Tracking Rail Replacement Buses

[whole diary]

[SandTEngineer]

What happened in the past when the railways were dominant?

In the past there were many more diversionary routes available...

I also suspect that a great deal of engineering work was carried out in a more dangerous way - with neighbouring tracks still open, and even between the passage of trains. This sort of thing wouldn't happen these days:

The Board of Trade report, published on 21 June 1865, found that for the previous eight to ten weeks a team of eight men and a foreman had been renewing the timbers under the track on viaducts between Headcorn and Staplehurst railway stations. The track would be removed when no train was due. However, on 9 June the foreman, John Benge, had misread his timetable as to the schedule that day of the tidal boat train, which ran at a different time depending on the tide in the English Channel.

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staplehurst_rail_crash

When I started on the S&T^▸ (Signalling and Telegraph) way back in 1969 on the Southern end of the four-track West Coast Main Line, engineering work was always carried out on two tracks, with the other two open for normal use.  No blue fences in those days either.....**

The only time we did full closures was for major track/signalling alterations and if I remember correctly those used RT Double Decker buses from LT.

Edit to add: ** and Yes, I know times are different now.....

[AMLAG]

"In the past there were many more diversionary routes available" ..

And now there are  some UNUSED diversionary rail routes ...take the S & C for one ...
a line that was saved from closure in the 70's parly because of its then strong diversionary attraction and use by West Coast line trains when essential engineering possessions and emergency line closures were taking place anywhere between Preston and Carlisle.
Many £Millions was spent on infrastructure works including relaying with new sleepers, long welded rail and ballast the whole double line railway from Settle Jn to Carlisle for diversionary purposes and the then (but now proven short lived) coal traffic. Only a year or two ago £35 million or so was spent on remedial works at a slip site near Armathwaite.
The line now has a very basic passenger service, at best a couple of freights a day and no passenger diversionary useage. The West Coast line TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) preferring to bustitute their passengers; despite it being known that passengers would prefer to stay on a train that uses a diversionary route,even though their journeys may take a little longer than having to change to a bus.

[eightonedee]

And now there are  some UNUSED diversionary rail routes ...take the S & C for one ...
a line that was saved from closure in the 70's parly because of its then strong diversionary attraction and use by West Coast line trains when essential engineering possessions and emergency line closures were taking place anywhere between Preston and Carlisle.

Ah...but the problem for diverting West Coast trains onto the Settle & Carlisle is that there is no electricity for its trains!

Electrify the Settle & Carlisle now!

[SandTEngineer]

And now there are  some UNUSED diversionary rail routes ...take the S & C for one ...
a line that was saved from closure in the 70's parly because of its then strong diversionary attraction and use by West Coast line trains when essential engineering possessions and emergency line closures were taking place anywhere between Preston and Carlisle.

Ah...but the problem for diverting West Coast trains onto the Settle & Carlisle is that there is no electricity for its trains!

Electrify the Settle & Carlisle now!

Yes, but in them 'olden days' they used to tag a diesel on the front and get going in 5 minutes....... sometimes at Watford Junction during OLE^▸ (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE") alterations they used to do two in parallel at the same time, one on the Slows and one on the Fasts. Oh for those nostalgic days