Euston - "HST Stop" Signs

[AlterEgo]

I've noticed on many of the platforms at Euston a small black sign suspended from the ceiling saying "HST Stop". These are on many platforms located a significant distance from the buffer stops - on one platform it's about 20 or 40 yards from the buffer stops.

Anybody know why a HST should have to stop in a different place to any other train at a terminus station?

 

[ainsworth74]

Euston is an underground station right? So it might have something to do with ventilation, perhaps the HST stop is underneath an extractor fan or at least some sort of vent to the outside.

 

[Jordy]

Either that or to make sure the coaches are lined up with the hoses for tanking (with water)

 

[AlterEgo]

Euston is an underground station right? So it might have something to do with ventilation, perhaps the HST stop is underneath an extractor fan or at least some sort of vent to the outside.

The Voyagers don't have a special stop point and they're diesels too....

 

[ralphchadkirk]

The Voyagers don't have a special stop point and they're diesels too....

Position of engines?

Otherwise, it may be the positioning of the cab at the other end, for some reason.

 

[ChrisCooper]

A similar one was at St Pancras before the Eurostar works, when they had "Class 170 Stop" signs about a coach length back from the buffers.

 

[rail-britain]

Anybody know why a HST should have to stop in a different place to any other train at a terminus station?

This is to ensure the positioning of the rear (north) power car remains outside the canopy of the building, otherwise it too has to be switched off

 

[ainsworth74]

This is to ensure the positioning of the rear (north) power car remains outside the canopy of the building, otherwise it too has to be switched off

So just to clarify when HSTs operated out of Euston the front (south) power car under the canopy had to be switched off (presumably due to fumes)? A bit like how GC operate their HSTs out of Sunderland where they only have one power car until they clear the station?

 

[rail-britain]

Yes, at Euston there was no shore supply for HSTs
Therefore the rear (north) power car had to be left on

There were complaints from the locals as to the noise and pollution, and so it was agreed that specific platforms would be used, with the HST positioned so as to reduce the noise
From memory it is the five platforms to the east side of the station (highest numbers)

 

[ChrisCooper]

It's normal with HSTs to shut down one powercar when stabled. At the London termini the London end powercar is shut down, at the other end it varies, usually leaving the powercar furthest from the main bit of the station running (so for example at both Nottingham and Sheffield the north powercar is left running as in both cases it's more out of the way, although the south powercar was left on at Manchester when MML ran the Rio services). Of cource these days its hardly relevant at all when you've got noisy 22Xs idling away constantly at various termini.

With Valentas though, it did allow for good clag when leaving the terminus due to sitting idling for so long.

 

[The Barlow Boy]

Euston is an underground station right? So it might have something to do with ventilation, perhaps the HST stop is underneath an extractor fan or at least some sort of vent to the outside.

Euston station platforms aren't underground. They're at the same level as Eversholt Street and Cardington Street which are the roads on each side parallell to the station. They look underground because the concourse is at a higher level.

 

[merlodlliw]

I recall when the Loco hauled six a day Holyhead to Euston were given over to 3 HST for privatisation reasons, the route was planned to end at St Pancras,but due to outcry the service went to Euston. The St Pancras idea was sending the service via Leicester, if I recall thus adding extra time.
The thinking was to keep Euston free of diesel exhaust. Hence the signs


Bob

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Google maps and street view seem to disagree.

 

[rail-britain]

Google maps and street view seem to disagree.

With what, that the patforms are not at street level?
When I worked on the sleepers, we used to access the ICOBS office by walking straight out on to Eversholt Street :
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&s...NaD31j-8Vp8I6AjWzYynLg&cbp=12,260.09,,0,12.41
This is view from Cardington Street, and a VT can be seen in the background almost level :
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en...d=3LF4a0eKp7gNpSsZda4Rsg&cbp=12,37.78,,1,-0.6

You can also see the steps up to the raised level, leading to the concourse, further along Eversholt Street :
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en...=HB7K8tAkxMY4RFvew5tunA&cbp=12,265.25,,0,15.5

 

[AlterEgo]

The station is at street level, as anyone who has boarded at Platform 1 can attest. There's a staff exit there that goes right out onto the street.

 

[ainsworth74]

Euston station platforms aren't underground.

Okay underground was the wrong word to use. What I meant was with the low overhead ceilings the station almost feels underground, and when it comes to exhaust fumes there isn't much overhead space for them to dissipate without choking the passengers.

 

[merlodlliw]

The station is at street level, as anyone who has boarded at Platform 1 can attest. There's a staff exit there that goes right out onto the street.

Agree, Euston is at Street level, why is there any doubt?


Bob

 

[rail-britain]

when it comes to exhaust fumes there isn't much overhead space for them to dissipate without choking the passengers.

Diesel fumes were never really an issue at Euston, as the majority of locos were electric, and local units were EMU
The occasional Class 47 would appear but the procedure was to shutdown on arrival (if layover was in excess of 20 minutes) and only to restart 10 minutes prior to departure
There was no such restriction for the diesel loco at the northend of the train

As above, when the HSTs started operating normal practice was to shutdown one power car (as per normal)
The issue was the noise from idling power car
The solution was where possible the HST would be stabled in the east platforms