Barking & Upney

Although these are two quite separate, and totally different, stations, they are inextricably linked together by one thing - the sidings that are located between them.

Historically, the sidings were built and commissioned in 1958, at the same time as the District Line’s east end depot moved from Little Ilford (the site now occupied by C2C’s East Ham depot) to the ‘new’ depot at Upminster.

Barking is one of the lines regular reversing points, and also sees several Hammersmith & City Line C Stock trains stabled there each night. The District Line stables one D Stock train there.

The sidings themselves are very flexible and allow trains to enter and leave in every possible combination of directions.

I think a look at these diagrams will give quite a good idea of how many signals, routes and sidings there are in the area! But, though at face value, they seem very complex, in reality they are very logical, and all the moves are essentially straightforward, provided of course that you are properly trained and aware of the options that are available.

Most of our ‘routine’ visits to the sidings comprise of arriving from the west end of the sidings (that is from the station), stopping in the appropriate place and then leaving onto the westbound line to go into service in a westerly direction. But trains can enter from the Upney end, they can leave towards Upney, both to head east or to go west. Similarly trains can go into Barking’s eastbound platform and enter service in an easterly direction.

The photos are ordered as in the diagrams above, with the first image looking west from Barking station and the Bay Road platform mainly used by the Hammersmith & City line and occasional terminating District line services. They then head eastwards towards Upney station via the sidings.

Westbound D Stock train just starting to climb the flyover to the west of Barking station. The tracks from the bay road and the flyover meet at the bottom of the flyover.
Bay_Rd_starter02

The station starter for the bay road; care has to be taken to ensure that the correct signal is being observed; note the signal in advance of it - that’s one of C2C’s signals and (particularly when in the train's cab) can draw a driver’s attention away from ‘our’ signal.

Hammersmith & City line service arriving in the bay road to the west of Barking station.

Barking signal cabin, located to the north west of the station.

Now looking east along the bay platform from the western end of Barking station.

To the east of the station, yet looking west towards the eastbound road. The track nearest is the reception road which gives access to and from the sidings. The shunt signal FF21 would allow a train out from the road into Barking eastbound platform, though the train would be travelling in a westerly direction - a ‘wrong road’ move.

On arrival in the platform the Train Operator would change ends and the train would then enter passenger service eastbound towards Upminster.

This is taken at the opposite end of the sidings, that is towards Barking and gives a general view across the whole area.

Heading eastwards towards Upney at the far end of the sidings, these signs were installed at the time of District Dave’s visit. In sequence they state that you are leaving the work site, that the possession has ended and that traction current is on.

The same signs, but viewed from the opposite direction facing west towards Barking. They indicate to approaching trains that the area is in the possession of the track maintenance staff, that traction current is off and that they are entering a work site; essentially the area is not available due to maintenance work being carried out.

Facing west, looking into Barking sidings. The building in the foreground provides accommodation for the train maintainers and cleaners who service the trains stabled there each night.

Looking eastwards towards Upney station. The building on the left is Upney sub-station.

Looking west from the bridge due west at Upney station looking towards Barking and the bridge where the photo above was taken. The pointwork from the westbound main is the route towards the sidings.

Looking down upon Upney station via the overbridge, a staff walkway between Upney and Barking sidings.