London Underground Battery Locomotives BR MKll Railtour.

[JillBattleSlut]

wonder how they recharge the giant batteries, from the electricified track? and can they run on the live rails as well?

[fetishfiendish]

the district line did serve southend and shoeburyness with tank locos until full electrification in 1932 to upminster

[brucesterman]

Straight from the mind of a total 'crank' ! We used to sit in the bar at the railway club and dream up 'rare' possibilities like this. This one is a complete triumph, so many technical considerations stand in the way of some of these insane ideas. This one even looks totally stupid, even the most unobservant, jaded commuter couldn't look at that without thinking, 'hey that ain't right'

[citytransportinfo]

@brucesterman I agree - thats why this was so much fun!!!

In those days there was a 'can-do' attitude and there were not the bevvy of kill-joy privatised railway lawyers ready to make trouble at the meerest whim.

Simon

[brucesterman]

@citytransportinfo Hmm, that's interesting, I was in the pre privatised era. Yes, I can well imagine that some of m'learned friends don't take too kindly to this 'sillyness'

[DANWOODHOUSE]

its funny how at the start East Ham looks so quite with no one on either platform - as for these days they say that East Ham is the busiest non zone one station on the district line

[theoldman777]

Further to previous comments, in the 50's when I was a lad (!) they used to run steam to Southend on sundays from Loughton thro' Woodford and turn onto Leyton yard and off to SEOS!

[citytransportinfo]

@theoldman777 apparently in addition to steam trains from Loughton to SEOS there were also trains to the south coast, reversing at Liverpool St and travelling via the East London Line!

[fetishfiendish]

@citytransportinfo actually the district line did serve southend & shoeburyness with tank steamers until full electricfication by 1932 to upminster

[fetishfiendish]

@theoldman777was also a seaonal services right through the year from north west london via dollis hill to southend and shoeburyness

[CHRIS90ANDES]

clapham juntion? or something?

[citytransportinfo]

Barking... and environs.

[bwarrrrk]

do u reckon that lul will have another tour like this?

[bronzeonion]

lul use sarah siddons and the 4TC rake quite a few times

[bwarrrrk]

i know ive been on the 38 ts and seen sarah siddons, both will be attending upminster depot open day next weekend

[bronzeonion]

I shoudld be going

[01276]

what does battery loco meant? is it litterally they run off a battery?

[citytransportinfo]

yes - although it can operate from the electrified rails the reason for battery locomotives is to provide motive power when the electricity is switched off. So, they are equipped with a lot of batteries.

They are often used when work is being done on the system, pulling trains with equipment used by the people doing the work.

Simon

[KoploperMau]

Yep. You can't really use diesel, because the gasses will stay in the tunnel. If they're working on the tunnels, the 3rd rail is down, so that won't work either.

[freemeen12]

lol wie klein

[mikemundy2005]

Yes, this was Gatwick Express stock, and ran on a Saturday morning in the 1980's.

[bronzeonion]

turn the sound on next time

[citytransportinfo]

well its a shame but my super 8 cine camera only does silent.

Simon

[bronzeonion]

oh! why do you use it then?

[citytransportinfo]

I don't, anymore.

In December 1989 I bought a camcorder, which did sound. Alas that is no longer working but I also have a small digital camera - that also does sound!

Simon

[porno6361]

neat footage,where did this start,end, and what routing did it follow?

[stuartthegrant]

Outstanding Gem. Thanks

[dccodring21]

I knew nothing about this how interesting and never to be repeated I guess.

[JoeRoss1993]

The engineer trains are formed from 1983 tube stock.

[DistrictMotorman]

They were not, although they were built in 1983 they weren't made from scrapped 83's these units have all been scraped now.

[KylieRamone]

I was on the morning tour - Massive. We did the Kingston loop and the District Line all from Wimbledon.

Then, in the afternoon, they did pretty much the same trip again.

[TheMusicalElitist]

The Kingston loop and the district line from Wimbledon? How did that work? Is there a set of points which enables underground trains to go to BR main lines? Sounds like it was a fantastic tour.

[citytransportinfo]

Ever since it first opened the District Line's service to Wimbledon was on tracks owned and also used by the mainline railway, although nowadays their trains do not call at any of the stations along this section of line (which is from East Putney southwards...)

Simon

Simon

[planetbods]

@citytransportinfo occasionally during engineering works mainline trains use the track from East Putney to access Wimbledon. However they obviously don't stop.

It doesn't happen very often and when it does the District has to reduce its service to compensate.

[HSTHoward]

WOW thats impressive

[class313]

I've seen one photo of this tour, but great to actually see some moving footage all be it with no sound! Either way, nice bit of work there mate.

[citytransportinfo]

Thanks.

Simon

[oashmole]

Great to see some film of this tour, I herd allot about it at work, you are correct about the coaches, these were used on the Gatwick Express route.

[citytransportinfo]

thanks! I watched the super 8 film again today and by looking carefully it is possible to read the 'Gatwick Express' logo on the carriage sides. Alas whilst super 8 film was rarely as good as present-day video youtube's processing reduces image quality far more than I ever imagined it would. BTW, these were otherwise standard Intercity carriages, not Pullmans.

Simon

[raakone]

I love this, it's cool. And Intercity Goes Underground? Why not? At one time there was a proposal for the "subsurface" lines to be connected to and integrated with Railtrack, and allow for more through services. What's now the District line once had service all the way out to Windsor. And There were once trains from Liverpool street to Brighton, that passed along the East London Line (until 1966). So why not have Intercity coaches "Underground"? *laughs*

~Ra'akone

[citytransportinfo]

I agree!

You missed out the through trains between Ealing Broadway and Southend-On-Sea... the 'Southend Corridor Express' trains were hauled by electric locomotives as far as East Ham or Barking, and steam or the rest of the way.

The Met locos which ran on the route to Wembley Park and Rickmansworth also used to pull GWR trains east of Paddington - I think these terminated at Aldgate (not sure).

[citytransportinfo]

Anyway, both these services were victims of WW2, as were the Pullman carriages on the Baker Street - Aylesbury service.

Simon

[metadyneman]

My Mum used to tease me about Southend being on the District line when I was a nipper. She said she used to go on the District line from Ealing Broadway to Southend as a child. it wasn't until I was a bit older that I knew what she was talking about!