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Post by me8 on May 28, 2009 17:19:51 GMT
Greetings all,
I'm a commuter from rainham to cannon st and just had a couple of questions which I'm sure you'll be able to answer:
1. Why are some sections of track painted white?
2. In the mornings when my train switches from the mainline to Victoria to the line to cannon street (chistlehurst junction?) why does it cross over to the oncoming line rather than going off to the left ? (if you know what I mean!?)
3. At gillingham I note that there is still a track whic goes down to chatham dockyard. It appears fairly well maintained in a sense that its not all overgrown, does anyone know if this is still used or when it was last used?
Thanks for your help!
Me8
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Post by chapelwood on May 28, 2009 18:29:30 GMT
2. In the mornings when my train switches from the mainline to Victoria to the line to cannon street (chistlehurst junction?) why does it cross over to the oncoming line rather than going off to the left ? (if you know what I mean!?) The original route was to take the left fork at St Mary Cray Junction and go via what is now Hawkwood Junction, joining the South Eastern Main Line on the Up Fast. But this meant crossing from the Up Slow, across the Down Fast and the Up Fast at St Mary Cray Junction, then crossing from the Up Fast across the Down Fast to the Up Slow somewhere between Chislehurst and London. So in the mid 1970s the Down Chatham Spur (from Chislehurst to St Mary Cray) was made reversible, and the North Kent to Cannon Street trains were routed along it, through the Down Slow platform at Chislehurst, and crossing to the Up Slow just on the London side of Chislehurst. This meant much less conflict with trains on other routes. Chapelwood |
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Post by William Dargan on May 28, 2009 23:32:37 GMT
1. Why are some sections of track painted white? You'll find that the sections of track painted white are areas where points/crossovers are installed. Painting the majority of the surface area of the metal white reflects radiant heat from direct sunlight during Summer months, so the steel doesn't expand as much and reduces the risk of heat related track defects. |
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Post by O.V.S.Bulleid on May 29, 2009 7:31:57 GMT
Dear Me8 3. At gillingham I note that there is still a track whic goes down to chatham dockyard. It appears fairly well maintained in a sense that its not all overgrown, does anyone know if this is still used or when it was last used?
It isn't currently used for business as far as I am aware but is "maintained" as a usuable connection as far as the Medway Docks, that is it crosses the Medway Tunnel approach road and into the port area. It cannot be recovered beyond that point due to new buildings being in the way. Yours sincerely O.V.S.Bulleid |
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Post by Richard Trevithick on May 29, 2009 7:55:04 GMT
Beaten to it on all 3 questions!
As far as the link at Gillingham goes, I'm led to believe that freight trains of some sort do still occasionally run over it, although I'm not sure how often. Slightly less than once in a blue moon is one report from "the living" in that area!
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busman
Junior Member
Posts: 61
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Post by busman on May 29, 2009 11:57:21 GMT
3. At gillingham I note that there is still a track which goes down to chatham dockyard. It appears fairly well maintained in a sense that its not all overgrown, does anyone know if this is still used or when it was last used?
Also medway council insisted in keeping the trackbed and installing a the new bridge near pier road. they wanted to use it for the proposed tram/light railway they had on the drawing board some years back
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Post by NoOnions on May 30, 2009 18:15:58 GMT
Dear Me8,
Welcome to the board! Nice to see a fellow Rainham to Cannon Street traveler here!
You'll find that there are many friendly and knowledgeable people on this site. I also asked the 'white track' question a few months ago!
Regards,
NoOnions
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