At present, most steam hauled trains heading to Cardiff from the east, ‘flip around’ at the triangular junction east of Newport in order that the steam loco will be at the front for the return to England. Cardiff West Junction (near the Canton depot) is going to be modified in order to take an increase in trains on the City Line. I am wondering if once this work has taken place, steam hauled trains can simply head straight to Cardiff, detach the locomotive and flip it around using the triangle south of the Canton depot? This would save wasting time at Newport east.
AFAIK the work at Cardiff West junction is not changing anything at the other 2 ends of the triangle, and (assuming OpenTrainTimes isn't ommitting any shunt signals) there's no signalling at Grangetown to reverse. Any steam requiring turning will still need to do so at Maindee.
Having a triangle, available to turn a loco, is one thing.
Finding a path over all sides is something else.
I'm thinking they would be a more intense service as a result of the improved junctions / signalling so wonder if there would be the 'space' to use it.
Also very much this.
Weather, also, it's just the engine that gets turns out the entire rake of carriages is another question.
Need much more to turn the carriages, too.
I don't know how the charters have operated in recent years with regard to turning locos/ sets.
The answer is very much 'it depends on the location'. However, in general the normal method was for the passenger set to be stabled and then the loco+ support coach to go off and turn/service somewhere else, usually because sidings that could accommodate the set didn't have turning facilities and the turning facilities could take a full set.
Leaving the set in the sidings also allows it to be serviced and prepared for the return trip while stationary, and for stores to be loaded if needed, toilets tanked if available, etc.
A very important consideration in whether it was loco only, loco+Support, or full set that turned is where the turn is to be done:-
- If it's on a turntable or triangle with only 1 loco length on the headshunt, then it will have to be the loco turning on it's own, and the support coach is shunted from one end of the train to the other separately. The loco may also turn on it's own if the triangle requires significant backwards running, or multiple runrounds of the support coach.
- If there is a suitable turning triangle close enough by, the set will be stabled then the loco and support coach detach as one to do the turn with a propelling movement on the triangle. Propelling can only be done in certain locations (Where only 1 Main Signal is passed, or where specified in the sectional appendix) and may be subject to signalling or Sectional Appendix length limits.
- Where no stabling requirements, signalling requirements require (or occasionally because the set has a particular orientation like the Royal Scotsman's balcony), the entire set can be turned but it either requires a location where propelling that length is allowed or a 2nd loco on the back to make it a reversal not propelling move.
- Alternatively, the route is constructed for the tour to provide a turning move en-route or be a big loop.
