Faslane Branch
Encyclopedia
The Faslane Branch was a standard gauge
military
railway built during World War II
to serve "Military Port No.1" at Faslane, west of Glasgow in Scotland.
Latterly, the branch was used to serve the ship breaking
activities at Faslane.
West Highland Railway
at "Faslane Junction", beyond which was a group of exchange sidings
and a locomotive shed. Northwards from here, the single line
crossed a bridge, then was double track
all the way to Faslane Bay.
Near the 1 milepost was the level crossing
at Shandon, where the railway crossed the road leading to Shandon station
on the West Highland Railway. Sprung catch points were installed in the Up (southbound) line just south of the crossing on account of the gradient which fell steeply towards Faslane.
Near the 2 milepost, there was a quarry siding on the east side of the line, and a further set of catch points in both running lines.
A little further north was Belmore Crossing, where the railway crossed the A814 road. A signal box
stood just north of the crossing, on the east side of the line.
The branch line ended at Faslane Bay, where an extensive layout of sidings was provided. The furthest extremity of the branch terminated alongside a platform
.
personnel with the conditions that they would be likely to encounter while serving in Continental Europe
.
, although it continued to be owned by the War Department, and subsequently the Ministry of Defence
. The branch was reduced to single track on 30 May 1946, after which all trains would use the former Down (northbound) line. Catch points were installed in the single line just south of Shandon crossing.
and semaphore signals
at each location were worked from ground frames, with the exception of Belmore, where a signal box
was built to house the lever frame
(comprising 7 levers) and gate wheel. The three block sections were worked by the absolute block
system.
From 1946, the single line was worked on the 'One Train Working' principle, with a train staff
.
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
railway built during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to serve "Military Port No.1" at Faslane, west of Glasgow in Scotland.
Latterly, the branch was used to serve the ship breaking
Ship breaking
Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially...
activities at Faslane.
Route
The Faslane Branch diverged west from the LNER'sLondon and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
West Highland Railway
West Highland Railway
The West Highland Railway was one of the last main lines to be built in Scotland. It is one of the most scenic railway lines in Britain, linking Fort William on the west coast to Glasgow. It was originally operated by the North British Railway.- History :...
at "Faslane Junction", beyond which was a group of exchange sidings
Rail siding
A siding, in rail terminology, is a low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line or branch line or spur. It may connect to through track or to other sidings at either end...
and a locomotive shed. Northwards from here, the single line
Single track (rail)
A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....
crossed a bridge, then was double track
Double track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
all the way to Faslane Bay.
Near the 1 milepost was the level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
at Shandon, where the railway crossed the road leading to Shandon station
Shandon railway station
Shandon is a closed railway station located at Shandon on the east shore of Gare Loch, in Argyll and Bute. It is located towards the southern end of the West Highland Railway.- History :This station opened to passengers on 7 August 1894....
on the West Highland Railway. Sprung catch points were installed in the Up (southbound) line just south of the crossing on account of the gradient which fell steeply towards Faslane.
Near the 2 milepost, there was a quarry siding on the east side of the line, and a further set of catch points in both running lines.
A little further north was Belmore Crossing, where the railway crossed the A814 road. A signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
stood just north of the crossing, on the east side of the line.
The branch line ended at Faslane Bay, where an extensive layout of sidings was provided. The furthest extremity of the branch terminated alongside a platform
Railway platform
A railway platform is a section of pathway, alongside rail tracks at a train station, metro station or tram stop, at which passengers may board or alight from trains or trams. Almost all stations for rail transport have some form of platforms, with larger stations having multiple platforms...
.
Operation
Unusually for a British railway, right-hand running was in force over the double track, to familiarise the War DepartmentWar Department (UK)
The War Department was the United Kingdom government department responsible for the supply of equipment to the armed forces of the United Kingdom and the pursuance of military activity. In 1857 it became the War Office...
personnel with the conditions that they would be likely to encounter while serving in Continental Europe
Continental Europe
Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands....
.
Rationalisation and closure
In April 1946, when Faslane ceased to be military port, the running and maintenance of the branch line was taken over by the LNERLondon and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
, although it continued to be owned by the War Department, and subsequently the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
. The branch was reduced to single track on 30 May 1946, after which all trains would use the former Down (northbound) line. Catch points were installed in the single line just south of Shandon crossing.
Signalling
Originally, the railway had block posts at Faslane Yard, Shandon L.C., Belmore L.C. and Faslane Bay. The pointsRailroad switch
A railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction....
and semaphore signals
Railway semaphore signal
One of the earliest forms of fixed railway signal is the semaphore. These signals display their different indications to train drivers by changing the angle of inclination of a pivoted 'arm'. Semaphore signals were patented in the early 1840s by Joseph James Stevens, and soon became the most...
at each location were worked from ground frames, with the exception of Belmore, where a signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
was built to house the lever frame
Lever frame
Mechanical railway signalling installations rely on lever frames for their operation to interlock the signals and points to allow the safe operation of trains in the area the signals control...
(comprising 7 levers) and gate wheel. The three block sections were worked by the absolute block
British absolute block signalling
The principle of the British absolute block system of railway signalling is to ensure the safe operation of a railway by allowing only one train to occupy a defined section of track at a time...
system.
From 1946, the single line was worked on the 'One Train Working' principle, with a train staff
Token (railway signalling)
In railway signalling, a token is a physical object which a locomotive driver is required to have or see before entering onto a particular section of single track. The token is clearly endorsed with the name of the section it belongs to...
.