LONDON UNDERGROUND OBSCURE WORKINGS

I can't find my copies of Geoff Brockett's LT PSUL or whatever it was called (two editions I think, both long out of print as far as I know), so I haven't checked your list against that. A comparison might be useful, because I think that listing included one or two "rusty rail" workings that I have never managed to do e.g. Westbound departure from Oakwood platform 2.
Perhaps these moves no longer exist?

Here are a few other comments (offered to be helpful rather than critical):

I would get rid of the 'extremely' references if I were you - it starts to get irritating! I would also make it clear which platform is being used e.g. does the South Harrow departure use a crossover, or not? Nevertheless it's a useful compilation, and one which will probably be thought-provoking for some of the newer recruits to microgricing.

The entry that sent me running to check my own records was a departure from Aldgate platform 1 towards Liverpool Street, as I hadn't realised it could be done in service. In fact I'm sure I've not done it in service, but my records indicate that I did it on a railtour on 11th September 1983.

The listing purports to show *in-service* reversing points, but there are some entries which only seem possible out-of-service, as follows:

Canary Wharf Eastbound-Westbound can indeed be (and has been) done in either platform using the scissors, but Westbound-Eastbound would be an empty shunt.

London Bridge (Jubilee) Westbound-Eastbound would be an empty shunt; Eastbound-Westbound has of course been done.

North Greenwich: you say Westbound-Eastbound could be done west of the station, but that would be an empty shunt. Westbound-Eastbound could (and presumably still can) be done east of the station, and indeed it was, when the line first opened from Stratford as far as North Greenwich. As you say, the common move is Eastbound-Westbound, west of the station.

Westminster (Jubilee) Westbound-Eastbound - does that ever happen in service, or would they turf the passengers out at Waterloo?

Hornchurch platform 2 westbound - does that *ever* happen? I think it was once included in an SEG railtour route but was refused on the day because of condition of track.

Gunnersbury - I don't understand the "vice versa from platform 2" bit (District) or Up to Down (Silverlink) as they would be empty moves.

White City: the centre platform is not referred to as the loop. A check of the WTT would probably reveal a small amount of booked working through it, particularly trains going to/from the depot. I have noted that apparently people refer to it as a "loop", i.e. in the manner of a goods loop as against a loop line.

Bromley-by-Bow: the first eastbound train on Sundays runs empty from Barking and shunts over the crossover if you want to include this sort of thing (as you have at Dagenham). Also don't forget that the next two trains start from Aldgate East and do the crossover there. Can I have the Train Numbers please and where they run to/ from?

Dagenham East is FG5 a shunt signal? The normal rule is that passenger trains are only allowed to make moves governed by running signals. I don't now have access to the signaling diagrams, but though this was a signaled passenger train move. Correct: it's my misreading of the drawing and it's the starter, so I altered my text

The bay is also used regularly to turn short late-running Upminster trains. Noted

I think you'll find train 27 runs directly into 25 siding at Whitechapel via Barking sidings and then straight back to Upminster. It doesn't go to Aldgate East. When I was at work in practise it ran straight to Upminster from Dagenham and missed out all the twiddly bits most of the time. Of course I have been advised differently so which is correct please?

Earl's Court a major constraint on operating here is that trains from HSK and the Wimbledon branch are only able to use platforms 4 and 2 respectively. This means that all Edgware Road trains must use 2 unless they've just been diverted over one of the other branches. There are lots of booked workings through 2 on the W Ken - Gloucester Rd axis. The crossover has booked shunts from 2 to 3 early and late. Train Numbers please?

Gloucester Road The first Circle train on Mon - Sat reverses in platform 3. Use by D Stock is avoided if at all possible as sending a train round the triangle would get it the wrong way round. It would then have to be sent round again to turn it. Train Number please, and assume it comes out of..Triangle Sidings?

Hornchurch: Late running Upminster trains turn here very occasionally but it is pretty unusual. The locations of choice for turning short are Barking and Dagenham. There is a booked rusty rail working after the evening peak from Upminster and back to shunt over the crossover but when I was at work it was usually canceled.

Olympia: often forgotten but the station name is actually Kensington (Olympia). A quirk is that the penultimate departure Mon - Sat runs to Upminster to stable. Train Number please?

Putney Bridge the bay is also used to turn short late-running C Stock trains for Wimbledon. D Stock trains are too long for the bay and hence would turn at Parsons Green. I knew that already thanks

South Kensington the 2nd Circle train Mon - Sat shunts east to west over the crossover. Train Number please? Ex-Triangle??

West Kensington: the 05.18 runs Sats as well. Corrected

Aldgate: I think you'll find the directions here are eastbound towards the District and westbound towards the Met. You have the westbound departures from platform 1 listed correctly in the later Aldgate entry. The service hasn't started at the times you quote on Sundays. I should like to know the Train Numbers and destinations to make sense out of this- I think the District

Barking: Use of platform 3 by District trains is not that rare as it can happen to late running trains if they can be turned there without disrupting the H&C. I have no comment to make but just query how frequent this is?

Plaistow: bay used in peaks by H&C. At other times used to turn short late running H&C and (more rarely) District trains. In fact moves are possible it seems P2 WB, P3 bay WB and P1 BW-EB via 7 points and crossover

Aldgate (2nd entry) District is above, not below. As stated I think correct designation of directions is east to west. I'm a bit confused here: I now have Platform 1, Eastbound moves are timetabled via crossover: d. 0625 & 0645 SuO. Otherwise rare.


North Greenwich: while west to east reversal via shunt may be possible (don't have access to signaling diagrams), it is normally done by reversing in platform 2. This is booked for empty trains (for conveyance of Train Operators) early and late. Also fairly common when trains are taken out of service at Stratford for them to run empty from the depot to platform 2 at NOG to take up their next booked eastbound working in passenger service. Comments please?

Westminster reversal is not possible here, Do you mean Waterloo? Is it Waterloo?

Also is Green Park - Charing Cross still energised for service trains to reverse ETY?


East Finchley presumably you want to say that these are departures from platform 2 ex Highgate Depot. My out of date WTT shows a lot more workings than this and there are also the balancing southbound workings stabling in the depot. I am not sure whether Mill Hill East shuttles are affected by this now?

Hammersmith: the 05.27 does of course use the normal platform at Hammersmith.

South Harrow: ditto. Perhaps a bit more detail on what these two trains do? Where does the Sth Harrow go to and where does it come from, likewise 0527 Hammersmith?

Seven Sisters Platform 4 is of course also used for trains to the depot and staff platform.

• Gloucester Road RV - 205 ⁰⁵₂₇ex Edgware Road 25 Siding to Paddington Circle then Pax to Glos Rd & Rev to O/R
  
• South Ken RV - 206 Empty from Hams DT (first train) to Farringdon, rev empty to Kings Cross, Pax to South Ken & Rev to O/R (leaves ERD I/R about 05.37ish
  
• Baker Street - 213 ex Triangle Sidings to Baker Street (often reversed at Edgware Road if late ex Triangle.