FR Question

Hi All,

Just come back from a cracking weekend in North Wales and got a question that hopefully someone on here can answer.

When both platforms at Blaenau are used by the FR, are there any specials rules with regard to the platform closet to the Standard gauge line?

 

The simple answer is - Yes...

A more complete answer would require a more closely defined question...

;-)

 

Lets give it a go then, is it a similar arrangment to the one the Span Valley have in getting to Groombridge ? (ie no one allowed out the NR side of the train and coach doors on that side are locked).

 

Blaenau Ffestiniog has three platforms - Platform 1 being the Network Rail 'Conwy Valley', Platform 3 being the FR platform adjacent to the Network Rail run-round loop and Platform 2 being the FR platform furthest from Network Rail...

There are no rules regarding locking of carriage doors (relating specifically to Bl.Ff.) as FR passenger trains always use Platform 2 - apart from exceptional circumstances.

 

Like 'Ride an Engine' or 'Split my Points'.

 

In fairness, when the train split the points only half of it ended up using that platform...

 

True, then half of one coach using the other.

 

Okay prehaps i was abit vague,

What is platform 3 used for and are there any rules/ Conditions placed on it use.
Do you have to lock the doors or are only certain items of stock aloud to use it.
If the NR run round loop is in use can you use platform 3 etc etc

 

When Blaenau was signalled, back in the late 90s, early 2000s, I forget exactly when, the plan for (what was then) Platform 2 was that super long trains would use it, or it would be the platform used should a train already be in Platform 3 (as was), which was, and is, the default platform.

When said signalling went Wibble in 2001 (during the Anything Goes weekend) and a train ended up in both platforms 2 *and* 3, then the middle platform was taken out of regular use since the signalling was decommissioned and thus no longer there to support it. The current arrangements are very similar to what was there before the second platform and signalling were introduced (a ground frame operating the points for run-round moves), but the track remains in the second platform, although it requires a fair bit of forward planning to use it since points have to be hand wound over and back to allow a loco to run around, thus it tends not to be used at all, save for occasional drive-an-engine forays and the like.

Hope that helps,

John