Great Western Coffee Shop

On the last few times I've travelled between Portsmouth and Bristol, I've noticed some stop boards* at Fareham which aren't on the station platform.  I've only noticed them in the Southampton/northbound direction (no idea whether this is up or down).

* = I assume they are called stop boards, you know the 2 coach, 3 coach, 4 coach etc boards.

I've pinpointed the place on a Google Map (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=50.856425,-1.19463&sll=50.856123,-1.194291&sspn=0.000828,0.002411&ie=UTF8&ll=50.856405,-1.194406&spn=0.000828,0.002411&t=h&z=19).

They are on the Fareham - Southampton line, not the Eastleigh one.  There is nothing to the side of these boards, except some gardens so I can't see why a train would need to stop in a particular place.

Does anyone know what these are for?  Seems like a very strange place to put them.

They could be indicators to show how many coaches are left on the platform LUL use these type indications so that the train crew know where it is safe to open the doors if the train passenger alarm is operated

[wildguess]Clear of points for a train that's come out from Portsmouth and is going back in?[/wildguess]

Graham is correct. There are two sets of stop markers extending up both branches, ie the Netley and Botley lines, marked for every permutation of train length from 2 car DMU up to 10/12 car EMU. 

They are 'clear of the junction' markers for trains doing shunts at Fareham. Used regularly by SN trains terminating short after delays, that shunt into the bay platform to layover, and then have to use them again when shunting to the down platform to pick up their return timings. 

Paul

Thanks for the replies.  That makes complete sense and will stop me pondering everytime I pass them now!