A nice little map.

[whole diary]

[eightf48544]

The SW lines map is an excellent illustration of the problems faced by the railways due to BRs^▸ (British Rail(ways)) rationalisations in the 70 and 80s.

Weymouth only three platforms approached by a length of bi directional single track. If anything happens on this length then Weymouth station is closed. Also only 3 sidings left.

Single lead junction at Dorchester Junctionv to Yeovil. Train cannot join branch if section to Maiden Newton occupied thus blocking mainline.

5 mile single line Dorchester South to Moreton.

Those that remember Weymouth in steam days will know that there was a double track approach and lots of sidings both freight and carriage.

Now I also know that with the end of steam and freight many of these facilities were redundant but I believe that  in lots of cases rationalisation went too far and the current railway now suffers from a lack of metal on the ground.  More to the point there appears to be a lack of will to restore some of the missing infrastructure. Some schemes of which would be considerably cheaper than 4 tracking the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) and probably give a more immediate return in improved services.

A classic small scheme being the provision of a crossover at Birmingham International to allow local services to turnback without occupying the mainline.

The redoubling around Par is another scheme which must already be paying for itself.

Not forgetting the most producitve of the lot, Princes Risborough to Anyho. Can't wait to travel on the Wrexham and Shrewsbury trains, not that I want to go to Wrexham. Just the thought of Mark 3s and a 67! It would not have been possible to run these trains without the redoubling.

So what about Salisbury - Exeter, Oxford - Worcester they must be viable.

[signalandtelegraph]

Single lead junction at Dorchester Junctionv to Yeovil. Train cannot join branch if section to Maiden Newton occupied thus blocking mainline.

Although it is a single lead junction it reverts to double track through Dorchester West so that a train can stand in the staton (and clear of the mainline) whilst another train approaches from Maiden Newton.