Bristol Temple Meads - Platform 14

[James]

You will never catch a train from platform 14, mainly because it doesn't exist! At the end of the underpass you go left to platform 13 and right to platform 15...why is this? Superstition can result in missing #13s in various places (inc a modern housing estate near me!), but why no 14?

[Graham]

I have no idea why this is! I didn't even know there was a platform 2 until I spotted it hidden away behind plat 4 just last week when changing at BTM. Anyone know if this one was ever for passenger use and if it will ever be again?

Maybe they just wanted a nice-looking number - 15 sounds better than 14! On the other hand, they might be reserving 14 so they can spit plat 13 and 15 into two sometime in the future if demand grows for BTM. Then they'd have 13-14 and 15-16...or maybe I'm just rambling again!

[madhattie]

I think this is to do with the length of the platforms.

When a train approaches from the London end the driver gets a platform number on the signal gantry as well as a signal aspect.

Now, the platforms at TM are long enough for two trains to occupy them at any one time and the platforms are separated in the middle by a blue cross type signal. (called a St Andrews Cross)

If the platform numbers are odd at the London end the driver can only proceed up the platform as far as the blue cross. If the number is even the driver can proceed the full length of platform.

So my guess would be that the far platform is worked differently and no trains are allowed to proceed the full length of the platform, possibly because if you take a look you will see that only one line is a through line, the other terminates.

All the above is just a guess though

[Roger Porch]

You will never catch a train from platform 14, mainly because it doesn't exist! At the end of the underpass you go left to platform 13 and right to platform 15...why is this? Superstition can result in missing #13s in various places (inc a modern housing estate near me!), but why no 14?

The reason for an absence of platform 14 is that the platforms are given odd numbers from north to south at the east end of the station (1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15) and the even numbers are used for the west end longer platforms which are mostly split midway (2,4,6,8,10,12).

Hope this helps.

[Injector]

Hi there
When I was a fireman on the Severn beach run the train left Bristol T.M from platform 14
Now you may be forgiven for thinking that someone has stolen it but in fact it is still there
If you go into the old station the wooden platform on the far side was platform 14

In my day if you walked in the entrance the first platform you came to the one where the mail conveyor starts was platform 9 now I think it's platform 4 (Not to sure about that) but that's how it was back in the 1950s

Hope that helps with the missing Platform

[Andrew]

I didn't even know there was a platform 2 until I spotted it hidden away behind plat 4 just last week when changing at BTM. Anyone know if this one was ever for passenger use and if it will ever be again?

I may be wrong, but was what is now platform 2 (can't remember what it was pre-renumbering in 1970) used by Portishead branch trains? I can certainly not remember it being used for passengers at least from the late 60's.

[Bartonhillbum]

Good Afternoon
Re platform 2. In the 70s I used to go to Glasgow, twice a week on the 9.15 sleeper, and travel back the next night (having driven Glasgow/Fort Willaim/Oban out as far as Holy Loch sometimes).
I used to drive my car into the station via the small metal gate that led direct onto the end of platfrom 2 where the covered wagons were waiting to join the sleeper train. I finished travelling so far in about 1975/77 I cannot remember for sure without digging out the diaries. So I am not sure what year the service finished, it was a great nightly service though - many memories,

PJM

[DAVE]

Injector is perfectly correct with his location of platform 14.
It was situated in the old Brunel/LMS STATION AT btm.
The platforms were numbered 12 and 13 nearest the approach road side of the old terminus. Platform 12 being nearest to the end of platform 9[The main platform as you enter the station.]Platform 13 was directly behind and "joined to 12.
PLATFORM 14 was on the opposite side nearest the main line and the old goods yards.Platform15 was directly behind and joined to 14.
I can remember these platforms in the LMS days in the late fifties early sixties and many a happy hour was spent wandering the old wooden platforms in this "station".
Hope this clarifies the original question.

Dave Nailsea

[DAVE]

Just in case I have caused a little confusion.
In my previous posting RE. PLATFORM 14 I mentioned platform 9 being the main platform as you entered the station.
This was indeed the case until March 1970 when platform renumbering took place following the total resignalling of the BTM area.
Platforms 9 and 10 became 3 and 4 as they are today!

Dave Nailsea