Up line, Down Line?

[davidbird]

There is never any confusion, as Jerker says, by the drivers. The confusion arises in the minds of those not completely used to UK railway terminology. My local line is entirely single track with passing loops, yet still has an Up and Down direction. Even fen-tiger's "extended siding" to Wisbeach will still have Up and Down directions, even though it's a single line.

In the area I'm modelling, there are 4 triangular junctions. Crossing one particular side of such a junction can mean an Up train suddenly becomes a Down train without changing direction!

 

[fen_tiger]

In reply to davidbird

I suppose I could maybe contact Network Rail and ask them whether the real Wisbech branch Line is still referred to as 'Up' and 'Down' either though they had re-classified it as an extended cripple siding a few years after they had finally closed in 2003, and long after the 'down' rails to Wisbech were lifted in 1972. However, although the real branch is now, heavily overgrown with vegetation, single track, the double track formation from March to Wisbech is still there all the way to Weasenham Lane level crossing, Wisbech of which is where the track now ends.

I am modelling on Trainz2012 the real branch as single track but with remnants of the 'down' line still in situ at the level crossings and farm crossings on my recreation.

Been a few years now since I last ventured onto the real track when as track clearance team leader/member of the Wisbech & March Bramleyline Heritage Railway Trust. As the branch is still owned by NR, we obtained a special track access licence from NR in 2005 to do basic vegetation removal from the track with a view to inspecting the sleepers, rail chairs and fishplates.

* The currently closed March to Wisbech railway line, seen near the village of Coldham. We are looking at the former 'Up' line to March, with the long since lifted 'Down' rails to the right of the current track. The double track formation is clearly visible, and there is still some ballast from the lifted track but is now hidden in the grass.

 

[Zapata935]

Hi Jamie, with the banned tag to your avatar! first question is why, is this the most outrageous thing you have ever done in your life! Almost got banned from a forum, but never actually did! You applied the tag anyway as it looks cool or something. Why not earn a bit of bad attitude and go to your nearest armed forces recruiting office and learn to fight with bullets flying around your head, By the way you hear them break the sound barrier first with a crack, then a few micro seconds later they start flying around your head with a thump! Maybe after you have done some mean time, some folk will maybe take your tag serious!

 

[davidbird]

I've done a bit of further research.
Consider the train 1L03, the 0707 East Midland Trains Mansfield Woodhouse to Norwich.
It starts out as an Up train, heading south, towards London.
At Lenton North Junction it takes the East Curve into Nottingham, but it's now heading Down, away from London.
It leaves Nottingham at 0752, still heading Down towards Lincoln, on the ex-Midland route.
At Netherfield Junct, it takes the ex-GNR route to Grantham. Here it becomes an Up train again, as it's now once more heading towards London.
And all in the same direction, too!

 

[tonytony]

It is easy to see the puzzlement of some UK readers and also those readers from other countries regarding the 'Up' and 'Down' directions on UK railways'. But despite some excellent explanations perhaps we should direct all non British people to the explanation of Cricket :-

You have two sides, one out in the field and one in.
Each man that's in the side that's in goes out, and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out.
When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out.
When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in.
There are two men called umpires who stay out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out.
When both sides have been in and all the men have been out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game.


: Simple!

I know its not about trainz but I could not resist the similarity
Tony

 

[geophil]

As a non-native to British rail terminology I memorise up and down directions by the phrase "up to the capital (city)".

 

[Kennilworth]

Hi

If anyone is still in doubt over which is Up and Down then you can download the Sectional Appendix free from Network Rail http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/10563.aspx . This has every line clearly labelled for the present day railway. If you want details of days gone by then there are sites on the internet that have some available such as http://www.limitofshunt.org.uk/ or http://www.britishrailways1960.co.uk/

The older ones come up on ebay regularly including some for the big four before British Railways.

Regards

Brian