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Platforms of Last Resort

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MadMac

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Dumbarton Central Platform 3?
Pretty sure nothing is booked to use it however it has been used this week to turnaround late running services to Helensburgh and was used by the Fort William sleeper to allow a broken 73/9 to be shunted off.

I believe Stranraer platform 2 has not technically closed. Been a very long time since it was used though.

EDIT: Just thought of this: you would need to be seriously desperate to use platform 2 at Corrour: even hand pumping points.
One that would have fallen into this category is what is now Platform 1 at Springburn. Not used for any scheduled service for decades, only recorded use was as starting point for a DMU tour.
 
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Taunton

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Edinburgh Waverley was a surprising contrast in the 1970s, basically one huge and lengthy island, each outer side assigned two platform numbers, and while the many west end bays 11-18 were constantly busy, the equivalent seven east end bays, 2-8 did hardly anything and would have qualified for this thread. They were too short for main line trains, the only local was the odd North Berwick dmu, and that as often as not left from one of the main island faces anyway as it likely had run to or from Haymarket depot. They got used for odd parcels vans, were a place to store a couple of BR exhibition trains that came through, and the only time I used them was a novelty when Haymarket Junction was being relaid, and the Shotts/Carstairs trains were being diverted round the South Suburban line and came in at the opposite end. Two of the tracks were later partly filled in to form a car park, with short outer stub tracks.

Slowly over time since the east end has had a remarkable renaissance, and there are a whole range of services from there now, aided by both LNER and Cross Country using half-length 5-car units, some rebuilding and platform extension, and opening of a range of stations east of Edinburgh. So what had once laid dormant are now all back active again.
 

Spartacus

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Platform 7 at Derby faces onto a depot access track and as far as I know can't be used, though I think it was for a time during the re-modelling.

It can be, but requires a good deal of locking out for it to be used. It saw some use a few months ago, I can't remember exactly why, axle counter damage springs to mind, but I might be wrong. It certainly fits the bill for 'last resort' though!
 

edwin_m

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Edinburgh Waverley was a surprising contrast in the 1970s, basically one huge and lengthy island, each outer side assigned two platform numbers, and while the many west end bays 11-18 were constantly busy, the equivalent seven east end bays, 2-8 did hardly anything and would have qualified for this thread. They were too short for main line trains, the only local was the odd North Berwick dmu, and that as often as not left from one of the main island faces anyway as it likely had run to or from Haymarket depot. They got used for odd parcels vans, were a place to store a couple of BR exhibition trains that came through, and the only time I used them was a novelty when Haymarket Junction was being relaid, and the Shotts/Carstairs trains were being diverted round the South Suburban line and came in at the opposite end. Two of the tracks were later partly filled in to form a car park, with short outer stub tracks.

Slowly over time since the east end has had a remarkable renaissance, and there are a whole range of services from there now, aided by both LNER and Cross Country using half-length 5-car units, some rebuilding and platform extension, and opening of a range of stations east of Edinburgh. So what had once laid dormant are now all back active again.
I think one of these was used for Motorail for a while, with cars driving down the cab ramp and past the south side of the main building.
 

The Planner

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what about the fast line platforms at kings Norton. I got off a cross country train there when they renewed this bridge back in the 80's, and cross country could not get to New St. Have they been used since.
View attachment 106360
Not sure why XC would have done that, they could have carried on to New St via Lifford.
 

Sprinter107

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Not sure why XC would have done that, they could have carried on to New St via Lifford.
That may have been during the Proof House re modelling. I think certain SW to NE were calling at Kings Norton and then going straight to Landor Street ommiting New Street. Connections to and from New Street were via Cross City trains with Kings Norton as the interchange. I know the Leicester trains were going around the Lifford, presume the Nottingham ones did too.
 

The Planner

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That may have been during the Proof House re modelling. I think certain SW to NE were calling at Kings Norton and then going straight to Landor Street ommiting New Street. Connections to and from New Street were via Cross City trains with Kings Norton as the interchange. I know the Leicester trains were going around the Lifford, presume the Nottingham ones did too.
Proof House was 20 years after @Ken H was saying though.
 

Kingston Dan

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The former platforms 8 & 9 became short stubs with Motorail ramps (and also used for loco stablimg)
Yes - there was also platform 7 a bay used for ECML services - I think the numbering was 1 (north through platform), 2 bay platform occasionally used for North Berwick trains, then 3-6 linked to the post office depot (not sure all the tracks were in place), platform 7, motorail (8&9) and platform 10 (south through platform). There were also the two old suburban platforms 20/21 outside the main trainshed. So a total of 6 usable passenger platforms for maybe two or three trains an hour (at most).
 

MadMac

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Yes - there was also platform 7 a bay used for ECML services - I think the numbering was 1 (north through platform), 2 bay platform occasionally used for North Berwick trains, then 3-6 linked to the post office depot (not sure all the tracks were in place), platform 7, motorail (8&9) and platform 10 (south through platform). There were also the two old suburban platforms 20/21 outside the main trainshed. So a total of 6 usable passenger platforms for maybe two or three trains an hour (at most).
At the 1976 resignalling, there were bays at 2, 6 & 7. I’ve departed from 7 in that era but don’t recall 2 or 6 being used.
 

D365

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Doncaster platform 2, although I did see an EMR Lincoln service use it a few weeks ago due to a points / signalling issue.

Doncaster platform 7 doesn't get much use either.
Really? I’ve seen trains in both quite regularly.

Has anyone raised Huntingdon P1 or Derby P7?
 

Falcon1200

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Surprised no-one has mentioned Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross, only used a few times a year at the start and end of school terms, and literally never at any other time, no matter what disruption is occurring.....
 

mangyiscute

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I don't think I've seen anyone mention Platform 6 at Stafford - although last Saturday due to all of the delays from Storm Arwen the 06:15 Reading to Manchester Piccadilly I was on stopped at Platform 6 at Stafford
 

Ken H

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I don't think I've seen anyone mention Platform 6 at Stafford - although last Saturday due to all of the delays from Storm Arwen the 06:15 Reading to Manchester Piccadilly I was on stopped at Platform 6 at Stafford
i assume you are a driver. how do you get/retain route knowledge of rarely used track, like plat 6 at stafford?
 

37166

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Platform 3 at Wellingborough id say rare, pot luck if a 360 gets diverted into it.
 

Mothball

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Platform 2 at Rochdale doesn't see much use since the Oldham loop went over to Metrolink.

Speaking of Metrolink I dont think the second platform at Manchester Airport has been used in service, just the odd stabling of demic trams.
 

Watershed

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I don't think I've seen anyone mention Platform 6 at Stafford - although last Saturday due to all of the delays from Storm Arwen the 06:15 Reading to Manchester Piccadilly I was on stopped at Platform 6 at Stafford
It has a few booked services on Sundays, for Stoke "wobble" services that start at Stafford. Used to be one every hour; looks like it's now just two trains.
 

43055

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Platform 7 at Derby faces onto a depot access track and as far as I know can't be used, though I think it was for a time during the re-modelling.

It can be, but requires a good deal of locking out for it to be used. It saw some use a few months ago, I can't remember exactly why, axle counter damage springs to mind, but I might be wrong. It certainly fits the bill for 'last resort' though!
Some problems at Derby this morning due to 'fault with the signaling system' and platform 7 is getting some use which I think is the first time a Cross Country service has used the platform. Looks like it is not currently possible to access platforms 3 & 4 so the 0941 from Nottingham (1G16) arrived in platform 7 after waiting outside for a while and is now having a swap with a service from Birmingham (1M92) which arrived on platform 2.

1638528426190.png
 

Mikey C

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On the Underground, Platform 1 at Golders Green is active, but for staff use only. I've never seen passengers on it

During the last year or so, wasn't Platform 1 at London Bridge (NR) inactive, or very rarely used? It's now in regular use again now.
 

galwhv69

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Both disused but can Queenstown Road (Battersea) Platform 1 and Brixton Platform C be used in extreme emergencies? (Ie. Evacuations)
 

Flange Squeal

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Woking platform 6 rarely sees use during normal operation, though during disruption Portsmouth direct line trains sometimes terminate there
On weekdays, the 0619 Woking to Portsmouth (via Eastleigh) starts from Platform 6. Think that is also the case Saturday mornings too. Later in the evening the 2315 Guildford to Woking then arrives into it in passenger service. So it does have a daily passenger arrival and departure.

Around lunchtime and again late evening, route retention trips run in/out for Bournemouth crews refreshing the Pompey Direct, and this time of year also sees a couple of railhead treatment trains (RHTTs). There is also an empties departure formed off the aforementioned 2315 from Guildford, and finally the stock from the 0037 Waterloo to Woking arrival then berths in it ready to form the following day's 0619 Pompey. These I guess don't really count though, being empties/RHTTs.
 

Dryce

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The bay platform at Keith.

It gets used by the Royal Scotsman for overnight stabling - and a few years back I was on an Aberdeen to Inverness service that was terminated there after a bridge strike caused delays.
 

Peregrine 4903

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On the Underground, Platform 1 at Golders Green is active, but for staff use only. I've never seen passengers on it

During the last year or so, wasn't Platform 1 at London Bridge (NR) inactive, or very rarely used? It's now in regular use again now.
London Bridge Platform 1 wasn't used as there weren't enough staff available at London Bridge available to keep it open because of Covid.
 

Horizon22

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London Bridge Platform 1 wasn't used as there weren't enough staff available at London Bridge available to keep it open because of Covid.

Also I imagine the reduction in service to Cannon St. meant it wasn't required either.
 
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