Trivia: shortest path to reverse a train from a terminus platform

[growse]

Here's a silly idea. For any given NR terminus platform (e.g. KGX platform 7), what's the shortest distance you can drive a train without stopping or reversing so that the train arrives back where it started but the other way round.

E.g. KGX 7, up to Newcastle, round the loop there, back down the ECML again. You could also do Leeds 6, Staleybridge then round Guide Bridge/Ashton back to Leeds again.

Ignore gauge and type. Turntables not allowed. Bonus points for the terminus/platform with the very shortest distance.

 

[Magdalia]

E.g. KGX 7, up to Newcastle, round the loop there, back down the ECML again. You could also do Leeds 6, Staleybridge then round Guide Bridge/Ashton back to Leeds again.

Much shorter is Grantham-Sleaford-Spalding.

Liverpool Street has Stowmarket-Bury St Edmunds-Cambridge.

South of the river there are examples that have passenger trains such as the Hounslow, Kingston and Sutton loops, and on the North Kent lines towards Dartford.

 

[swidnod]

Conway Park or Birkenhead Central on the Wirral (via the Loop line via Liverpool Central)
Kennington on the Northern line via the stock loop.

Later
Swidnod

 

[mathstrains19]

Conway Park or Birkenhead Central on the Wirral (via the Loop line via Liverpool Central)
Kennington on the Northern line via the stock loop.

Later
Swidnod

Can make that shorter to use Hamilton Square (either platform towards the Wirral) as I believe there's a crossover just into the tunnel towards James Street

 

[swidnod]

Can make that shorter to use Hamilton Square (either platform towards the Wirral) as I believe there's a crossover just into the tunnel towards James Street

You could probably shorten even further to James St - James St round the loop!!

 

[mathstrains19]

You could probably shorten even further to James St - James St round the loop!!

As it needs to be same platform to same platform, I don't think that is quite possible due to the track layout

 

[Magdalia]

If I am reading the OP correctly, there is an important constraint that the train should arrive in the same platform from which it departed.

This might rule out the Kingston loop.

An interesting sub plot is terminal stations where it is impossible to go round a loop and arrive back in the same platform. A few candidates here are Sheringham, Chingford, Looe and St Ives.

 

[Dr Hoo]

The Cathcart Circle from the terminal platforms of Glasgow Central (a proper Network Rail station) is a good shout.

 

[swidnod]

As it needs to be same platform to same platform, I don't think that is quite possible due to the track layout

Ahh...I didn't clock the criteria of A) the same platform, and B) a NR Terminus...that would rule out both of my options!!

 

[mathstrains19]

If I am reading the OP correctly, there is an important constraint that the train should arrive in the same platform from which it departed.

This might rule out the Kingston loop.

Think Kingston Loop would be fine, as while ordinary passenger trains will never go from the same platforms, I believe there are the crossovers to allow them to go from say Waterloo 19 - Wimbledon - Kingston - Richmond - Waterloo 19

 

[greatkingrat]

Meridian Water via Stratford and Lea Jn

 

[A S Leib]

Kings Norton platform 4 via University, Birmingham New Street and Camp Hill.

Edit: noticed the "terminal", so Redditch to Redditch via Birmingham.

 

[cjw714]

If I've understood this correctly you can go from the bay platform (2) at Exeter St David's to Temple Meads and Westbury and then back to St David's. If we not being strict about a terminus platform you can shorten the journey by starting and ending at one of the through platforms at Taunton but I don't think you can get back to the bay platform (6) from Westbury.

 

[growse]

If I am reading the OP correctly, there is an important constraint that the train should arrive in the same platform from which it departed.

This might rule out the Kingston loop.

An interesting sub plot is terminal stations where it is impossible to go round a loop and arrive back in the same platform. A few candidates here are Sheringham, Chingford, Looe and St Ives.

Same platform

I've been trying to do the bay at Huddersfield. Assuming you go via Sheffield then through the hope valley and get to manc, can you get round a loop there to get back onto Hope valley going the other way?

 

[JohnRegular]

Bristol Temple Meads P1 has a nice short route via Avonmouth and Filton - I understand this route was being considered for a passenger service at one point.

From Swindon P2 you can have a lovely tour via Bath and Bristol Parkway taking in the Rhubarb Curve en route.

 

[supervalkoinen]

Rock Ferry - platform 3?

 

[mathstrains19]

Same platform

I've been trying to do the bay at Huddersfield. Assuming you go via Sheffield then through the hope valley and get to manc, can you get round a loop there to get back onto Hope valley going the other way?

If you've come from the Hope Valley, head up to Stockport, then along to Stalybridge and into Huddersfield should work

 

[DanNCL]

Newcastle P1 you can go via the Blyth & Tyne to Morpeth and back via the ECML (or vice versa) and that’ll turn the train.

Newcastle P9/10/11 you can go via the ECML to Ferryhill, the Stillington line to Norton and then back to Newcastle via the Durham Coast and that’ll turn the train.

On the Tyne & Wear Metro from Newcastle Airport you can take the Gosforth depot avoiding line to access the North Tyneside Loop, then the empty stock line from Manors to Jesmond and return to the Airport, that’ll turn the train.

Noting that we can “ignore gauge and type” I’m also going to suggest South Hylton, by turning the train around on the bridges in Newcastle. Although that obviously can’t be done by a Metro unit and would have to be done by mainline stock.

 

[Bob55G]

If you've come from the Hope Valley, head up to Stockport, then along to Stalybridge and into Huddersfield should work

Assuming that you leave from and arrive at Huddersfield Platform 4. There isn't access to the bay (P2) for trains arriving from the main line.
On a similar theme, Stalybridge bay platform 2 - Manchester Victoria - Manchester Piccadilly - Stalybridge P2.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Same platform

I've been trying to do the bay at Huddersfield. Assuming you go via Sheffield then through the hope valley and get to manc, can you get round a loop there to get back onto Hope valley going the other way?

There's no access to the Sheffield bay from the Manchester direction, unfortunately. There's a crossover from P1 to the Sheffield line but not from P2 to/from the main line. You'd have to go out and back via Lockwood.

From platforms 5 or 6 at Huddersfield (until they're decommissioned) you could go via Bradley chord, Copy Pit, Preston, Carnforth, Bentham, Bingley, Whitehall curve, Woodlesford, Wakefield Kirkgate and Healey Mills back to Huddersfield. A far shorter route is stymied by the lack of a Bradford Cross-city rail link, but that's the only problem it would solve!

 

[InkyScrolls]

Leeds P8 via Harrogate, York and Church Fenton.

 

[growse]

Now I'm wondering what the longest "shortest" route is.

 

[RobertsN]

Salisbury P6 -> Romsey -> Eastleigh -> Southampton Central -> Romsey -> Salisbury P6

 

[The exile]

Now I'm wondering what the longest "shortest" route is.

Wick must surely be in contention! You’d need to get down to somewhere in the central belt and go via Aberdeen in one direction.

 

[Cricketer8for9]

Victoria platform 12, Stewart’s Lane, Herne Hill, Tulse Hill, Leigham Spur, Balham, Victoria platform 12.

Or London Bridge New Cross Gate, Sydenham, West Norwood, Tulse Hill London Bridge.

 

[Magdalia]

An interesting sub plot is terminal stations where it is impossible to go round a loop and arrive back in the same platform. A few candidates here are Sheringham, Chingford, Looe and St Ives.

Wick must surely be in contention! You’d need to get down to somewhere in the central belt and go via Aberdeen in one direction.

Which reminds me to add Thurso to the impossible category.

 

[Cricketer8for9]

Meridian Water via Stratford and Lea Jn

Is it a terminal station. I know trains terminate, but do they terminate on a through line?

 

[Magdalia]

Is it a terminal station. I know trains terminate, but do they terminate on a through line?

No. Meridian Water is a long siding that starts at Lea Bridge.

 

[growse]

For Penzance, you have to turn around via Taunton/Bristol/Westbury.

 

[Haywain]

Wick must surely be in contention! You’d need to get down to somewhere in the central belt and go via Aberdeen in one direction.

That wouldn't be necessary. Out and back via the Highland main line would do it.

For Penzance, you have to turn around via Taunton/Bristol/Westbury.

It could be done at Bristol, excluding Westbury.

Now I'm wondering what the longest "shortest" route is.

From Pwllheli, you'd need to go most of the way to Birmingham and back.