BR Southern 3rd Rail help please

[Driver_Col]

I am revamping a layout to give a flavour of the Southern Railway/BR Southern Region and have some issues (aka. ignorance) of SR details re positioning of side boards:

Q1. In a two track (1 up & 1 down) situation, am I correct in assuming that the 3rd rail would always be on the inside i.e. the pickups are on the driver's RH side?

I am using some lovely track with wood side boards but they create a couple of challenges:

Q2. What is the best way of handling points as clearly the side boards don't go through uninterrupted.

Q3. What would be the arrangement at platform ends where luggage may be transported across the tracks.

Q4. Any suggestions on how to handle bridges? (Perhaps I just have to live with that one)!

Many thx. Colin.

 

[Mike10]

Q1. In a two track (1 up & 1 down) situation, am I correct in assuming that the 3rd rail would always be on the inside i.e. the pickups are on the driver's RH side?

Not always, the 3rd rail changes from side to side pretty much at random. At stations the preferred configuration is to have the 3rd rails along the centre of twin tracks on the side farthest from the platforms (although, again, this isn't always 100% the case)

I am using some lovely track with wood side boards but they create a couple of challenges:

Q2. What is the best way of handling points as clearly the side boards don't go through uninterrupted.

Q3. What would be the arrangement at platform ends where luggage may be transported across the tracks.

Q4. Any suggestions on how to handle bridges? (Perhaps I just have to live with that one)!

Many thx. Colin.

The side boards used on the 3rd rails are only used in areas where there are railway staff who may be crossing the line. This would include stations, yards, crossings, and some other areas. Passengers are not allowed to cross the line and there will always be a bridge if this is required to happen.

Hope that helps.
Mike.

 

[Driver_Col]

Hi Mike

Many thanks for the information. Could you please clarify the arrangements in a station. I understand your comments about having side boards in a station where railway staff are crossing but don't station porters in the SR ever trundle baggage down the platform end slope, over the tracks, and up the other side? Assuming yes .... then wouldn't the sideboards be a problem? This question is based on the assumption that the sideboards are elevated above the live rail.

Thx. Colin.

 

[john259]

Have you seen this? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_rail

John

 

[Driver_Col]

Have you seen this? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_rail

John

Thx John......... and yes I did. Apart from remembering not to unrinate on 3rd rails or on overhead wires........... I didn't see too much of interest relative to my issue of how station porters crossed the lines that include a live 3rd rail. Did I miss something perhaps? Perhaps they simply don't?

 

[Mike10]

Some more info here: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/russelliott/3rd-4th.html

In the case of a crossing made of boards for the use of Railway staff only it is possible that the third rail would have been terminated each side and would not run through the crossing, the last few meters of the 3rd rail each side would be protected by side boards. (hope that makes sense)

The crossing may also have been protected by having angled boards alongside to discourage people walking down the track as with road level crossing: http://www.kentrail.co.uk/Stone Crossing.htm

Mike.

 

[Mike10]

Having posted that, I kept searching and came upon this pic. http://www.hondawanderer.com/37603_Folkestone_2007.htm

Mike.

 

[Driver_Col]

Thx for the clarification Miike ........... and a great link which is much appreciated.



Colin.

 

[Driver_Col]

Having posted that, I kept searching and came upon this pic. http://www.hondawanderer.com/37603_Folkestone_2007.htm

Mike.

Thx again ........ "a picture's worth a thousand words"!

Regards. Colin.