Manuel Junction
Encyclopedia
Manuel Junction is a railway junction
near the village of Whitecross
, Falkirk
, Scotland. It currently serves both as the terminus of the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway
(operated by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society
(SRPS)) and as the connection between the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line
and that railway. There is currently no platform at Manuel and passengers on the branch service must remain on the train while the locomotive runs round the train.
Bo'ness Junction station which was first opened on 21 February 1842. The original station had two platforms on the E&G (upper) line. In 1856 a single platform was opened with the (lower) Slamannan and Borrowstounness Railway
line, part of the Monkland Railways
and connected to the Slamannan Railway
. Trains going from Bo'ness to the E&GR (westbound) used a steeply graded curve which the modern trackbed shares which rose from the north-facing Bo'ness Low Junction up to the west-facing Bo'ness High Junction. To the west of the Bo'ness High Junction was the east-facing Coatbridge Line Junction which allowed trains from the Linlithgow direction to head southbound on the Monkland Railways
.
The low-level station was closed in 1933. The upper station at Manuel survived until 1967 at which time the branch was cut back to Colliery.
with funding from Tesco PLC
so that SRPS Railtours could relocate their base of operations and coaching stock to from its previous base at Perth
which was too crowded. The current junction with Network Rail
is east-facing.
with a short headshunt
at the west end. The link-line leaves the loop 13 BR MK1 coach lengths from the end of the headshunt. A small trap point is located some way up the link line and further up, a gate, signifying the edge of the SRPS
's ground. On the approach to Manuel, a fixed distant signal is encountered shortly before the line curves and climbs steeply up to the junction itself. The points
at the north-west end of the loop are controlled by a 3-lever ground frame known as Manuel North. The east-facing link line is controlled by a 5-lever ground frame which includes mechanical control of two signals: a raised yellow disc signal reads up the link line and up onto Network Rail
and a small arm signal prevents moves onto the B&KR. The points at the west end are hand points. Both ground frames are controlled by the train staff using Annett's locks and all signals are tubular upper quadrant in design. The points at the Network Rail end of the link-line are controlled from a ground frame released from Polmont signal box.
Junction (rail)
A junction, in the context of rail transport, is a place at which two or more rail routes converge or diverge.This implies a physical connection between the tracks of the two routes , 'points' and signalling.one or two tracks each meet at a junction, a fairly simple layout of tracks suffices to...
near the village of Whitecross
Whitecross, Falkirk
Whitecross is a small village within the Falkirk council area, close to the boundary of West Lothian council in Scotland. It lies west-southwest of Linlithgow and south-east of Polmont on the west bank of the River Avon....
, Falkirk
Falkirk
Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
, Scotland. It currently serves both as the terminus of the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway
Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway
The Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway is a Heritage railway in Falkirk, Scotland. It is operated by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, and operates some 5 miles of track, virtually the entire Slamannan and Borrowstounness Railway that became part of the former North British Railway on the Firth...
(operated by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society
Scottish Railway Preservation Society
The Scottish Railway Preservation Society is a charity, whose principal objective is the preservation and advancement of railway heritage in Scotland. The Society was formed in 1961, and it has been actively collecting and displaying railway artifacts of Scottish significance ever since...
(SRPS)) and as the connection between the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line
Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line
The Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line is a mainline railway line linking Glasgow and Edinburgh via Falkirk in Scotland. It is the principal route out of the four rail links between Scotland's two biggest cities, hosting the flagship "Shuttle" service between and .- Places served :The route...
and that railway. There is currently no platform at Manuel and passengers on the branch service must remain on the train while the locomotive runs round the train.
History
The junction is constructed on the site of the original Edinburgh and Glasgow RailwayEdinburgh and Glasgow Railway
The Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway was a railway built to link Glasgow and Edinburgh. The Act of Parliament for building the railway received its Royal Assent in 1838 which was open on 28 July 1863. Services started between Glasgow Queen Street and Haymarket on 21 February 1842. The line was...
Bo'ness Junction station which was first opened on 21 February 1842. The original station had two platforms on the E&G (upper) line. In 1856 a single platform was opened with the (lower) Slamannan and Borrowstounness Railway
Slamannan and Borrowstounness Railway
The Slamannan and Borrowstounness Railway is an historic railway in Scotland.-History:It was a 4.5 mile extension to the Slamannan Railway built to Bo'ness, opened on 17 March 1851...
line, part of the Monkland Railways
Monkland Railways
The Monkland Railways was formed on 14 August 1848 by the merger of the Ballochney Railway, the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway and the Slamannan Railway.A 4.5 mile extension was built to Bo'ness, which opened on 17 March 1851...
and connected to the Slamannan Railway
Slamannan Railway
The Slamannan Railway was an early mineral railway built near Slamannan, Falkirk, Scotland, where it had coal and iron ore.The railway was Incorporated on 3 July 1835 and was opened on 31 August 1840. Its main function was intended to be the transportation of coal and passengers, but iron ore was...
. Trains going from Bo'ness to the E&GR (westbound) used a steeply graded curve which the modern trackbed shares which rose from the north-facing Bo'ness Low Junction up to the west-facing Bo'ness High Junction. To the west of the Bo'ness High Junction was the east-facing Coatbridge Line Junction which allowed trains from the Linlithgow direction to head southbound on the Monkland Railways
Monkland Railways
The Monkland Railways was formed on 14 August 1848 by the merger of the Ballochney Railway, the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway and the Slamannan Railway.A 4.5 mile extension was built to Bo'ness, which opened on 17 March 1851...
.
The low-level station was closed in 1933. The upper station at Manuel survived until 1967 at which time the branch was cut back to Colliery.
Preservation
The line to the junction was relaid in 1990 by British RailBritish Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
with funding from Tesco PLC
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
so that SRPS Railtours could relocate their base of operations and coaching stock to from its previous base at Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
which was too crowded. The current junction with Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
is east-facing.
Layout
Manuel's track layout features a long curving loopPassing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
with a short headshunt
Headshunt
A headshunt is a short length of track, provided to release locomotives at terminal platforms, or to allow shunting to take place clear of main lines.- Terminal Headshunts :...
at the west end. The link-line leaves the loop 13 BR MK1 coach lengths from the end of the headshunt. A small trap point is located some way up the link line and further up, a gate, signifying the edge of the SRPS
Scottish Railway Preservation Society
The Scottish Railway Preservation Society is a charity, whose principal objective is the preservation and advancement of railway heritage in Scotland. The Society was formed in 1961, and it has been actively collecting and displaying railway artifacts of Scottish significance ever since...
's ground. On the approach to Manuel, a fixed distant signal is encountered shortly before the line curves and climbs steeply up to the junction itself. The points
Railroad 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....
at the north-west end of the loop are controlled by a 3-lever ground frame known as Manuel North. The east-facing link line is controlled by a 5-lever ground frame which includes mechanical control of two signals: a raised yellow disc signal reads up the link line and up onto Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
and a small arm signal prevents moves onto the B&KR. The points at the west end are hand points. Both ground frames are controlled by the train staff using Annett's locks and all signals are tubular upper quadrant in design. The points at the Network Rail end of the link-line are controlled from a ground frame released from Polmont signal box.