Keynsham & Somerdale West
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By Peter Chatfield
The layout at Keynsham & Somerdale West shows some classic Western features, and must have been an interesting
place to work. We have signals the ‘wrong' side of the line, in this case including a backing signal with route indicator;
goods running loop; and a plethora of distant signals to permit intensive running.
Keynsham also has my pet favourite: Intermediate Block Signals, in this case with the outer and inner distant repeaters. However, no fewer than three distant signals applied to No 39 Down Main Home, sitting under Keynsham & Somerdale East Box's Down Out Home, Inner Home, and Starting Signal. No 37 enabled local services to start back from the Up Platform, with No 2 Up Main Home obviating the need to obtain a ‘block back' to Fox's Wood for this manoeuvre.
In contrast, acceptance on the Down Main from East Box could not be permitted during shunting moves involving the down sidings.
Incidentally, does anyone know why the facing crossover was at the west of the station: Was there a physical problem or hazard preventing its installation closer to points 37? (Answers on a postage stamp or beer mat please…!) It would be interesting to know about the bell codes used here, for example, whether the “train approaching” code was used.
Our thanks to Peter Chatfield for the first in what we hope will be a regular column in our newsletter.
(Location diagram: Ewan Crawford www.railscot.co.uk)
In a later edition of the Newsletter, the following was published:
In the last issue Peter posed the following question regarding the positioning of crossover 12 at Keynsham & Somerdale West.
"Does anyone know why the facing crossover was at the west of the station: Was there a physical problem or hazard preventing its installation closer to points 37? (Answers on a postage stamp or beer mat please…!)"
Credit to Mr Chris Small who has provided us with an answer, especially considering that there was a typing error in the question which should have read "…closer to points 27"!
"The reason may be to do with the clearing point for accepting trains on the down. How far out was the home signal (no 39)? If the crossover was within the clearing point then, as per rules and regs, the crossover would have to be normal before accepting a train. [In the actual position,] the double overlap protection afforded by the Western would mean that the crossover had to be normal before accepting if it was within the overlap of the platforms starter (no 38)."