Bedwyn Turnback extension for IET

[whole diary]

[bobm]

Maybe not, but you could head that way tomorrow to photo what could be the first class 800 to test it?

Your wish is my command...

[SandTEngineer]

Bob, I love your last photograph showing the cows taking an interest in their new train....

[bobm]

There is a story there.   Once cow decided she wanted to stand by the kissing gate on the foot crossing which made it difficult for anyone to get past and use the crossing.  Eventually it was decided she was friendly enough and we pushed/squeezed past.

[JayMac]

Ermintrude and Buttercup don't actually look that impressed.

[Thatcham Crossing]

Ermintrude and Buttercup don't actually look that impressed.

Some of them (not all girls) were a bit frisky when I was there last week, so I decided to walk back to the Station via the towpath!

Thanks to bobm for showing us that an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) does fill the siding.

[eightf48544]

Is there TPWS^▸ (Train Protection and Warning System) fitted to the siding?

[Timmer]

Ermintrude and Buttercup don't actually look that impressed.

They must have been speaking to Broadgage 

[bobm]

Is there TPWS^▸ (Train Protection and Warning System) fitted to the siding?

I think not - but there is a handy set of catch points.

[grahame]

Is there TPWS^▸ (Train Protection and Warning System) fitted to the siding?

On a technical note ... would it even be possible?   I always thought of TPWS being on the approach to a signal and for a 5 car 80x there's no such thing as approaching this signal ... now of course if you had a 769 in there ...

[IndustryInsider]

You could fit TPWS^▸ (Train Protection and Warning System) over speed sensors for the buffer stops, and a stop sensor at the ground position signal.  The catch points stop a collision taking place with another train which is the most serious risk.

[eightf48544]

I was thinking of the TPWS^▸ (Train Protection and Warning System) fitted at terminal stations like Paddington to stop trains approaching the buffer stops too fast.

[bobm]

The catch points stop a collision taking place with another train which is the most serious risk.

Although from a report into a separate incident - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/547c9057ed915d4c0d0001ab/R012007_070123_Brentingby.pdf - they were modified.

A derailment at trap points occurred at Bedwyn on 13 October 2001 when a train started  from the turnback siding and passed signal R475 at danger.  

The train ended up obstructing the adjacent Up Main line.  The derailed train broke off the track circuit interrupter, and this caused signal R839 that had been cleared for train 1A27 from Penzance to Paddington approaching on the Up Main line to revert to danger.    The driver of train 1A27 saw the change in signal aspect in time, applied the emergency brake and stopped about 1400 m from the derailed train.  

Recommendations  included the possible modification to the trap points to ensure derailed vehicles would  not continue towards the Up Main line and risk assessment of all similar locations with one of the factors to be taken account being trapping protection which was not a full turnout.   

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, I remember that incident.  A serious one, but rather overshadowed by the number of fatal crashes that occurred around the same time.

[bobm]

Yes for all its other ills, the railway is a safer place these days.

[SandTEngineer]

The TPWS^▸ (Train Protection and Warning System) fitment standards do not require sidings such as at Bedwyn to be fitted.  I note from Bobs photograhs that they have fitted a STOP (S) marker sign just short of the buffer stop.  There is a lot of debate elsewhere about the sighting of these from the IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) cab, so I hope there is a bit of length tolerance in the siding.....