhiw Goch. Basically just a switch worked off a depression bar which is depressed by the flanges of anything on top of it. Obviously you would need to indicate where a train or loco should stop with some kind of marker so its on top of it as @Kentish RYS says above.

Thanks. And just as simple as the mechanical arrangement.
 

Kentish RYS

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Kent
The wonderful railsigns website in the miscellaneous section has the LBSCR EDB signs, which is why I knew it was pretty grouping. Like to the section: http://www.railsigns.uk/sect25page1.html

or when a branch is worked on "one engine in steam" system, or when a token is issued for the branch. Is this (or the electronic equivalent) how Windermere works?
One engine in steam has some varieties, including having a one engine in steam staff/token (no tickets, no multiple tokens locked in machines). I dint know how the Windermere Branch works as there are lots of methods to work single lines* It could be many things such as a few train detection sections at the beginning of the branch to prove a train is going on and then out with the driver to report if they loose a bit of train. The Radio Electronic Block is now only on the Far Noth lines in Scotland, but some lines (as well as some still having Local signalboxes and Electric Key Token) have what us called No Signalman Token-Remote where it is still physical key tokens but the Driver operates the machine themselves and the Signaller just supervised the while line from afar. Modern single track signalling is often Track Circuit or Axke Counter block as a Multi-track line with bi-directional working would be

*Working of Single Line is nor al working of a single track railway versus Single Line Working is using a single line of a multi track railway to get around obstruction(s) on the other lines
 

themiller

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4 Dec 2011
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Cumbria, UK
I arrived into Euston a few days ago on a 730, I was in the front carriage and as we were coming to a stop the train started shaking. Looking at the tracks there were rumble strips on the tracks. What are these for? I haven't noticed them at any other London terminus!
IMG_4033.jpeg
This is a view of the rails in platforms 7 & 8 at Carlisle. The welds on the railheads are quite well worn down and replacements are ready to go in (pre welded).
 

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