New crossover on H&C/Circle line just outside Paddington

[whole diary]

[autotank]

This has got me scratching my head!

A crossover was installed between Paddington and Royal Oak a few weekends back, but I can't really understand why!

Are they planning to turn back some trains short of Hammersmith, or is it just for resilience?

[Electric train]

, or is it just for resilience?

And perturbation my guess, there is a crossover just west of Royal Oak which went in about 10 years or so ago

[IndustryInsider]

And perturbation my guess, there is a crossover just west of Royal Oak which went in about 10 years or so ago

A little longer ago than that I think.  IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) it was used extensively following the London bombings with a shuttle train running between Hammersmith and Royal Oak.

[eightf48544]

Maybe it's to replace the Royal Oak one which if I remember correctly is at the top of the slope of the underpass at Subway Junction so possibly not easy to use. If it's between Padd and Royal Oak it would be on level track. Presumably with S stock the driver can easily walk through the train

[chrisr_75]

And perturbation my guess, there is a crossover just west of Royal Oak which went in about 10 years or so ago

A little longer ago than that I think.  IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) it was used extensively following the London bombings with a shuttle train running between Hammersmith and Royal Oak.

A quick Google search reveals the crossover to the west of Royal Oak is manually operated and requires someone to throw and lock the levers on each set of points individually - it's not even operated from a ground frame. Could be that the new one is operated from the signalling control room?

[IndustryInsider]

Could well be, Chris.  There was indeed a handsignaller provided throughout the period I mentioned.  Plus it would make turning round services at Paddington, rather than Royal Oak much easier - something that would be more useful now that the new Paddington H&C station has been completed.

[paul7575]

Maybe it's to replace the Royal Oak one which if I remember correctly is at the top of the slope of the underpass at Subway Junction so possibly not easy to use. If it's between Padd and Royal Oak it would be on level track. Presumably with S stock the driver can easily walk through the train

I found a picture of the newly ballasted location on twitter, and it does show the new crossover is much closer to Paddington:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CahjGfaW0AA4uto.jpg

Paul