Churnet Valley Railway in Staffordshire has revealed that a locomotive and coach made a perfect turn on its Leek Brook Triangle for the first time since 1941.
A triangle is a track layout that enables trains to turn around without a turntable. This means that a whole train can turn around in one move, not just the single loco or vehicle that a turntable can turn.
The Churnet Valley Railway has developed this as part of its proposal to extend its line and link up with the market town of Leek as part of the ‘Reconnect Leek' project. It's success in bringing the triangle into action was proved when a S160 loco and coach used it to turn round.
It has received funding for this from various sources, including: The European Agricultural Regional Development Fund, the Garfield Weston Foundation, The Bamford Charitable Trust, The Headley Trust, The Moorlands Partnership, The North Staffordshire Railway Company (1978) Limited, and private donors.
Work remaining to be carried out includes full ballasting and tamping. Further updates on the project will be released during the autumn.
The Churnet Valley Railway operates on part of the former Churnet Valley Line in the Staffordshire Moorlands of Staffordshire. The railway is roughly ten-and-a-half miles (16.9 km) long, running from Kingsley and Froghall to Ipstones.
The Railway states that it is “thrilled to be a part of reviving history, and bringing a new chapter to rail travel in the Staffordshire Moorlands.”
How lovely to see a thriving churnet valley line thriving in 2024. I attended a meeting in Congleton around 1972 proposing reopening of the northern part. This was soon seen as unfeasible with a leading junction to the main line, so your railway became the ambition. My wife and I spent some time cleaning Leek station which was still intact then but trackless
Another triangle! Southport Chapel St Station layout included a triangle formed by a chord from the Liverpool line to the Spt-Mcr lines just by Holland’s Toffee works. Although there were station pilots (two L&YRly 2-4-2Ts 50746 and 50781, and later 50850) arriving expresses often reversed their trains into sidings immediately beyond the platforms. The locos would continue light, passing over the weighbridge by the signalbox, and then reverse around the triangle to eventually reverse again into the MPD service area – where there was a turntable!
Signalbox, Holland’s Works, triangle, even expresses (!) all now gone.
Carlisle also has a triangle, formed from where the Newcastle and Settle lines diverge from the West Coast mainline south. This is used routinely to turn steam engines and their support coaches when the steam specials come to Carlisle.
Norton Fitzwarren (WSR) has a triangle and there is one formed from the main lines north of Portsmouth at Cosham
How wonderful to see our railway and engineerings skills from days past being preserved, hopefully for our some of our young people as well as older ones to participate in.
We have a local heritage railway which displays the professionalism of its dedicated band of volunteers and is there for all to continue to enjoy.
I would have liked to have seen a track layout to show how the triangle was able to reverse the direction of the train.
Please continue your excellent work.
Best Regards
David
There are a few places in the UK where there are turning triangles, Heywood at the end of the East Lancashire Heritage Railway, and also at Holroyd Junction in Todmorden.