Ah ok thanks for that. I wasn't fully aware of timetabling arrangements and had just assumed that to maximise capacity departing trains from Tweedbank would be 'released' by the arrival of the terminating train thereby assuming there would always be 1 train sitting in Tweedbank. It makes a bit more sense now. Cheers.
Regarding loco run round at Tweedbank or rather the lack of such provision I see a solution to this problem about a mile north of Gala at the site of the former Kilnknowe junction. Before the closure of the Peebles line 3 tracks ran paralell for over half a mile before the Peebles line veered off west away from the double track Edinburgh line. I notice from the video there is still space for a stock siding and run round loop at this location. After arrival at Tweedbank or Gala the excursion train could travel to Kilnknowe locos run around and remain stabled there until required to return south to pick up passengers for the return journey. This would cause considerably less disruption than using the southernmost dynamic loop and for relatively small expenditure as the land required is already in railway ownership.
The Peebles line at Kilnknowe will be fully in use as a foot path again soon, though it could be re deployed. There is enough room for another line between the platform and the road at Tweedbank, which would be a simpler solution, though having said that the buried electrical cable may interfere with this option. It was going to be very expensive to move. Double track North of Tweedbank Station could also be reinstated. There are no plans for anything at the moment. Abellio are planning an innovative solution ? I suspect it probably wont involve infrastructure. We'll have to wait and see what happens.
Thanks for your informed response. However I'm still at a loss as to how excursion traffic will not severely disrupt scheduled services. If there are to be no infrastructure improvements then the only option will be to implement a temporary timetable whenever an excursion is permitted to run to Tweedbank. Once the train has arrived and passengers de - trained the ecs will have to occupy one of the 2 platform roads until departure time. Surely an inbound service train will need to access that road in order to release the waiting outbound train onto the single track section to Bowland? Like you say we'll have to wait and see. It will be interesting I'm sure!
There will only be one train at Tweedbank at any one time during most of the day. Trains will arrive and the then depart before the next one arrives. The excursion traffic has been added as an after thought and not planned as an essential element of the project. Hence as you say the infrastructure is not well designed to accommodate it other than the platforms at Tweedbank and Galashiels being longer than the standard 6 coach design on the rest of the line. I think the signaling may allow a special to follow close behind the regular train though I am guessing here, It will be interesting to see how they implement their ambitions.
The granite ballast used in Scotland comes from Cloburn Quarry in Lanarkshire. Its red due to its mineral content,Granite comes in many colours which reflect the diversity of the rock from which it formed by the process of metamorphosis from other rocks deep in the earth crust. Scotland has a somewhat different geological history to England for example you will not find any chalk north of the border.
Ah ok thanks for that. I wasn't fully aware of timetabling arrangements and had just assumed that to maximise capacity departing trains from Tweedbank would be 'released' by the arrival of the terminating train thereby assuming there would always be 1 train sitting in Tweedbank. It makes a bit more sense now. Cheers.
Regarding loco run round at Tweedbank or rather the lack of such provision I see a solution to this problem about a mile north of Gala at the site of the former Kilnknowe junction. Before the closure of the Peebles line 3 tracks ran paralell for over half a mile before the Peebles line veered off west away from the double track Edinburgh line. I notice from the video there is still space for a stock siding and run round loop at this location. After arrival at Tweedbank or Gala the excursion train could travel to Kilnknowe locos run around and remain stabled there until required to return south to pick up passengers for the return journey. This would cause considerably less disruption than using the southernmost dynamic loop and for relatively small expenditure as the land required is already in railway ownership.
The Peebles line at Kilnknowe will be fully in use as a foot path again soon, though it could be re deployed. There is enough room for another line between the platform and the road at Tweedbank, which would be a simpler solution, though having said that the buried electrical cable may interfere with this option. It was going to be very expensive to move. Double track North of Tweedbank Station could also be reinstated. There are no plans for anything at the moment. Abellio are planning an innovative solution ? I suspect it probably wont involve infrastructure. We'll have to wait and see what happens.
Thanks for your informed response. However I'm still at a loss as to how excursion traffic will not severely disrupt scheduled services. If there are to be no infrastructure improvements then the only option will be to implement a temporary timetable whenever an excursion is permitted to run to Tweedbank. Once the train has arrived and passengers de - trained the ecs will have to occupy one of the 2 platform roads until departure time. Surely an inbound service train will need to access that road in order to release the waiting outbound train onto the single track section to Bowland? Like you say we'll have to wait and see. It will be interesting I'm sure!
There will only be one train at Tweedbank at any one time during most of the day. Trains will arrive and the then depart before the next one arrives. The excursion traffic has been added as an after thought and not planned as an essential element of the project. Hence as you say the infrastructure is not well designed to accommodate it other than the platforms at Tweedbank and Galashiels being longer than the standard 6 coach design on the rest of the line. I think the signaling may allow a special to follow close behind the regular train though I am guessing here, It will be interesting to see how they implement their ambitions.
Great video. Question, can anyone tell me why ballast is reddish in Scotland, but greyish everywhere else?
The granite ballast used in Scotland comes from Cloburn Quarry in Lanarkshire. Its red due to its mineral content,Granite comes in many colours which reflect the diversity of the rock from which it formed by the process of metamorphosis from other rocks deep in the earth crust. Scotland has a somewhat different geological history to England for example you will not find any chalk north of the border.
Waverley Wanderer Excellent many thanks for a very comprehensive reply. Lets hope the Waverley route gets put back to Carlisle in the future.