cso
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Post by cso on Mar 31, 2011 23:57:33 GMT
For fear of taking this thread off-topic, I was wondering what a 'Mainline shunt' is? |
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Post by v52gc on Apr 1, 2011 0:07:32 GMT
When a train needs to change direction it needs to cross in most cases from one track to another. It can do this by using a crossover (track joining these two different tracks. A mainline shunt is when a train has to proceed out a station up to a "limit of shunt" board (literally just a trackside sign), the driver changes ends and proceeds over a crossover onto the track going in the opposite direction. This is normally done with a shunt signal hence the name.
A simple example would be say Hyde Park Corner where a train can depart from the Westbound platform in the Eastbound direction right off said platform. But to go East to West a mainline shunt is used as the crossover is to the East.
If a shunt signal is used passengers cannot be carried.
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TMBA
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Posts: 364
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Post by TMBA on Apr 1, 2011 6:57:56 GMT
They usually call it a mainline shunt because no sidings are involved, an example as v52gc stated at Earls Court, west to east via a shunt signal is a main line shunt using the main line as the move, if however it is into a sidings its just a normal 'shunt into the sidings'. So a mainline shunt is a shunt with no sidings involved.
TMBA.
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cso
Posts: 1,043
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Post by cso on Apr 1, 2011 8:39:49 GMT
Ah, OK - so I think I follow - it's basically a way of using a crossover where it's behind the train's starting position?
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Post by v52gc on Apr 1, 2011 8:56:18 GMT
I think you can in some occasions use a mainline shunt to go from the mainline into a siding. An example is Uxbridge to Hillingdon Eastbound main shunt into sidings in a West direction off the eastbound main.
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