Huntingdon Platform 1

[twpsaesneg]

Allocations, Diagrams and Timetables seemed to me the most appropriate place for this query, mods feel free to move somewhere better if needed!

I am doing some work in the Huntingdon area soon, and whilst reviewing source documents for it (and Google!) I was surprised to see that the station has a South facing Bay platform (Platform 1) accessed off the Up Slow. It's around 160m long, and wired, so presumably can accommodate an 8-car set. However, the S&C to the south of the station doesn't appear to allow a facing move into the Platform, so the only way in is to shunt back from the Up Slow.

Presumably at some point it was accessible - can anyone tell me what it is used for now and what it was used for in the past? Also, when were the facing crossovers from the Down lines removed? I believe there was a single Huntingdon starter in the 2000's which came ECS from Peterborough, but I can't find any more information.

Many thanks!

 

[Kite159]

Before last May it was used by one train a week [Saturdays only ~ 09:26] with the unit coming ECS from Peterborough to shunt into the bay platform. Mainly as an extra to allow the previous GN service from Peterborough to run semi-fast [St Neots & Biggleswade only].

These days it has no booked (passenger) use

 

[Aictos]

Allocations, Diagrams and Timetables seemed to me the most appropriate place for this query, mods feel free to move somewhere better if needed!

I am doing some work in the Huntingdon area soon, and whilst reviewing source documents for it (and Google!) I was surprised to see that the station has a South facing Bay platform (Platform 1) accessed off the Up Slow. It's around 160m long, and wired, so presumably can accommodate an 8-car set. However, the S&C to the south of the station doesn't appear to allow a facing move into the Platform, so the only way in is to shunt back from the Up Slow.

Presumably at some point it was accessible - can anyone tell me what it is used for now and what it was used for in the past? Also, when were the facing crossovers from the Down lines removed? I believe there was a single Huntingdon starter in the 2000's which came ECS from Peterborough, but I can't find any more information.

Many thanks!

Also just to point out that it is possible to do a shunt into Platform 1 from both the Up Fast and the Up Slow for how see below:

Up Slow though Platform 2 and turn back behind P33 into Platform 1

Up Fast though the Up Fast though line and turn back behind P329 and then it's a signalled move to P33 and then into Platform 1 itself.

 

[Aictos]

Also you might find this page useful which shows a track layout in the 1935! Click here for the diagram

As to any crossovers that did exist were merely there to allow access on and off the Huntingdon to St Ives branch which closed on the 18th September 1959, for reference you can still make out the formation of the line as it marks the boundary of the car park as it curves away from Huntingdon.

So hope that helps?

 

[superjohn]

Pre electrification it was used for the Huntingdon to Hitchin DMU shuttle. At the time Huntingdon was a regular stop for ECML Inter-City services while St Neots, Sandy and Biggleswade were relatively small, local markets.

When electric services through to Peterborough were introduced platform one only saw limited use for a short while. The new electric service boosted passenger numbers such that NSE subsequently introduced an additional hourly service from King’s Cross to Huntingdon in the late eighties. This started from platform one having done an awkward double shunt after arriving on platform three.

In time all GN local services went through to Peterborough and platform one fell into minimal use again. I doubt the current ECML frequency would allow the requisite shunting for it to be used regularly today. The bridges to the South of the station would preclude crossovers being put in there as well.

 

[Deepgreen]

Here's a shot I took in July 2008.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Allocations, Diagrams and Timetables seemed to me the most appropriate place for this query, mods feel free to move somewhere better if needed!

I am doing some work in the Huntingdon area soon, and whilst reviewing source documents for it (and Google!) I was surprised to see that the station has a South facing Bay platform (Platform 1) accessed off the Up Slow. It's around 160m long, and wired, so presumably can accommodate an 8-car set. However, the S&C to the south of the station doesn't appear to allow a facing move into the Platform, so the only way in is to shunt back from the Up Slow.

Presumably at some point it was accessible - can anyone tell me what it is used for now and what it was used for in the past? Also, when were the facing crossovers from the Down lines removed? I believe there was a single Huntingdon starter in the 2000's which came ECS from Peterborough, but I can't find any more information.

Many thanks!

Huntingdon bay has always required a shunt to use it, there was never any main to main crossovers.

 

[twpsaesneg]

Thanks all for your responses - very interesting!