European Railroad Discussion > Moving London Underground's vintage train

Today LU moved the historic train they used for the Hammersmith & City 150 celebratons on 2nd & 9th August from Northfields depot in west London to West Ruislip depot in NW London, in anticipation of next weekend's event which is basically to suspend the regular service between Chalfont and Chesham, on the outer reaches of the Metropolitan LIne and run a special steam hauled service instead between Rickmansworth and Chesham. This will see no. 1, L150 (an ex GW 2-6-2T which has been repainted in London Transport livery - totally in-authentic of course), no.12 Sarah Siddons and the milk van, Jubilee coach and the Ashbury set out in Metroland climbing the gradients through the Chilterns.

http://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/events-calendar/heritage-vehicles-outings

But today they had to move the stock, which they did by firing up both no.1 and L150 and topping and tailing the passenger cars and Sarah Siddons between Northfields and Acton Town, where they reversed and from Acton Town along the Piccadilly Line to Rayners Lane and the Metropolitan Line from there to Ruislip, from where there's a link up to the depot (which is actually on the Central Line)

Here's the convoy approaching Acton Town and about 30 minutes later at Ealing Common.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/14 07:44 by 86235.

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Wonderful stuff - you really got the best camera angles. For me, the ultimate thrill has always been seeing steam operation over the four rail system (it must be something t do with my Metro-land childhood!). I rode on the Uxbridge steam trains last December, but never got any really good shots.

Many thanks, Paul

Wow, that would have been something to see, thanks for catching this!

What a set of pictures, thank you Nick!

It is interesting to know that London is taking so well care of its past RR history, or who finances this action?

Thanks, Transport for London is publically funded so it's tax payers money although no.1, L150 and the Ashbury set of coaches are owned by railfan groups. Nevertheless TfL, through the London Transport Museum paid for no.1's overhaul in 2012.

Very cool that all participants have been able to arrange so that these treasures are now again in use and kept in excellent condition!

Wonderful! Thanks for covering this for those of us far, far, away.

Steve Mitchell
http://www.yardgoatimages.com

THANKS FOR POSTING THESE GREAT SHOTS. WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF THE RAIL CENTERED BETWEEN THE TWO RUNNING RAILS, AND THE
RAIL OUTSIDE OF THE TWO RUNNING RAILS...I ASSUME POWER pickup.

frank30

The London Underground uses a fourth rail between the running rails for the return current.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/14 23:16 by 86235.

Lionel O-27 with outside 3rd rail! :)

Great looking train, Nick. How did we operate without orange vests!!

There weren't any orange vests on show on Saturday, at least on the footplate of no.1 - traditional bib and braces were worn. The presence of hi vis on Tuesday may have something to do with the fact that Sir Peter Hendy, the Transport Commissioner, was on board in the four wheel Jubilee coach.

Also like to point out that along with all the bally hoo over the 150 years of the Hammersmith & City and this weekend's 125th aniversary celebrations of the Chesham Branch it's also Year of the Bus and there's plenty going on for bus fans. I believe that the Commissioner is something of a bus anorak.

https://www.tfl.gov.uk/campaign/year-of-the-bus#on-this-page-0



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/14 07:42 by 86235.

This little clip is not good enough for its own post, but may be of interest. It shows the view at Harrow-on-the Hill station last December when the steam train ran on the Metropolitan Line to Uxbridge. They only used the restored four wheel carriage, the rest of the rolling stock is an ex-BR set that LU bought for special occasions!

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86235 Wrote:
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I believe that the Commissioner is something
> of a bus anorak.

The Commissioner (Peter Hendy) is indeed a transport fan - he was a bus conductor (as part of his management training) back in, I think, the 1970s. He also owns a former London Routemaster bus and is a very longstanding member of the London Omnibus Traction Society (a bus enthusiast group). I for one think it's rather nice that the head of Transport for London should actually be a fan, though unlike many fans who remember the 1970s as a fun time with lots of Routemasters, some RTs and a variety to London's bus service he is pretty hard headed - the 1970s for him were a decade of industrial strife, broken down buses and poor service. He's right of course, but from the distance of 40 years we forget the buses that didn't turn up and remember the variety.

On the railway front the 1970s were a time of declining passenger numbers, threats of line closures and old rolling stock. In contrast this decade has seen, at least in London, vast increases in passenger numbers, lines re-opened and new trains. It's not perfect by any means, but dealing with the problems of sucsess is a lot more fun than trying to cope with failure.