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48-578: The Yeovil Railway Centre is a small railway museum at Yeovil Junction on the L&;SWR West of England Main Line between Salisbury and Exeter in the U.K. It was created in 1993, in response to British Rail 's decision to remove the turntable from Yeovil Junction. Approximately 1 ⁄ 4 mile (400 m) of track along the Clifton Maybank spur is used for demonstration trains. The site contains

96-403: A G.W.R. transfer shed built in the 1860s, which was erected to facilitate the transfer of goods from 7 ft ( 2,134 mm ) broad gauge to 4 ft  8 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ( 1,435 mm ) standard gauge freight wagons. This is the last remaining shed of its type on its original site and has been converted to a visitor centre. The site also has an S.R. turntable and

144-523: A 15,000-imperial-gallon (68,000 L) water tower . These have been restored to working order for the servicing of steam locomotives. An engine shed was built and opened in 1999. The centre holds regular events including Train Days where steam train rides are operated, using a brake van down the Clifton Maybank spur, and the turntable is demonstrated. Often there are additional attractions on site such as

192-430: A bridge, a tunnel , or a level crossing . A variant on the side platform is the spanish solution which has platforms on both sides of a single through track. Modern station platforms can be constructed from a variety of materials such as glass-reinforced polymer , pre-cast concrete or expanded polystrene , depending on the underlying substructure. Most stations have their platforms numbered consecutively from 1;

240-467: A connecting train for the short journey to Yeovil Town. The LSWR operated all trains over the S&;YR and bought the smaller company in 1878. The station at this time had two platforms serving three tracks. The northern side was the track for trains to Salisbury and London Waterloo ; the middle track was covered by a train shed and could be used from either platform and was for the trains to Yeovil Town;

288-412: A curved platform – often a platform gap is present. Usually such platforms will have warning signs, possibly auditory, such as London Underground 's famous phrase " Mind the gap ". There may be moveable gap filler sections within the platform, extending once the train has stopped and retracting after the doors have closed. The New York City Subway employs these at 14th Street–Union Square on

336-467: A depot for its fleet of hire locomotives, although this use has now ceased. The turntable has been retained on the south side of the line and is often used for turning the locomotives of steam-hauled excursions. This and the Clifton Maybank site has been the home of the Yeovil Railway Centre since 1993. The first signal boxes were built in 1875. "Yeovil Junction No. 1" was on the north side of

384-565: A dual-height platform. A railway station may be served by heavy-rail and light-rail vehicles with lower floors and have a dual- height platform, as on the RijnGouweLijn in the Netherlands. In all cases the platform must accommodate the loading gauge and conform to the structure gauge of the system. Platform types include the bay platform , side platform (also called through platform), split platform and island platform . A bay platform

432-496: A few stations, including Cardiff Central , Haymarket , King's Cross , Stockport , and Gravesend (in the UK); and Lidcombe, Sydney (Australia), start from 0. At Bristol Temple Meads platforms 3 through to 12 are split along their length with odd numbered platforms facing north and east and even facing south and west, with a small signal halfway along the platform. Some, such as London Waterloo East , use letters instead of numbers (this

480-505: A guideline for platform safety specifies that for the platforms with train passing speeds between 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph) and 200 kilometres per hour (120 mph), there should be a yellow-line buffer zone of 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) and other warning signs. If trains can pass at speeds higher than 200 kilometres per hour (120 mph), the platforms should be inaccessible to passengers unless there are waiting rooms or screened areas to provide protection. The European Union has

528-517: A miniature railway, shed tours, model railway and art gallery. Other events include the Train & Tractor Day and Santa Specials. Mainline steam excursions to Exeter or Weymouth often call here for the locomotive to be turned and serviced. Yeovil Junction railway station Yeovil Junction is the busier, but less central, of two railway stations serving the town of Yeovil in Somerset , England;

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576-410: A regulation for platforms that are close to tracks with train passing speeds of 250 kilometres per hour (160 mph) or more should not be accessible to passengers unless there is a lower speed limit for trains that intend to stop at the station or there are barriers to limit access. Platforms usually have some form of warnings or measures to keep passengers away from the tracks. The simplest measure

624-467: A significant safety problem as the safe distance from the platform edge increases with the speed of the passing train. A study done by the United States Department of Transportation in 1999 found that trains passing station platforms at speeds of 240 kilometres per hour (150 mph) can pose safety concerns to passengers on the platforms who are 2 metres (6.6 ft) away from the edge due to

672-641: A station built for trains with a high floor, for example at the Dutch stations of the DB Regionalbahn Westfalen (see Enschede ). On the London Underground some stations are served by both District line and Piccadilly line trains, and the Piccadilly trains have lower floors. A tram stop is often in the middle of the street; usually it has as a platform a refuge area of a similar height to that of

720-761: A train can arrive is referred to as a "track" (e.g. "The train is arriving on Track 5"). In other countries, such as the UK and Ireland, platform refers specifically to the place where the train stops, which means that in such a case island platforms are allocated two separate numbers, one for each side. Some countries are in the process of switching from platform to track numbers, i.e. the Czech Republic and Poland. In locations where track numbers are used an island platform would be described as one platform with two tracks. Many stations also have numbered tracks which are used only for through traffic and do not have platform access. Some of

768-470: A visually-contrasting color, for the full length of the platform. Ideally platforms should be straight or slightly convex , so that the guard (if any) can see the whole train when preparing to close the doors. Platforms that have great curvature have blind spots that create a safety hazard. Mirrors or closed-circuit cameras may be used in these cases to view the whole platform. Also passenger carriages are straight, so doors will not always open directly onto

816-500: Is markings near the edge of the platform to demarcate the distance back that passengers should remain. Often a special tiled surface is used as well as a painted line, to help blind people using a walking aid, and help in preventing wheelchairs from rolling too near the platform edge. In the US, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 regulations require a detectable warning strip 24 inches (61 cm) wide, consisting of truncated dome bumps in

864-401: Is one at which the track terminates, i.e. a dead-end or siding . Trains serving a bay platform must reverse in or out. A side platform is the more usual type, alongside tracks where the train arrives from one end and leaves towards the other. An island platform has through platforms on both sides; it may be indented on one or both ends, with bay platforms. To reach an island platform there may be

912-431: Is retained as a siding, accessible only from the east end of the station. Beyond is the old westbound platform which is no longer connected to the main station but is used by occasional visiting steam trains and by the Yeovil Railway Centre which lies to the south. The turntable is at the right of their railway centre. It makes use of tracks to the left which are on the site of the old GWR Clifton Maybank goods depot. At

960-404: Is to distinguish the platforms from numbered ones in the adjoining Waterloo main-line station for staff who work at both stations); some, such as Paris-Gare de Lyon , use letters for one group of platforms but numbers for the other. The actual meaning of the word platform depends on country and language. In many countries, the word platform refers to the physical structure, while the place where

1008-705: The Singapore MRT and the Hong Kong MTR , and stations on the Jubilee Line Extension in London. Platforms should be sloped upwards slightly towards the platform edge to prevent wheeled objects such as trolleys, prams and wheelchairs from rolling away and into the path of the train. Many platforms have a cavity underneath an overhanging edge so that people who may fall off the platform can seek shelter from incoming trains. In high-speed rail , passing trains are

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1056-571: The Southern Region of British Railways . January 1963 saw all the lines in the area transferred to the Western Region and this was soon followed by the Reshaping of British Railways report. Yeovil Town closed to passengers on 2 October 1966, the branch service then operated to Pen Mill until it was withdrawn entirely on 4 May 1968. The main line had been rationalised on 11 June 1967  – Yeovil

1104-558: The West of England Main Line . Today, it is managed by South Western Railway and is also the home of the Yeovil Railway Centre . The Salisbury and Yeovil Railway (S&YR) opened the final part of its line from Sherborne on 1 June 1860. Near Bradford Abbas it crossed over the Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth line of the Great Western Railway (GWR) on a bridge, then ran alongside it and

1152-651: The Yeovil Branch Line of the Bristol and Exeter Railway (B&ER) to reach that company’s terminus at Hendford , on the west side of Yeovil. Just a few weeks later, on 19 July, the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) opened its Yeovil and Exeter line. This left the S&YR at Bradford Abbas Junction and crossed over the GWR line to its own station at Yeovil Junction, and then continued on towards Exeter Queen Street . The station

1200-504: The East Box becoming "Yeovil Junction A" and the West Box "Yeovil Junction B". The 1967 rationalisation saw the closure of the B Box on 30 April but the A Box was retained to control movements on the branch to Yeovil Town and Pen Mill. A siding connection to the main line was controlled by "Yeovil Junction West Ground Frame", while "Yeovil Junction East Ground Frame" was used for a connection to

1248-455: The United States, at the other extreme, has a platform which is only long enough for a single bench. Among some United States train conductors the word "platform" has entered usage as a verb meaning "to berth at a station", as in the announcement: "The last two cars of this train will not platform at East Rockaway". The most basic form of platform consists of an area at the same level as

1296-505: The aerodynamic effects created by pressure and induced airflow with speeds of 64 kilometres per hour (40 mph) to 95 kilometres per hour (59 mph) depending on the train body aerodynamic designs. Additionally, the airflow can cause debris to be blown out to the waiting passengers. If the passengers stand closer at 1 metre (3.3 ft), the risk increases with airflow that can reach speeds of 79 kilometres per hour (49 mph) to 116 kilometres per hour (72 mph). In United Kingdom,

1344-458: The east end of the platform is the station buffet which still contains its original (1908) counter. Now known as "Peppers", in 2009 it appeared in a list of "highly commended" station cafes published in The Guardian but came under new management in 2011. Tracks serve both sides of the platform and are each signalled for trains to run in either direction. Beyond the east end of the platform

1392-526: The far end is a raised earthwork that looks like it once carried another siding, but it is in fact part of the original scheme of 1864 which envisaged another link from Clifton Maybank southwards towards Weymouth which was never completed. South Western Railway operate services at least once per hour during the daytime to London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids . A limited service operates to Yeovil Pen Mill , some of which then continue to London Waterloo via Westbury . There are bus services to Yeovil and

1440-459: The line at the west of the station, and "Yeovil Junction No. 2" was at the opposite end. When the station was rebuilt in 1908 the No. 1 Box was replaced by a new 60-lever "Yeovil Junction East" situated between the main and branch lines; No. 2 box was extended and renamed "Yeovil Junction West". The latter was damaged in an accident on 20 August 1918 but was rebuilt. At the end of 1949 they were renamed again,

1488-536: The nearby village of Barwick , these are provided by South West Coaches service 68. Connection by bus to Yeovil Pen Mill is accessible via a change at Yeovil Bus Station (using South West Coaches Services 68 & 70). This runs roughly 0700 to 1810 Monday to Saturday (except Public Holidays). Railway platform The world's longest station platform is at Hubballi Junction in India at 1,507 metres (4,944 ft). The Appalachian Trail station or Benson station in

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1536-400: The next train. There are often loudspeakers as part of a public address (PA) system. The PA system is often used where dynamic timetables or electronic displays are not present. A variety of information is presented, including destinations and times (for all trains, or only the more important long-distance trains), delays, cancellations, platform changes, changes in routes and destinations,

1584-459: The number of carriages in the train and the location of first class or luggage compartments, and supplementary fee or reservation requirements. Some metro stations have platform screen doors between the platforms and the tracks. They provide more safety, and they allow the heating or air conditioning in the station to be separated from the ventilation in the tunnel, thus being more efficient and effective. They have been installed in most stations of

1632-500: The other is Yeovil Pen Mill . The station is sited 2 miles (3.2 km) outside the town, in the village of Stoford ; although Yeovil is in Somerset, the station was in Dorset until 1991. It is located 122 miles 48 chains (197.3 km) down the line from London Waterloo . It was opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1860, on its London to Exeter line now known as

1680-403: The platforms for non-stop trains. A footbridge at the west end connected the two platforms and extended over the branch track to the station forecourt. A second footbridge was erected at the east end of the station but was dismantled in 1920 and moved up the line to Overton railway station . The goods yard was also extended in 1908 and new sidings were laid near the GWR exchange siding. The cost of

1728-399: The sidewalk, e.g. 100 mm (4 in), and sometimes has no platform. The latter requires extra care by passengers and other traffic to avoid accidents. Both types of tram stops can be seen in the tram networks of Melbourne and Toronto . Sometimes a tram stop is served by ordinary trams with rather low floors and metro -like light rail vehicles with higher floors, and the tram stop has

1776-479: The sidings on the south side of the main line. When the double track was reinstated to Sherborne the signal box frame was replaced with a Western Region one of 44 levers. The remaining box was closed in March 2012, when the line between Salisbury and Exmouth Junction was re-signalled. Signalling here is now supervised from Basingstoke Rail Operating Centre . There have been a number of accidents at Yeovil Junction over

1824-580: The southern track was for trains to Exeter. Goods traffic was handled on the north side of the main line, and a turntable was placed on the south side. On 13 June 1864 a new line was opened from the GWR up to a goods station at Clifton Maybank adjacent to the LSWR station. The GWR was, until 1874, a 7 ft ( 2,134 mm ) broad gauge line and broad and standard gauge wagons could be brought alongside each other at Clifton Maybank to allow goods to be transhipped between them. Work started in 1907 to enlarge

1872-474: The station and was completed in 1909. The new northern platform was 590 feet (180 m) long with a track on either side; the northern track was for the Yeovil Town trains and the southern side was for main line services to London. The 510-foot (160 m) southern platform also had two tracks, the northern face for westbound trains and the opposite side was a goods siding. Two through tracks also passed between

1920-444: The station at the same time. A limited passenger service to Yeovil Pen Mill was reinstated in 2015 since when this has gradually increased in frequency. A permanent way depot was established in the old goods yard on the north side of the station in 1965. A small Ruston and Hornsby four-wheel diesel locomotive number DS1169 was kept here for shunting until 1972. In 2001 the area was used by the Somerset and Dorset Locomotive Company as

1968-528: The station facilities are often located on the platforms. Where the platforms are not adjacent to a station building, often some form of shelter or waiting room is provided, and employee cabins may also be present. The weather protection offered varies greatly, from little more than a roof with open sides, to a closed room with heating or air-conditioning. There may be benches , lighting , ticket counters, drinking fountains , shops, trash boxes, and static timetables or dynamic displays with information about

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2016-410: The track, usually resulting in a fairly large height difference between the platform and the train floor. This would often not be considered a true platform. The more traditional platform is elevated relative to the track but often lower than the train floor, although ideally they should be at the same level. Occasionally the platform is higher than the train floor, where a train with a low floor serves

2064-550: The work was in excess of £47,000. The LSWR became a part of the Southern Railway (SR) in 1923 as a result of the Railways Act 1921 . The GWR’s Clifton Maybank branch closed on 7 June 1937. Wagons would in future be exchanged at Yeovil Town, but the GWR had to build a road for Mr Paul, the owner of a private siding which had connected with their line, so that he could bring his goods to the Clifton Maybank platform instead which

2112-488: The years, although most were minor with few injuries. The entrance to the station is across the footbridge from the car park on the north side of the line. The garage in the middle of the car park is the station’s original goods shed , and the remaining goods sidings are at the end of the car park. Descending from the footbridge to the platform brings passengers to the main station offices, which are built from red bricks with red glazed abutments. A second similar building at

2160-425: Was a junction because another line led back to join the S&YR at River Junction, so trains could run from Exeter direct to Hendford (the terminus was moved to a joint B&ER/LSWR Yeovil Town railway station from 1 June 1861). The original eastwards connection from River Junction to Bradford Abbas was closed in 1870, after which most main line trains only called at Yeovil Junction where passengers could change onto

2208-414: Was now in the middle of a 15.26 miles (24.56 km) single track section between Sherborne and Chard Junction . This soon proved a rationalisation too far and the double track was restored between Sherborne and Yeovil Junction on 1 October 1967 but all trains had to use the eastbound main line platform. On 26 March 1975 the former branch platform was reopened as a through line so that two trains could use

2256-580: Was still served by the SR. A new connection was established between the two companies during World War II to allow trains direct access between Yeovil Junction and Yeovil Pen Mill on the Weymouth line. This was opened on 13 October 1943 and offered a new route for trains of war materials as well as a diversion route in the event of bomb damage. On 1 January 1948 the Southern Railway was nationalised to become

2304-417: Was the signal box, now demolished. The tracks to London are on its right, and the single track to Yeovil Pen Mill is on its left. No regular passenger services operated over this route from 1968 until December 2015 when a limited service was introduced between London Waterloo and Yeovil Pen Mill via Yeovil Junction. Opposite the main platform the old eastbound through line has been lifted but the westbound line

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