Does anyone happen to know what sort of speed the fastest trains would 
have passed through Midford? Would down and up trains be travelling at 
about the same rate of knots there?

Thanks for any info ...

"Mark Annand"  wrote in message
news:4303aa12$0$5854$4c56ba96@master.news.zetnet.net...

> Does anyone happen to know what sort of speed the fastest trains would
> have passed through Midford? Would down and up trains be travelling at
> about the same rate of knots there?
>

Down trains had a 2.5 mile climb, mostly at 1 in 50, out of Bath up to Combe
Down tunnel, so after crawling up this, they had less than 2 miles, down at
1 in 100, to get up any speed by Midford. This direction had the straight
route from the single to double line. Up trains were restricted to 20 mph
(1931 WTT) over the trailing points from the up to single line, though it is
recorded that there were a number of misses on the Whitaker tablet-exchanger
because of excessive speeds. On occasions, if the tablet was found, it had
to be retrieved from nearby gardens or the roof of the Hope & Anchor.

HTH

Peter

On Wed, 17 Aug 2005 22:20:41 +0100 someone who may be Mark Annand
 wrote this:-


>Does anyone happen to know what sort of speed the fastest trains would 
>have passed through Midford? Would down and up trains be travelling at 
>about the same rate of knots there?


If you watch the opening sequence of "The Titfield Thunderbolt" then
you will get an idea. From memory about 40-50mph.

There was an earlier speed restriction for trains joining the single
line, but this was eased in 1933 and from then I suspect trains in
both directions would be running at similar speeds in both
directions.

Note that (most) goods trains would be running more slowly than
passenger trains, with the possible exception of the occasional
fully fitted fertiliser train. Rushing down S&D gradients with
unfitted trains was not to be recommended unless one wanted to
repeat the experiences of the staff involved in the occasional
crash. Passenger trains stopping at the station would also be
travelling more slowly.

Lastly, trains which had been held at the outer home waiting for
clearance of the single line would not have got up much speed at the
station.


-- 
 David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
 I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
 prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.

"Peter Masson"  wrote in message
news:de0ffp$3ke$1@nwrdmz01.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...

>  Up trains were restricted to 20 mph
> (1931 WTT) over the trailing points from the up to single line,
though it is
> recorded that there were a number of misses on the Whitaker

tablet-exchanger

I searched for 'Whitaker tablet-exchanger', but Google was not my
friend.

Roger

On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 16:03:48 +0100 someone who may be "Roger R"
<telstar461703@clara4co.uk.invalid> wrote this:-


>I searched for 'Whitaker tablet-exchanger', but Google was not my
>friend


Leave out "-exchanger" and
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Whitaker+tablet&meta= comes
up with http://www.sdjr.net/sd_signalling.html (at the bottom of
that page) which has a description and photographs.






-- 
 David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
 I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
 prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.

ISTR seeing a video of Midford clearly showing a 55mph board for the up
direction at the start of the single line section.

Chers

H

"David Hansen"  wrote in message
news:mb99g1lbl3keqvh5rbv9dtabtfeeclp01u@4ax.com...

> On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 16:03:48 +0100 someone who may be "Roger R"
> <telstar461703@clara4co.uk.invalid> wrote this:-
>
> >I searched for 'Whitaker tablet-exchanger', but Google was not my
> >friend
>
> Leave out "-exchanger" and
> http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Whitaker+tablet&meta= comes
> up with http://www.sdjr.net/sd_signalling.html (at the bottom of
> that page) which has a description and photographs.


Thanks, most interesting.

Roger