The Bristol Railway Archive

This has been bugging me for ages. Catching a train from platform 13 tonight reminded me to post a message. So, anyone know the answer? The platform 13/15 island is also different from the others because each platform face only has one number rather than a different number at each end (rather than, say, 3/4 where 3 is the north end and 4 the south end). Is that because 13 and 15 are too short to accommodate two trains at once? Answers on a postcard...

I think you have answered your own question - the island platform is of insufficient length to accommodate two trains at once hence just the one number for each platform face.

What I could never understand is why they installed buffers at the end of platform 13 making it it a terminal platform when the installation of a couple more yards of track and a point would have made the layout a lot more flexible should a problem affect platform 15. I imagine this was probably an accoutant's decision!!!

Thanks for that...that explains why 13 and 15 only have one number each. But I still don't understand why they didn't number them 13 and 14 when they were reinstated a few years ago!

I would imagine that the logic for numbering them 13 and 15 is to maintain the use of odd numbers at the east end of the station, with even numbers being used at the west end where used.

From memory I provided the answer to this question in a previous post a while ago.
BTM did have a platform 14.
It was situated in the old station,
Platforms 12 and 13 were on the side nearest the main station entrance and platforms14 and 15 were on the side nearest to now long gone parcels, goods depots.
Platform 14 was joined to 15 and was the nearest of the two to the main line.

Dave Nailsea.

When i was in the TM pilot link the last job of the night turn a Dr Days pilot was to propel 10 or 12 coaches into platforms 15 and 14 which leading into 15 was the first Weymouth service and the 5 10 am to Avonmouth double headed with 2 55xx class locos,one of them to work the first train from Avonmouth the stock already at Avonmouth. quite a few of the Avonmouth trains departed from platform 14.

Temple Meads was completely renumbered - in the 80's I think. The platforms being discussed were 1 and 2 and added in the 1930's (presumably everything was renumbered then, too).

The main Up platform (now 3) was 9 and 12-15 were in the old station.

The Platforms at BTM were renumbered in March 1970 following the introduction of the new signalling system etc.

Dave Nailsea

Presumably 14 was left out to enable 13 to be turned back into a through line double-platform if needed.

As Roger said it's the keep the odd numbers at the East end. There isn't really a platform 2 is there?

Alex

stumpytrain wrote: There isn't really a platform 2 is there?

There is a platform 2. It's the bay platform off of platform 4 where the mail trains used to be stationed. The sign for platform 2 was put back there in 2003, and it's still there now. But surprisingly the platform is still not in use for passenger services. Don't know why. As it would make perfect sense to use the platform for terminating services from Weston Super Mare or Taunton for instance, rather than one of the through platforms.

Platform 2 is in Network Rail's business plan for this year to restore to passenger use. I think at present it's not signalled sufficiently or the track is knackered - but I do see units stabled there from time to time.

Dare I say it, it would also be an excellent platform to terminate services from Portishead too!!! We live in hope ....

Looking at the Quail track plans, there is no direct way out of platform 2 - it lead into the Up Relief which is only signalled in the up direction. An additional crossover would be needed to bring it into use.

Well it depends on how you define a platform, personally I don't think platform 2 at Bristol "counts" as it's not available for passenger trains. Taunton has 6 platforms, but only 5 can be used so I'd say it only has 5. They're planning on returning the bay at Weston to passenger use, perhaps they could save money by sticking a sign up instead?

Movements in/out of Platform 2/Motorail/Fish Dock are achieved by reversing in Pyle Hill sidings just west of Bath Road bridge and currently both P2/MR are used daily for stabling units.

With regards to terminating up trains, there are now none during the day (and only a couple in the evening). The Tauntons run through to Gloucester and beyond, and the Westons now run to Filton Abbey Wood. It would be more useful (if the panel wasn't in the way) to lengthen Platform 1, and create a platform 0 in the Digby Wyatt trainshed for XC use and Avonmouth trains.

Alex