Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2017

[whole diary]

[stuving]

I have an old map somewhere of the PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) arrangement, I think it mentions up and down city lines, (the electric service (when connected to BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)))) and up and down carriage lines, when empty stock had to be taken out to OOC^▸ (Old Oak Common (depot)) to be cleaned etc.
It looked much more complicated than todays layout.

By 1900 there was that huge goods station filling the whole space from Little Venice to the (now) H&C lines. Then there tracks for that, close-in sidings, engine sheds, and all manner of stuff a little further out. That's all gone, covered by new developments and the M4.

But there were only five tracks under Ladbroke Grove, one of which looks to be just for access to sidings etc., compared to six now.

[chrisr_75]

By 1900 there was that huge goods station filling the whole space from Little Venice to the (now) H&C lines. Then there tracks for that, close-in sidings, engine sheds, and all manner of stuff a little further out. That's all gone, covered by new developments and the M4.

Do you mean the A40/Westway? The M4 ends in Chiswick which is somewhat to the south and west of the Paddington area...

[stuving]

By 1900 there was that huge goods station filling the whole space from Little Venice to the (now) H&C lines. Then there tracks for that, close-in sidings, engine sheds, and all manner of stuff a little further out. That's all gone, covered by new developments and the M4.

Do you mean the A40/Westway? The M4 ends in Chiswick which is somewhat to the south and west of the Paddington area...

Yes, of course. All roads are the same if you don't need to go along therm!

[NickB]

Trespasser at burnham.  Signals at caution. Everything very slow this evening.

[Electric train]

I have an old map somewhere of the PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) arrangement, I think it mentions up and down city lines, (the electric service (when connected to BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)))) and up and down carriage lines, when empty stock had to be taken out to OOC^▸ (Old Oak Common (depot)) to be cleaned etc.
It looked much more complicated than todays layout.

By 1900 there was that huge goods station filling the whole space from Little Venice to the (now) H&C lines. Then there tracks for that, close-in sidings, engine sheds, and all manner of stuff a little further out. That's all gone, covered by new developments and the M4.

But there were only five tracks under Ladbroke Grove, one of which looks to be just for access to sidings etc., compared to six now.

The lines through Royal Oak platforms were part of the suburban lines out of Paddington, originally the "main line" trains used platforms 13 and 16 at Paddington and the H & C used 14 and 15 this allowed for cross platform changes.

TfL^» (Transport for London - about) lease the track bed from NR^» (Network Rail - home page) from Paddington to Westbourne Park.

Paddington was much more complex up to the late 60's when steam went the track layout was rationalised and then again in the 1990s for Hex also engine and coaches ceased to be the norm 

[eightf48544]

The lines through Royal Oak platforms were part of the suburban lines out of Paddington, originally the "main line" trains used platforms 13 and 16 at Paddington and the H & C used 14 and 15 this allowed for cross platform changes.

As you walk down 13/14 to 12 you walk pass over the link from 13, wider on the left as the H&C curves away. May be out of date due to work connecting 13 to 12.

Also all four platforms were through platforms allowing through working from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) onto the Circle Line. Latterly meat to Smithfield market via the link to the Widened lines at Faringdon, using the 97XX condensing tanks.
It was also why the "Tanneroners" and the 97XX and the Boggits (117 DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)) were fitted with tripcocks to run from Royal Oak to Padd 13 and 16.

Don't forget the Crystal Palace loop from the Up E&C and Down Main to the H and C on the South side of Subway Junction.

[stuving]

The lines through Royal Oak platforms were part of the suburban lines out of Paddington, originally the "main line" trains used platforms 13 and 16 at Paddington and the H & C used 14 and 15 this allowed for cross platform changes.

TfL^» (Transport for London - about) lease the track bed from NR^» (Network Rail - home page) from Paddington to Westbourne Park.

Paddington was much more complex up to the late 60's when steam went the track layout was rationalised and then again in the 1990s for Hex also engine and coaches ceased to be the norm 

Well, it's certainly true that it was much more complex! But you can follow a track pair through (in 1900) from Bishops Road Station, via Royal Oak Station, through the underpass, and then through the Hammersmith platforms at Westbourne Park. There were four tracks past Old Oak from Paddington Station to their four platforms at Westbourne Park. And there was a pair linking Royal Oak platforms to the Relief lines through Westbourne Park. Of course there had to be, as trains ran from places like Windsor to Farringdon (or thereabouts) until well after that.

[Jason]

There have been engineering overruns at least twice this week impacting the early services into London (ie the ones I was trying to use to get into work early).

Whilst not infrastructure, the broken down train at Twyford yesterday did not help and now this:

Due to a broken down train between Slough and London Paddington some lines towards London Paddington are blocked.
Impact: Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 25 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 09:30 18/01.

All in all a very lousy week. Again.

[eightf48544]

Slow High Speed Train's (HST^▸ (High Speed Train))s this am past the house.

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

[TaplowGreen]

Still 10-15 minute delays on local services.

[autotank]

Yes a very poor commute this morning. Not helped by some very questionable regulation in the Twyford area and short formed trains. The 0742 HOT-PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) 1P17 was just 2 coaches instead of the normal 4 and was full and standing coming off the branch, so could hardly take any of the many waiting at Twyford. It was held on the branch for no obvious reason and then given the route on to the up main through Ruscombe Junction whilst it stood at platform 4. It spent 4 minutes at the platform during which time a bit of a bottleneck formed on the up main further delaying 1A05, 1A04, and 1P19. It also held up the late running 1P16 on the up relief . I know it is easy to criticize, but it did seem rather odd to observe from the new staff information screen on the platform.

I eventually got the 0826 which crawled into Paddington 26 late and an hour later than I intended. Does anyone know which was the broken down train? There was also talk of signalling problems between Reading-Maidenhead and over running engineering works...

[SandTEngineer]

I eventually got the 0826 which crawled into Paddington 26 late and an hour later than I intended. Does anyone know which was the broken down train?

Think it was 1L10 0528 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington which sat down on the Up Main at Acton Mainline for 50 odd minutes: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C22451/2017/01/18/advanced

[TaplowGreen]

Alterations to services between Slough and Langley
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Slough and Langley trains have to run at reduced speed on the line towards London Paddington.
Train services running through these stations may be delayed or running non stop. Disruption is expected until 08:00 20/01.

[GBM]

With all these signalling problems, surely it must be a nightmare being a signaller? Some must dread coming to work. Of course, that is also the situation with passengers!

[TaplowGreen]

With all these signalling problems, surely it must be a nightmare being a signaller? Some must dread coming to work. Of course, that is also the situation with passengers!

I must admit that when I am stood on a freezing platform waiting for yet another delayed train, jumping up and down to keep warm and already anticipating the Boss tearing me a second one for being late (again), my first thought isn't always with the welfare of the signallers who are at least somewhere warm drinking tea.