| Crossing Loop |
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The passing loop connects to the main track at both ends of the station, though a dead end siding, which is much less convenient, can be used. Ideally, the loop should be longer than all trains needing to cross at that station. If one train is too long for the loop it must wait for the opposing train to enter the loop proceeding, wasting a few minutes. Ideally, the shorter train should arrive first and leave second. If both trains are too long for the loop, time-wasting "see-sawing" operations are required for the trains to cross. On railway systems that use platforms for passengers to board and disembark trains, especially high level platforms, platforms may provided on both main and loop tracks or just the main track. SYSTEM OF WORKING Main and loop The main line has straight track, while the loop line has low speed turnouts at either end. If the station has only one platform, then it is located on the main line. An example is Clarendon Railway Station, Sydney on the Richmond Line . If passenger trains are relatively few in number, and the likelihood of two passenger trains crossing each other, the platform on the loop line may be omitted. Platform road and through road The through road has straight track, while the platform road has low speed turnouts at either end. Riverstone Railway Station, Sydney had this arrangement, although one end has been slewed to put the platform on the straight road, and a second platform has since been provided. While the reasons for choosing this configuration are lost in the mists of time, stations using this arrangement in New South Wales at least, appear to be the more important stations, with significant townships attached. Up and down working Trains take the left hand track in their direction of running, if needed, platforms must be provided on both tracks. Low speed turnouts in one direction. Two platforms are needed and they can be Island Platform or two Side Platforms . Examples include Quakers Hill . Crossing loops using Up and Down Working are very common with British practice. For one thing, there are fewer signals if the tracks in the station are signalled for one direction only, and also there is less likelihood of a collision caused by signalling a train onto the track belonging to the opposing train. With and Up and Down loop, overtaking is awkward, and some of the necessary signals are absent. The speed restriction in one direction can be eliminated with higher speed turnouts, by this presupposes power operation as the longer and heavier high speed turnouts may be beyond the capability of manual lever operation. SIMULTANEOUS CROSSES AND PASSING LANES If a crossing loop is several times the length of the trains using it, and is suitably signalled, then trains proceeding in opposite directions can pass (cross) each other without having to stop or even slow down. This greatly reduces the time lost by the first train to arrive at the crossing loop for the opposing train to go by. In the Auslink project for the Junee to Melbourne line, roughly every other section of single line will be Duplicated to provide so-called passing lanes. About 220km of the 450km line will be duplicated. ACCIDENTS AT CROSSING LOOPS Casey Jones issued by the United States Postal Service .]] The legendary train driver Casey Jones was killed in an accident in 1900 involving trains too long to cross at the crossing loop at Vaughan, Mississippi . The trains trying to cross were occupying both the main and loop tracks, and in addition, the train doing the sea-saw was standing outside station limits. Jones was travelling fast in order to make up lost time, and did not stop in time to avoid a collision. Exeter
Geurie
Violet Town
Hines Hill Zanthus Other accidents
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