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20th century, and most also adopted single-ended trams. Loops were also used on some tramways in Asia, South
America and New Zealand, as well as on other Australian systems in addition to Sydney. Looped operation with single-ended trams is still the predominant method of tramway operation in the world, in spite of the recent construction of some new, typically smaller, stubbed systems with double-ended trams.
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On systems, where, for reasons of economy, the couplings are made non-reversible (e.g. by fitting the air brake pipe along one side of the car only), the use of a balloon loop will cause a proportion of the rolling stock to face the "wrong" way and it may not be possible to assemble a complete train
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systems with single-ended trams. Usually located at termini, the loop may be a single one-way track round a block. Single-ended trams have a cab at only one end and doors on one side, making them cheaper and having more space for passengers. On tram systems with double-ended trams balloon loops are
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Later in the 19th century, looped streetcar (tram) lines also began to appear on systems in the US, and soon looped operation with single-ended streetcars became widely used on many North
American streetcar systems. European systems were almost universally converted to looped operation in the early
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Balloon loops enable higher line capacity (faster turnaround of a larger number of trams) and allow the use of single-ended trams which have several advantages, including lower cost and more seating. However, double-ended trams also benefit from the capacity advantage of balloon loops.
532:) car ends were marked "A" or "B" (later, when axles were designated by letters, the "B" car ends became "D" to match the adjacent axle), and it was not permitted to couple cars together if the ends to be coupled bore the same letter. It was found necessary to provide a
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systems. Many streetcar and tram systems use single-ended vehicles that have doors on only one side and controls at only one end. These systems may also haul trailers with no controls in the rear car, and, as such, must be turned at each end of the route.
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Occasionally, balloon loops are used for reversing trains on lines with heavy grades and tight curves to equalize wear on both sides of locomotives and rollingstock. Such a balloon loop was constructed at Beech Forest on the
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that extended out to the railcar door when the train triggered a switch on the tracks. The older station was closed in 2009, but was reopened between 2013 and 2017 as a result of damage to the newer station caused by
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tram system, loops were used from 1881 until the second-generation system's closure in 1961. Initially, the Sydney system was operated by single-ended
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depot (near the other end of the line), for use when there was an imbalance of car directions.
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lines. They did not commonly appear on freight railways until the 1960s, when the modernising
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Eliminates the need for brake test if locomotives uncoupled to carry out run around the move.
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On many systems with a balloon loop, the couplings and brake hoses are made reversible.
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Time is not lost while drivers change ends and reset the train for the other direction.
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the space inside the balloon loops is used for storing coal so that it is not wasted.
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338:(MGR) coal trains that operated from mines to power stations and back again without
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If the driver changed ends and discovers a hidden fault, delays are less likely.
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Trains can arrive and leave simultaneously, as long as an open platform exists.
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Bruce, J. Graeme (1988). "7. The First of the
Standard Tube Stock 1923/25".
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Arrivals into some platforms do not block departures from other platforms.
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The sharp curves cause noise, as well as wear on wheels and rails.
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Compared to stations with stub platforms, balloon loops allow:
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or stop. Balloon loops can be useful for passenger trains and
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Maules Creek & Boggabri Coal
Terminal East balloon loops
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477:in a depot, even if sufficient cars are on hand.
416:) Victorian Railways line from Colac to Crowes.
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103:introducing citations to additional sources
363:Light-rail train using the balloon loop at
192:into consolidated sections based on topics.
64:Learn how and when to remove these messages
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528:in 1914 (replaced in 1926 by the present
492:temporary PATH World Trade Center station
463:Disadvantages of a balloon loop include:
215:Learn how and when to remove this message
551:solved the railcar door hazard by using
445:Fewer tracks and platforms are required.
93:Relevant discussion may be found on the
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320:Balloon loops were first introduced on
424:Advantages of a balloon loop include:
395:Balloon loops are used extensively on
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231:Balloon loop at Linnéplatsen at the
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580:The London Underground Tube Stock
45:This article has multiple issues.
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490:View of the balloon loop at the
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86:relies largely or entirely on a
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524:After the opening of a loop at
53:or discuss these issues on the
27:Rail loop for turning vehicles
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307:Balloon loops are common on
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1174:Transfer table (traverser)
857:Cross-platform interchange
526:Charing Cross (Embankment)
508:Newcastle, New South Wales
294:North American Terminology
1162:ground-level power supply
787:Switch / turnout / points
777:Grand circle / roundabout
410:2 ft 6 in
369:Cambridge, Massachusetts
1147:Railway electrification
502:At coal ports such as
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266:P1 & P4 departures
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1464:Railway track layouts
1286:Platform screen doors
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467:Very space-consuming.
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1236:Anti-trespass panels
923:Minimum curve radius
890:Zig Zag / Switchback
619:at Wikimedia Commons
549:New York City Subway
515:Olympic Park station
268:P2 & P3 arrivals
259:Olympic Park, Sydney
257:on a balloon loop -
99:improve this article
1083:Classification yard
862:Interchange station
767:Facing and trailing
734:Classification yard
519:Sydney Olympic Park
302:unit freight trains
1342:Motive power depot
1296:Signalling control
792:Swingnose crossing
586:. pp. 56–57.
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332:system introduced
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852:Spanish solution
842:Terminal station
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290:reversing loop
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198:September 2024
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114:"Balloon loop"
97:. Please help
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459:Disadvantages
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179:This article
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116: –
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110:Find sources:
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88:single source
84:This article
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32:
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19:
1321:Wayside horn
1271:Interlocking
1251:Catch points
1211:Water trough
1113:Passing loop
1093:Pocket track
1078:Balloon loop
1077:
1042:Ladder track
877:Hillclimbing
847:Balloon loop
846:
719:Pocket track
709:Balloon loop
708:
701:Rail sidings
681:Double track
676:Passing loop
671:Single track
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371:, US in 2020
333:
330:British Rail
324:and, later,
319:
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289:
286:turning loop
285:
282:balloon loop
281:
279:
252:Double sided
211:
195:
190:rewriting it
188:Please help
180:
152:
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109:
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61:
54:
48:
47:Please help
44:
1246:Buffer stop
1206:Water crane
1118:Track gauge
1057:Tie/Sleeper
913:Track gauge
772:Grand union
553:gap fillers
545:South Ferry
543:The former
494:from above.
414:762 mm
381:steam trams
181:contains a
1469:Tram loops
1458:Categories
1419:Industrial
1403:Water stop
1364:for trains
1356:Roundhouse
1330:Structures
1316:Train stop
1266:Guard rail
1241:Block post
1229:and safety
1226:Signalling
1157:third rail
1130:Rail track
1123:dual gauge
1007:Baulk road
565:References
420:Advantages
237:Gothenburg
155:April 2018
125:newspapers
50:improve it
1369:for goods
1311:Tell-tale
1142:Rail yard
1108:Guide bar
1088:Headshunt
1071:Trackwork
1037:Fishplate
1027:Date nail
988:(history)
744:Junctions
729:Rail yard
714:Headshunt
691:Crossover
584:Ian Allan
534:turntable
504:Kooragang
482:Solutions
263:Australia
95:talk page
56:talk page
1424:Military
1381:building
1351:Platform
1261:Derailer
1179:Roll way
1098:Junction
997:Axe ties
807:Stations
346:Tramways
340:shunting
1434:station
1429:Private
1376:Station
1052:Profile
1002:Ballast
654:Railway
513:At the
397:tramway
316:History
233:tramway
139:scholar
1196:Switch
1184:Siding
984:Tracks
895:Spiral
825:Island
590:
377:Sydney
241:Sweden
141:
134:
127:
120:
112:
1412:Types
1391:ghost
1386:clock
1360:Shed
974:Rail
835:Split
391:Usage
326:metro
298:shunt
288:, or
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