Thanks I'll add it to the list.Nottingham counts if you're allowing trams as well as trains.
And of course the tram follows the original alignment of the GCR above Nottingham Midland station (but there was no station/platforms on the GCR line).
This is interesting, didn't think about a limit of the distance between two stations but this opens the door to many examples. In my mind I was thinking of a station by itself that served the four directions (eg Tamworth) or a connected/next to construction like the places mentioned with metro stops.Does the walk between Deepdene and Dorking North stretch the theme too far?
(Manchester Picc)The layout there is shaped more like an equals sign. Although the Metrolink platforms are below the main train shed, the line lies wholly to the north of the through platforms so the two lines don't actually cross.
A dual gauge version at Minffordd (although "north" and "west" both take you to Porthmadog - different stations though).
Limerick Junction isn't a cross-shaped station. All of its platforms are parallel and aligned with only one of the intersecting lines.Limerick Junction is probably the most obvious and famous example close to home where it's achieved with a flat crossing.
The OP is specifically looking for stations where the two lines intersect, rather than converge and diverge again. I.e. both lines should be straight through the station area.I am thinking that Eastleigh will fit the criteria. You have the line to Romsey, one towards London, one towards Portsmouth and one towards Southampton.
I think you'll find the railway was there rather a long time before the motorways showed up...I like the Filton diamond I guess it was modelled after the M4 M5 junction just North of it....
At Minffordd station, the NR line is roughly north - south and the Ffestiniog line is roughly east - west. The NR line northwards heads to Porthmadog and Pwllheli, and the FR line westwards heads to Porthmadog (and Caernarfon via the WHR). South is NR to Mach and Shrewsbury, east is FR to Blaenau Ffestiniog.Surely "south" and "west"?
Limerick Junction isn't a cross-shaped station. All of its platforms are parallel and aligned with only one of the intersecting lines.
Given that, are there any examples at all where a cross-shaped station is on one level?The OP is specifically looking for stations where the two lines intersect, rather than converge and diverge again. I.e. both lines should be straight through the station area.
If you stretch the definition of 4 passenger directions, then Newark Northgate does qualify - the flat junction is north of the ECML platforms that offer services East, North and South, while west bound services do run into the station and then reverse back towards Lincoln to continue to Nottingham.Given that, are there any examples at all where a cross-shaped station is on one level?
Edit: oops, @BeijingDave has said the same thing.
This belter from the USA is the station at Griffith, Indiana, where three separate mainstream railroads (all once double track) cross on the flat at the station in an asterisk-shaped arrangement.but generally (to satisfy the OP's requirement) this requires the station tracks and platforms to be on different levels and there aren't so many on the conventional rail networks.
Very interesting. This is what it looks like more recently with the popo driving through.. I'm guessing the third direction would have gone through the centre of (about 11:00 as we look) the google maps picture.This belter from the USA is the station at Griffith, Indiana, where three separate mainstream railroads (all once double track) cross on the flat at the station in an asterisk-shaped arrangement.
Is it just my interpretation, or are both the signals in Taunton's splendid photo showing "all clear" for what must be two separate conflicting moves over the crossing? If so, scary stuff!This belter from the USA is the station at Griffith, Indiana, where three separate mainstream railroads (all once double track) cross on the flat at the station in an asterisk-shaped arrangement.
I believe the signals are showing 'no orders to collect' rather than 'all clear', but could be wrong.Is it just my interpretation, or are both the signals in Taunton's splendid photo showing "all clear" for what must be two separate conflicting moves over the crossing? If so, scary stuff!
This is how it once looked. Doubtless a maintenance challenge for Network Rail who don't like diamond crossings at all! The initial photo was taken from up in the top left hand corner of this one, looking towards us. Also you can see in that one from the telegraph pole crossbars that three substantial sets of wires, all parallel to their own tracks, cross here as well, a further challenge for the wires lineman.Very interesting. This is what it looks like more recently with the popo driving through.. I'm guessing the third direction would have gone through the centre of (about 11:00 as we look) the google maps picture.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@41.5...Y14AbQ3Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu
America has a few of those crazy diamond crossings, less so now but still some kicking around. In their own way, they're more impressive than the steam-era layouts at major stations like King's Cross, York or Preston.This is how it once looked. Doubtless a maintenance challenge for Network Rail who don't like diamond crossings at all! The initial photo was taken from up in the top left hand corner of this one, looking towards us.
Believe it or nor there are further junctions immediately out of shot where other railroads joined to share the tracks through there. I believe at one time about five or six major US railroads passed over this.
Correct. Nothing to do with signalling as we understand it. Arms vertically upwards is the norm, no orders. If at 45 degrees it is "slow, collect orders from a hoop [both loco and conductor in caboose] and read them as you continue". Horizontal is "Stop here for orders". The actual signals guarding the crossing are a bit further back and unconnected with this, some can be seen in the second photograph. In typical US railroad division of duties, Orders are given out by a Operator from the station, the signals by a Towerman from the adjacent Tower (signalbox).I believe the signals are showing 'no orders to collect' rather than 'all clear', but could be wrong.
Does Guildford count? North, South, West and 2 East!
See post #1.Blackburn? You’ve got the lines from Preston, Clitheroe, Bolton and Burnley all converging either side of the station.
Also Crewe, although this is more a 6 way ‘cross’ than 4 way!
Lines from Chester, Warrington (WCML), Wilmslow, Stoke, Stafford (WCML) and Nantwich all converging at either end of the station.
Crewe would only count if they ever built the long-talked about Manchester Independent platforms.Also Crewe, although this is more a 6 way ‘cross’ than 4 way!
At Minffordd station, the NR line is roughly north - south and the Ffestiniog line is roughly east - west. The NR line northwards heads to Porthmadog and Pwllheli, and the FR line westwards heads to Porthmadog (and Caernarfon via the WHR). South is NR to Mach and Shrewsbury, east is FR to Blaenau Ffestiniog.
The directions are only approximate which is why I put them in quotes, but at the actual crossing bridge they are almost at right angles to each other. The northbound NR line does soon curve westwards though.