82-832: The Widened Lines (also known as the City Widened Lines ; formerly known as the Moorgate line ) is a double-track railway line forming part of the Thameslink route between St Pancras and Farringdon within Central London . For most of their life the Widened Lines ran from King's Cross to Moorgate , and were completed in 1866 when the Metropolitan Railway was widened from two to four tracks between King's Cross and Farringdon (hence
164-576: A single-track railway where trains in both directions share the same track. In the earliest days of railways in the United Kingdom, most lines were built as double-track because of the difficulty of co-ordinating operations before the invention of the telegraph . The lines also tended to be busy enough to be beyond the capacity of a single track. In the early days the Board of Trade did not consider any single-track railway line to be complete. In
246-550: A spiral . At Saunderton , England, what became the London-to-Birmingham main line of the Great Western Railway in 1909 was initially part of a single-track branch line from Maidenhead . Down trains follow the route of the old branch line, while up trains follow a more gently graded new construction through a tunnel. This scheme avoided the cost of a new double-track tunnel. Directional running
328-585: A GNR freight train on 27 January 1868, entered a second Clerkenwell tunnel before dropping at a gradient of 1 in 100, passing under the Ray Street Gridiron carrying the original Met track before ascending a 1 in 40 slope to Farringdon. A plan was developed to extend the City Widened Lines to Euston, but this was aborted and never completed. On 1 January 1866, LC&DR and GNR joint services from Blackfriars Bridge began operating on to
410-416: A double line might have to be shut down to avoid collisions with trains on those adjacent tracks. These are a form of crossing loop, but are long enough to allow trains approaching each other from opposite directions on single-track lines to cross (or pass) each other without reducing speed. In order for passing lanes to operate safely and effectively, trains must be timetabled so that they arrive at and enter
492-645: A double-track tunnel and joining the Widened Lines at Midland Junction. A tunnel was built west of Midland Junction with the intent of quadrupling all the way to Paddington, but was not used until 1926. Initially services ran from the Tottenham & Hampstead Junction line to Moorgate and Victoria. From 1 July 1875 the Midland ran services from Hendon and South Tottenham to Victoria, the LC&;DR between Victoria and Hendon. On 1 September 1871, an eastern curve from
574-526: A horseshoe curve at 1 in 75 gradient, while the shorter downhill track follows the original single track at 1 in 40 grades. A similar arrangement to Frampton could not be adopted between Rydal and Sodwalls on the Main Western railway line because the 1 in 75 uphill track is on the wrong side of the 1 in 40 downhill track, so both tracks follow the 1 in 75 grade. Another example is at Gunning . Between Junee and Marinna, New South Wales , Australia
656-627: A major bottleneck. For Berlin Stadtbahn the two northern tracks are local S-Bahn and the two other for faster trains. The most notable example of quadruple track in the United States, and perhaps the only four-track section of mainline therein, was the Pennsylvania Railroad 's main corridor through the heart of Pennsylvania around the famous Horseshoe Curve . This line is now owned by Norfolk Southern. Other examples include
738-596: A second tunnel. An exception is the Hoosac Tunnel , which was duplicated by enlarging the bore. To reduce initial costs of a line that is certain to see heavy traffic in the future, a line may be built as single-track but with earthworks and structures designed for ready duplication. An example is the Strathfield to Hamilton line in New South Wales , which was constructed as mainly single-track in
820-565: A third track signalled in both directions, so that two tracks are available in the peak direction during rush hours. Triple track is used in some parts of the New York City Subway and on the Norristown High-Speed Line to add supplemental rush-hour services. The center track, which serves express trains, is signalled in both directions to allow two tracks to be used in the peak direction during rush hours;
902-412: A third track was opened between Whittingham and Branxton in 2011 and Branxton to Maitland in 2012 to equalize the headway in both directions for heavy coal traffic. Triple track could be a compromise between double-track and quad-track ; such a system was proposed south of Stockholm Central Station , but was cancelled in favor of Citybanan . In Melbourne and Brisbane several double track lines have
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#1732772613939984-428: A train failure, or for a fast train to overtake a slow train. Most crossing loops are not regarded as double-track even though they consist of multiple tracks. If the crossing loop is long enough to hold several trains, and to allow opposing trains to cross without slowing down or stopping, then that may be regarded as double-track. A more modern British term for such a layout is an extended loop. The distance between
1066-555: Is also served by a night service between Bedford and Three Bridges on Sunday to Friday nights. From March 2009, Southeastern and Thameslink began running some peak hour trains from Sevenoaks to Luton, though in the off-peak these services turn back at Kentish Town. In 2017 the London Assembly and Transport for London published a plan to extend the London Overground network to Hendon. The scheme, known as
1148-415: Is an example of a duplication line that was reduced to single-track in most locations, but has since undergone re-duplication in many places between Baltimore and Philadelphia when CSX increased freight schedules in the late 1990s. Also: Some lines are built as single-track with provision for duplication, but the duplication is never carried out. Examples are: When the capacity of a double-track railway
1230-979: Is called duplication or doubling , unless the expansion is to restore what was previously double track, in which case it is called redoubling . The strongest evidence that a line was built as single-track and duplicated at a later date consists of major structures such as bridges and tunnels that are twinned. One example is the twin Slade tunnels on the Ilfracombe Branch Line in the UK. Twinned structures may be identical in appearance, or like some tunnels between Adelaide and Belair in South Australia , substantially different in appearance, being built to different structure gauges . Tunnels are confined spaces and are difficult to duplicate while trains keep on running. Generally they are duplicated by building
1312-487: Is in excess of requirements, the two tracks may be reduced to one, in order to reduce maintenance costs and property taxes. In some countries this is called singling . Notable examples of this in the United Kingdom occurred on the Oxford–Worcester–Hereford, Princes Risborough–Banbury and Salisbury–Exeter main lines during the 1970s and 1980s. In all these cases, increases in traffic from the late 1990s have led to
1394-526: Is on Station Road in West Hendon , above the M1 motorway, about 1 km from Hendon Central. All services at Hendon are operated by Thameslink using Class 700 EMUs . The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is: During the peak hours, the station is served by additional services to and from Luton , Orpington and Rainham , as well as some late evening services to and from Bedford . The station
1476-515: Is quadruple tracked in most portions south of New Haven, but also has a few triple-track segments. The Metra Electric District is quadruple-tracked on most of the main line north of Kensington/115th Street station , with local trains running in the center two tracks, and express trains on the outer two tracks. Outside the United States the Chūō Main Line is an example of a modern, heavily utilized urban quadruple track railway. Quadruple track
1558-557: Is two separate lines operationally combined to act as a double-track line by converting each line to unidirectional traffic. An example is in central Nevada , where the Western Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroads , longtime rivals who each built and operated tracks between northern California and Utah , agreed to share their lines between meeting points near Winnemucca and Wells , a distance of approximately 180 miles (290 km). Westbound trains from both companies used
1640-602: Is used in rapid transit systems as well: throughout the New York City Subway , the Chicago "L" 's North Side Main Line , and SEPTA 's Broad Street Line in the United States, and on the London Underground in the United Kingdom. The two tracks of a double-track railway do not have to follow the same alignment if the terrain is difficult. At Frampton, New South Wales , Australia, the uphill track follows something of
1722-655: The California Zephyr along these routes. Hendon railway station Hendon railway station is a National Rail station on the Midland Main Line in England, in West Hendon in the London Borough of Barnet , north London. It is 6 miles 79 chains (11.2 km) down the line from St Pancras and is situated between Brent Cross West to the south and Mill Hill Broadway to
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#17327726139391804-681: The Boyne Viaduct , a bridge just north of Drogheda railway station in Ireland ). The bridge over the Murray River between Albury and Wodonga is double-track, but because of insufficient strength in the bridge only one train is allowed on it at a time. The bridge has since been singled as part of the North East Line Standardisation with the old broad gauge track now disconnected but remains in place on
1886-558: The Canadian National main line in the Greater Toronto Area and Southern Ontario are triple track to facilitate high traffic density of freight services, intercity , and suburban passenger trains sharing the same lines. India, through its state-owned Indian Railways, has initiated the construction of a third track between Jhansi and Nagpur via Bhopal (approximately 590 kilometres (370 miles)) for reducing
1968-584: The Hudson and New Haven Lines, both of which are shared between Metro-North and Amtrak in New York and Connecticut. The New Haven Line is quadruple track along its entire length, while the Hudson Line is only quadruple tracked along the shared portion from Riverdale to Croton–Harmon and along the shared track from Grand Central Terminal to Yankees–East 153rd Street . Amtrak 's Northeast Corridor
2050-672: The Main Western Railway between Wallerawang and Tarana , and between Gresham and Newbridge were singled in the 1990s. A new passing loop was opened on part of the closed track at Rydal in the Wallerawang–Tarana section during 2019. A double-track tunnel with restricted clearances is sometimes singled to form a single track tunnel with more generous clearances, such as the Connaught Tunnel in Canada or
2132-526: The Metropolitan Railway (also known as the Met) opened the world's first underground railway. From Paddington the line was built using the " cut-and-cover " method beneath the New Road , connecting the main-line railway termini at Paddington , Euston and King's Cross , then followed Farringdon Road in tunnel and cutting to a station at Farringdon Street near Smithfield , near the capital's financial heart in
2214-532: The West London Orbital envisages re-opening the Dudding Hill freight line to passenger services and running trains from West Hampstead Thameslink and Hendon to Hounslow via the planned Old Oak Common Lane station. The plans are currently at public consultation stage with TfL. London Buses routes 83 , 183 , SL10 , school routes 653 and 683 and night routes N5 and N83 serve
2296-450: The signalling systems, especially where the signalling is mechanical (e.g. semaphore signals ). Where the signals and points (UK term) or rail switches (US) are power-operated, it can be worthwhile to provide signals for each line which cater for movement in either direction, so that the double line becomes a pair of single lines. This allows trains to use one track where the other track is out of service due to track maintenance work, or
2378-652: The widened name) and a four-track railway opened from there to Moorgate. The tracks were owned by the Metropolitan Railway but were used mainly by other railway companies. Connections to the Great Northern Railway (GNR) at King's Cross and London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LC&DR) at Farringdon allowed cross-London services to run. There was very soon a connection to the Midland Railway at St Pancras, near King's Cross. In
2460-636: The "northern" companies, mainly the MR and GNR, which enabled them to take control of the whole transit of the coal from colliery to local distributor. These depots were served by dedicated workings from the yards on the MR and GNR - latterly Brent Sidings and Ferme Park – via the Widened Lines and running powers established at various dates. Further details can be found in an article by Edwin Course in Railway Magazine . In 1877, there were 58 daily trips from
2542-426: The 1880s, with full duplication completed around 1910. All bridges, tunnels, stations, and earthworks were built for double track. Stations with platforms with 11-foot (3.4 m) centres had to be widened later to 12-foot (3.7 m) centres, except for Gosford . The former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) line between Baltimore and Jersey City , now owned by CSX and Conrail Shared Assets Operations ,
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2624-482: The 1960s. In 1976 the former GNR services were diverted at Finsbury Park via the Northern City Line to Moorgate, and York Road station and the curves into King's Cross closed. In 1978, work started on electrification of the Widened Lines from St Pancras to Moorgate as part of the "Bedpan" line, an electric service between Bedford and Moorgate, opening on 15 July 1983. King's Cross Widened Lines station
2706-647: The City . The service was initially provided by gas-lit wooden carriages hauled by steam locomotives. With connections to the Great Western Railway (GWR) and GNR under construction and connections to the Midland Railway and the LC&DR planned, the Met obtained permission in 1861 and 1864 for a four-track eastward extension to a new terminus at Moorgate and two additional tracks from King's Cross to Farringdon Street. The Met used two tracks for its own services, while
2788-573: The GNR. The writer Andrew Martin claims that, by the end of the 19th century, a continental passenger service linked Liverpool with Paris via the Widened Lines. Trains departed at 08:00 and arrived in Paris by 22:50, the passengers having transferred at Folkestone to a steamer across the Channel . In the early 20th century, competition from the electric underground railways and electric trams meant that
2870-469: The GWR. The GNR opened its depot on 2 November 1874, the Midland followed with its Whitecross depot on 1 January 1878. Finally the Met opened its depot at Vine Street in 1909, serviced by electric locomotives from West Hampstead The GNR goods depot closed on 15 January 1956 and Smithfield Market was last served by train on 28 July 1962. Following Great Britain's declaration of war on Germany on 4 August 1914 until
2952-563: The MR over the Widened Lines their own South London depots and to the LB&;SCR, LCDR and SER destinations mentioned above. There must have been a similar number of workings from the GNR, details of which can be found in the working timetables at the National Archives. Train loads were restricted through the tunnel section, and there was little scope for running longer and fewer trains. More paths were available for goods trains after
3034-460: The Met via the Snow Hill tunnel under Smithfield market to Farringdon and northwards on to the GNR. From 3 January 1866 GNR services ran to Ludgate Hill and LC&DR services ran to Farringdon Street. The Midland Railway junction opened on 13 July 1868 when services ran into Moorgate Street before St Pancras station opened. The line left the Midland main line at St Paul's Road Junction, entering
3116-567: The North and South Western Junction Railway was more convenient, especially after the marshalling was done at Brent Sidings. The extensive marshalling yard at Hither Green SER was opened in 1899, while a new yard opened at Feltham on the LSWR in 1917-21 largely replaced that company's existing yards. The overall picture was further complicated by the establishment of coal depots in South London by
3198-695: The SER and GNR service was withdrawn on 30 April 1907, the GNR and LCDR service in September 1907 and the Midland and LCDR service in June 1908. Passenger services across London through Snow Hill railway station and Snow Hill tunnel were withdrawn in 1916. From 1 January 1908, electric locomotives were exchanged for steam locomotives on passenger trains at Paddington, and GWR services continued to run until 1939. The former GNR and Midland services continued to run to Moorgate, DMUs and diesel locomotives replacing steam in
3280-467: The Snow Hill line was opened and the LC&DR diverted its Victoria to Farringdon service to Moorgate. This started at 80 trains per day, declining to 48 by 1913. The South Eastern Railway (SER) built a connection with the LC&DR at Blackfriars Bridge . From 1 June 1878, the GNR ran six trains a day to Woolwich Arsenal and from 1 August 1880 the SER ran to Enfield and Muswell Hill on behalf of
3362-579: The South of England could receive goods from places in northern parts. Places in the South were also able to order coal from collieries in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire, as well as other coalfields, to be conveyed to destination by rail. Such traffic had to cross London from North to South. There was also a certain amount of traffic in the opposite direction, as well as returned empty coal wagons. The MR and GNR already having connections with
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3444-734: The Southern Pacific's Overland Route , and eastbound trains used the Western Pacific's Feather River Route (now called the Central Corridor ). Crossovers were constructed where the lines ran in close proximity to allow reverse movements. This was necessary as while for most of this run the tracks straddle opposite sides of the Humboldt River , at points the two tracks are several miles apart and some destinations and branch lines can only be accessed from one of
3526-589: The Thames received the cross-London traffic at places such as Battersea Wharf and Norwood Junction on the LB&SCR, Herne Hill on the LCDR and Bricklayers Arms on the SER. Traffic from GNR to LSWR used the Widened Lines to Clapham Junction or Brentford , or the North London and North and South Western Junction Railways, according to destination, but for traffic from MR to LSWR the route via Acton Wells Junction and
3608-522: The Thames were separated and made into a separate train to run across London to another group of sidings where they could be resorted according to final destination. Originally small groups of sidings were used, such as Kentish Town and West Hampstead on the MR, Holloway and Finsbury Park on the GNR. In the later part of the nineteenth century the amount of traffic outstripped the capacity of such places, and huge new marshalling yards were constructed at Brent Sidings MR and Ferme Park GNR. The companies south of
3690-551: The Tickhole Tunnel in New South Wales , Australia. In the case of the Tickhole Tunnel a new single-track tunnel was built and the two tracks in the original tunnel were replaced by one track in the centreline of the tunnel. Another case where this was necessary was the Hastings Line in the United Kingdom, where the tunnels were eventually singled to permit the passage of standard British-gauge rolling stock. Before
3772-496: The Widened Lines between the northern and southern railways. This was despite major physical constraints that affected the use of the route and imposed restrictions on the nature and extent of the traffic that could pass over it. The most important were the severe gradients, particularly where the lines crossed each other between King's Cross and Farringdon, and loading gauge restrictions, which prevented ambulance trains and wagons conveying goods of exceptional width and height from using
3854-727: The Widened Lines, it became convenient to use the route to transfer wagons of goods and coal to the Southern companies. By comparison, the LNWR and GWR used the route via the West London Railway, and the GER used the East London Railway. The method adopted was to run trains from the north to a place on the outskirts of London where there were sidings where the train could be broken up. The wagons destined for places south of
3936-588: The bridge. Railways that become especially busy in wartime and are duplicated, especially in World War I, may revert to single track when peace returns and the extra capacity is no longer required. The Flanders campaign saw duplication of the Hazebrouck – Ypres line, amongst other works. Severe gradients can make the headway in the uphill direction much worse than the headway in the downhill direction. Between Whittingham and Maitland, New South Wales ,
4018-528: The broad gauge declined, the lines were converted to bi-directional double track 1,435 mm ( 4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ) gauge lines. Quadruple track consists of four parallel tracks. On a quad-track line, faster trains can overtake slower ones. Quadruple track is mostly used when there are "local" trains that stop often (or slow freight trains), and also faster inter-city or high-speed "express" trains. It can also be used in commuter rail or rapid transit . The layout can vary, often with
4100-452: The cessation of passenger services in 1916. Freight traffic continued and was of considerable importance in both World Wars. With the decline of wagonload freight traffic from the 1960s and the National Freight Train Plan of 1968, more use was made of the West London Line, allowing the Widened Lines to be abandoned for such traffic. Goods depots opened near Farringdon on the Widened Lines. Smithfield Market Sidings opened 1 May 1869, serviced by
4182-403: The choice of which side the driver should sit is less important. For example, the French SNCF Class BB 7200 is designed to use the left-hand track and therefore uses LHD. When the design was modified for use in the Netherlands as NS Class 1600 , the driving cab was not completely redesigned, keeping the driver on the left even though trains use the right-hand track in the Netherlands. Generally,
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#17327726139394264-400: The classic lines of the former German Alsace and Lorraine), Sweden (apart from Malmö and further south), Switzerland, Italy and Portugal for example, the railways use left-hand running, while the roads use right-hand running. However, there are many exceptions: Handedness of traffic can affect locomotive design. For the driver, visibility is usually good from both sides of the driving cab, so
4346-438: The different tracks is called the "six foot". It is not safe to stand in the gap between the tracks when trains pass by on both lines, as happened in the Bere Ferrers accident of 1917. When one track of a double-track railway is out of service for maintenance or a train breaks down, all trains may be concentrated on the one usable track. There may be bi-directional signalling and suitable crossovers to enable trains to move onto
4428-470: The earliest days of railways in the United States most lines were built as single-track for reasons of cost, and very inefficient timetable working systems were used to prevent head-on collisions on single lines. This improved with the development of the telegraph and the train order system. In any given country, rail traffic generally runs to one side of a double-track line, not always the same side as road traffic. Thus in Belgium, China, France (apart from
4510-424: The early 20th century competition led to the cross-London services being withdrawn, although the GNR and Midland services into Moorgate survived. The former GNR services were diverted via the Northern City Line to Moorgate in 1976, and in 1988 the cross-London route reopened for Thameslink . The line east of Farringdon closed in 2009 to allow the platforms at Farringdon to be extended to take 12-car trains. In 1863,
4592-421: The end of the World War I , the Widened Lines assumed a role of great strategic importance for through railway communications, the more so as the bulk of the naval and military traffic was required to travel between North and South. The route formed a vital link between the English Channel ports and the railways to the north of London for the movement of troops and freight. The number of troop trains dealt with from
4674-446: The last four were cancelled because the first two proved ill-suited to the route because of their long rigid wheelbase. For passenger services, "120 class" 0-4-4T locomotives 621-628 (built 1872) were used. These had inconspicuous condensing apparatus with the pipework hidden from view. For freight working, the GWR used 633 Class 0-6-0 T locomotives 643 and 644 built at Wolverhampton railway works in 1871–1872. Four other members of
4756-517: The left/right principle in a country is followed mostly on double track. On steam trains, the steam boiler often obscured some of the view, so the driver was preferably placed nearest to the side of the railway, so that it was easier to see the signals. On single track, when trains meet, the train that does not stop often uses the straight path in the turnout, which can be left or right. Double-track railways, especially older ones, may use each track exclusively in one direction. This arrangement simplifies
4838-490: The length and width of trains is contingent on the minimum railway curve radius of the railway. Increasing the width of track centres of 6 metres (20 ft) or more makes it much easier to mount signals and overhead wiring structures. Very widely spaced centres at major bridges can have military value. It also makes it harder for rogue ships and barges to knock out both bridges in the same accident. Railway lines in desert areas affected by sand dunes are sometimes built with
4920-423: The lines. There is a grade separated crossover of the two lines in the shared track area near Palisade, Nevada , which results in trains following right hand traffic in the eastern half of the shared track area, but left hand traffic in the western half. The Union Pacific Railroad has since acquired both of these lines, and continues to operate them as separate lines using directional running. Amtrak also runs
5002-406: The local train stations, the express trains can pass through the station at full speed. For example on the Nuremberg-Bamberg railway , which is quadruple track for most of its course, the inner two tracks are used by the S-Bahn Nuremberg whereas the outer tracks are used for regional express and Intercity Express trains. The section in northern Fürth where the line is "only" double track creates
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#17327726139395084-441: The loop with close time tolerances, otherwise they will need to slow or even be brought to a complete stop to allow the oncoming train to pass. They are suited to lines with light to moderate traffic. An example of where passing lanes have been installed in order to improve travel times and increase line capacity is the 160-kilometre (100-mile) section of the Main Southern railway line in Australia between Junee and Albury . This
5166-489: The north. Its three-letter station code is HEN. The station is served by Thameslink -operated trains on the Thameslink route . It is on the boundary of Travelcard Zone 3 and Zone 4 . It was built by the Midland Railway in 1868 on its extension to St. Pancras. From 1875 the Midland opened a service to Victoria on the London, Chatham and Dover Railway line and received coaches from the London and South Western Railway for attachment to northbound trains. The station
5248-603: The other track expeditiously (such as the Channel Tunnel ), or there may be some kind of manual safeworking to control trains on what is now a section of single track. See single-line working . Accidents can occur if the temporary safeworking system is not implemented properly, as in: From time to time, railways are asked to transport exceptional loads such as massive electrical transformers that are too tall, too wide or too heavy to operate normally. Special measures must be carefully taken to plan successful and safe operation of out-of-gauge trains . For example, adjacent tracks of
5330-469: The other two tracks were used mainly by other railway companies; these collectively became known as the City Widened Lines. A pair of single track tunnels at King's Cross connecting the GNR to the Met came into passenger use on 1 October 1863 when the GNR began running trains, those towards Farringdon Street calling at a single-platform station at King's Cross York Road, in the reverse direction at King's Cross Suburban station. A west curve towards Baker Street
5412-538: The outbreak of war to 25 February 1915 was no fewer than 2,738, the chairman of the Met told a company meeting on the latter date, while during the first fortnight of 1915 the number of goods trains taken over the Widened Lines was 2,935 - an average of 210 a day, not including special military trains for troops and stores and the ordinary local passenger services. Overall, from 5 August 1914 to 31 December 1918, 248,072 long tons (252,100 t) of goods and 26,047 through military specials for personnel or material were run over
5494-442: The outer tracks use bi-directional running and serve local trains exclusively in one direction. During service disruptions on one of the two outer tracks, trains could also bypass the affected sections on the center track. The Union Pacific Railroad mainline through Nebraska has a 108-mile (174 km) stretch of triple track between North Platte and Gibbon Junction, due to a high traffic density of 150 trains per day. Portions of
5576-461: The partial reinstatement of double track. In New Zealand the Melling Line was singled to the Western Hutt Railway Station in Lower Hutt in 1958 after it became a branch line rather than part of the main Hutt Valley Line . Kirkby railway station (until 1977) and Ormskirk railway station (until 1970) were double-track railway, when they were converted into single-track railway with cross-platform interchange . In New South Wales, Australia,
5658-436: The route. Almost from the date of opening of the Widened Lines, the various railway companies supplied their own steam locomotives (mostly fitted with condensing apparatus ). These included: Two 0-8-0 T locomotives from the Avonside Engine Company , delivered in 1866 and numbered 472 and 473. These were designed for hauling coal trains to Farringdon Street and to South London via Snow Hill. Six locomotives were ordered but
5740-464: The same class, 633, 634, 641 and 642, were used later. Four 2-4-0 T locomotives, built by the railway in 1872-1873 using boilers from 4-4-0s that had been acquired in 1860–1861, were used. These rebuilds kept the names of the donor locomotives: Aeolus , Bacchus , Vulcan and Comus . Later, LCDR R class 0-4-4T locomotives were used. Sixteen Beyer, Peacock and Company 4-4-0 T locomotives, delivered 1871-1872 and numbered 2055–2070. These were to
5822-604: The same design as the Metropolitan Railway A Class but had weatherboards at the rear as well as the front. Six Beyer, Peacock & Company 4-4-0T locomotives delivered in 1868 and numbered 204–209. These were to the same design as the Metropolitan Railway A Class. During the 20th century, steam locomotives used on the Widened Lines included: In the diesel locomotive era, Class 23 and Class 31 locomotives were used on passenger trains between King's Cross and Moorgate. Double-track A double-track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to
5904-556: The singling, narrow-bodied stock, specially constructed for the line, had to be used. As part of the Regional Fast Rail project in Victoria, Australia , the rail line between Kyneton and Bendigo was converted from double- to single-track to provide additional clearance through tunnels and under bridges for trains travelling at up to 160 km/h (99 mph). A similar process can be followed on narrow bridges (like
5986-413: The south side of the Thames. On 2 March 1874 Holborn Viaduct opened as a six-platform south-facing terminus. Close by, Snow Hill opened on the through line on 1 August, renamed Holborn Viaduct Low Level in 1912. In 1886 Blackfriars railway station opened, as St Paul's, on the north side of the river replacing Blackfriars Bridge, which closed the same year, renamed Blackfriars in 1937. When through traffic
6068-626: The tracks' centres makes a difference in cost and performance of a double-track line. The track centres can be as closely spaced and as cheap as possible, but maintenance must be done on the side. Signals for bi-directional working cannot be mounted between the tracks, so they must be mounted on the 'wrong' side of the line or on expensive signal bridges . For standard gauge tracks the distance may be 4 metres (13 ft) or less. Track centres are usually further apart on high speed lines, as pressure waves knock each other as high-speed trains pass. Track centres are also usually further apart on sharp curves, and
6150-400: The traffic load and delays in passenger train arrivals. The construction between Bina and Bhopal and between Itarsi and Budhni had been completed by April 2020. The Melbourne to Albury railway originally consisted of separate 1,600 mm ( 5 ft 3 in ) gauge and 1,435 mm ( 4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ) gauge single track lines, but when traffic on
6232-419: The two outer tracks carrying the local trains that stop at every station so one side of stations can be reached without staircase; this can also be reversed, with express trains on the outside and locals on the inside, for example if staffed ticket booths are wanted, allowing one person for both directions. At other places two tracks on one half of the railway carry local trains and the other half faster trains. At
6314-489: The two tracks are at different levels, with the original southbound and downhill track following ground level with a steep gradient, while the newer northbound and uphill track has a gentler gradient at the cost of more cut and fill . At the Bethungra Spiral , Australia, the downhill track follows the original short and steep alignment, while the uphill track follows a longer, more easily graded alignment including
6396-404: The two tracks separated, so that if one is covered by sand, the other(s) are still serviceable. If the standard track centre is changed, it can take a very long time for most or all tracks to be brought into line. On British lines, the space between the two running rails of a single railway track is called the "four foot" (owing to it being 'four foot something' in width), while the space between
6478-410: Was built as a single track line in stages between 1878 and 1881, and was partially duplicated between 2005 and 2010 by the construction of four passing lanes each 6 km (4 mi) long. In this instance, this was accomplished by extending pre-existing crossing loops of either 900 metres (3,000 ft) or 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) in length. The process of expanding a single track to double track
6560-460: Was built but not used for regular traffic, and the track was removed in 1865. Having withdrawn from running Metropolitan services on 10 August, the GWR returned on 1 October 1863 with through trains from such places as Windsor . The extension to Aldersgate Street and Moorgate Street (now Barbican and Moorgate) opened on 23 December 1865, and all four lines were open on 1 March 1866. The parallel tracks from King's Cross to Farringdon, first used by
6642-468: Was renamed King's Cross Midland City, and King's Cross Thameslink in May 1988 when the Snow Hill tunnels reopened for Thameslink . The line from Farringdon to Moorgate closed on 20 March 2009, to allow the platforms at Farringdon be extended to take 12-car trains. When the line opened south of Farringdon, the LC&DR had a station at Ludgate Hill that had opened on 1 June 1865 and Blackfriars Bridge on
6724-569: Was withdrawn in 1916, Holborn Viaduct Low Level closed. Ludgate Hill closed in 1929. After Thameslink services started, in 1990 Holborn Viaduct was replaced by new platforms on the through line, named St Paul's Thameslink (in 1991 renamed City Thameslink ). Railway goods traffic developed in the 1860s and 1870s, by which time almost every station had an associated goods yard. It then became possible to send goods from any station (or siding) in Britain to any other station. In particular, any station in
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