Crossing over east of ECT

Great stuff Dstock7080 - that's instantly cleared up a number things. For a start I hadn't realised what the "FR" prefix meant! Now I just need to find out what that "ECX"(697) is all about

So technically EC16 would be termed a "station starter" to head eastbound via that crossover? Since it is a coloured light signal without the usual 3-light route indicator, I presume a green aspect shown there must imply that the train will always cross to that eastbound track and never continue on the same track that arrives in pfm3. I imaging there would be a lit symbol or other signage there which tells drivers that, unless that type of thing is just a known characteristic of the line.

This may not be the right forum to address such a thing, but I had been curious how a shunt signal can exist in the contraflow to a normal line use and not confuse the safety systems with every train that passes.

Earl's Court is endlessly fascinating - and I was so pleased to find that layout image to answer questions such as "how did two Wimbledon-bound trains simultaneously leave from pfm3 & 4 and trundle along together for a while before one appeared to give up!?" (I now know).

Thanks again

EC denotes the signal control area, IMR, signalbox, whatever it be. The X in a signal number represents semi-automatic, and cannot be passed under the driver's own authority, as it can be held at danger for many reasons; they are in a 'controlled area' normally around points and/or have other triggers, such as floodgates and surface stock detectors.

Hmm, need to brush up on signal IDs by the sound of it, I was rather sure on that.

Thank you so much for those explanations.

Final query if I may (I hope no-one minds this, but since the answers are coming so quickly, this is clearly the place to ask) - and again these things are going to be obvious to the professionals here.

I found it difficult to see the purpose of EC10 which appears to be just past crossover 5 but before ECT pfm2. I had initially imagined it was used as a "last resort" to stop a SPADing train, but then with EC9a & b before it - and it being _after_ the crossover on that diagram, I guessed that wouldn't help much since a train that wasn't supposed to be there might have already gone across the points.

a) Is a train coming from West Brompton ever deliberately held at EC10? I had imagined 9a or 9b would be the normal stopping point.
b) Would a train from Olympia/West Ken ever be held in that crossover if the platform ahead is occupied? Or does EC4 before it only clear when EC10 is clear?

If trains are never held at EC10 for either of those approach routes, then I had wondered whether even the repeaters on both lines approaching the crossover are at all useful since surely the signal prior (EC4, or 9b depending on origin) would already give the same indication each time - unless EC10 is just useful for telling you that the platform has cleared and so you'll soon be on the move?

Ok - that's a multi-part query but after this that's probably everything I had ever wondered about the signalling around that area! Thanks again.

EC 10 will also allow a quicker approach [1] into platform 2 as it only requires TCs clear to the block joint in advance of EC 18 and that 12^A, 19 and 17^B are normal.

I think the majority of its function is to allow trains to close up on the approach.

[1]I think [2] if it wasn't there things would be tied up as far back as EC 9^B and EC 4 until a train had trundled past EC 7 or EC 13.

[2]It is a bit early in the morning to think about such things!

Take a look at this diagram as well. Not as much detail but may help
yfrog.com/f/h7c706j/

19 points are part of the wide gauge points, the go back to platform 3