Section 21: Stopping Markers
(Page 1 of 4)
There are certain places where trains regularly have to come to a stand, and markers are provided to assist drivers in stopping their trains at the right location, where this is critical for some reason.
A 'car stop marker' marks the point where the front of the train should stop, usually at a station platform. Where a figure is shown, this applies to a multiple unit train composed of the number of cars indicated [21.1 - 21.3].
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[21.1] Car Stop Marker (Southern Railway).
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[21.2] Car Stop Marker (Western Region).
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[21.3] Car Stop Marker (Scottish Region).
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Where a letter "S" is shown instead of a figure, this indicates that the marker applies to trains of all lengths [21.4].
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[21.4] "S" Car Stop Marker (e.g. Southern Railway).
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British Rail standardised on a design of car stop marker with the words "Car Stop" at the bottom. The standard colouring is white figures on a black background [21.5], but this may be varied to match the colour scheme of other signage at the station concerned [21.6]. At 'Network SouthEast' stations, the markers carried appropriate N.S.E. branding [21.7].
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[21.5] Car Stop Marker (B.R.).
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[21.6] Car Stop Marker (B.R.).
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[21.7] Car Stop Marker (N.S.E.).
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A car stop marker may show more than one figure where the stopping positions for trains of different lengths coincide [21.8 - 21.10].
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[21.8] Car Stop Marker (B.R.).
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[21.9] Car Stop Marker (B.R.).
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[21.10] Car Stop Marker (B.R.).
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When construction work is taking place at a station and the full length of the platform is not available for use, a temporary board worded "Trains Stop Here" [21.11] may be erected to indicate the point at which all trains must stop.
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[21.11] "Trains Stop Here" Board.
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Marker boards may be installed in connection with shunting movements, e.g. to indicate a position that the train must pass beyond before setting back. In most cases, the marker's position will coincide with a track circuit boundary. There are various forms [21.12 - 21.15].
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[21.12] Marker Board (Scottish Region).
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[21.13] Marker Board (Scottish Region).
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[21.14] Marker Post (Scottish Region).
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[21.15] Marker Post (Scottish Region and Eastern Region).
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On the Southern Region, special stopping markers in the form of a white St. Andrew's cross [21.16 - 21.18] are installed at various places. Generally, these indicate the place where a train should be brought to a stand before setting back into a siding.
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[21.16] Stopping Marker (Southern Region).
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[21.17] Stopping Marker (Southern Region).
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[21.18] Stopping Marker (Southern Region).
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A series of signs may be located along the lineside at certain places, referring to various lengths of freight trains. Train length can be expressed either in terms of the number of wagons [21.19 & 21.20] or in 'standard length units' (S.L.U.s) [21.21 - 21.24]. One S.L.U. is equal to 21 feet.
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[21.19] Wagon Marker Board.
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[21.20] HAA Wagon Marker Board.
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[21.21] S.L.U. Marker.
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[21.22] S.L.U. Marker.
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[21.23] S.L.U. Marker.
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[21.24] S.L.U. Marker.
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The introduction of Class 253 & 254 'High Speed Trains', comprising a number of coaches with a diesel locomotive at each end, necessitated their own special stop markers being provided. In many places, the standard type of car stop marker was used, with the usual figure replaced by "H" or "HST" [21.25 & 21.26]. Alternatively, the marker may bear only a letter "H" [21.27]. Other types of markers exist that specify the number of vehicles in the train [21.28 & 21.29].
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[21.25] HST Stop Marker.
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[21.26] HST Stop Marker.
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[21.27] HST Stop Marker.
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[21.28] HST Stop Marker (e.g. 2 power cars plus 9 coaches).
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[21.29] HST Stop Marker (e.g. 10 cars).
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