Chesham to Watford service

The last train (or near to last train) does indeed run from Chesham back empty to Rickmansworth sidings.

These trains that run to and fro Chesham are to provide a service until the "shuttle" gets up from Neasden. It is also handy to run an 8 car up there first in case there are any traction diffiulties, especially this time of year.

I guess in the old days they could stop wherever with guards opening and closing doors it didn't really matter.. Now they would have to pull to the monitor unless there was a second monitor they could stop at, which as far as I know there isn't anywhere

I guess a train could stop anywhere on a CAT B platform but not on a CAT A platform. In practice as you say they just run up to the OPO monitors! There are also little diamonds on the yellow line on the platform face-what are they for?

t's not so much a rusty rail move, as the 05.14 ex Ricky North siding goes around to Watford to form the first Southbound from there, this one just fills a gap. Most of the trains from Ricky go either North to Amersham or Chesham (as 407 shuttle hasn't yet got there from Neasden), or South to Moor Park (either fast or local), leaving a gap on the Watford road before the first train from Neasden depot gets up there. we used to have one a few years ago that went RKY South Sdgs - Amersham - Watford - Amersham - Aldgate.

It would be cancelled. I doubt Metronet would have the balls to offer it for service! ;D ;D

Where a train can pull up is largely determined by the position of the stop mark because the CSDE only works in a short length of track, the maximum length of a CSDE loop being 5.6 metres when fitted as per specification. However, where 6 and 8 car trains operate there are sometimes two stop marks and each will have a CSDE loop aerial, in which case it is usual for the 8 car mark to have a 5.6 metre loop and the 6 car mark to have a 3 metre loop. Loop aerial are only available as 5.6 metres (standard) or 3 metres (short) and the two loops are totally independent electrical circuits although they operate at exactly the same frequency. There are just three frequencies, nearside enable, offside enable and both sides enable, the frequency being indicated on the transmitter unit by a coloured disc green, red or yellow. At reversing platforms there are often three loops, two at one end of the platform and one at the other so the positioning of the 6 and 8 car stop marks must ensure that the back of the train is positioned such that that cab's aerial is in the correct position toreceive the signal from that loop for the reverse move. At some reversing platforms the stop mark for 6 and 8 car trains is the same and there are two loops at the back end of the platform.

Obviously monitors and mirrors are important too but unless things have changed CSDE is the overriding priority.

Brian