London Underground Battery Locomotives BR MKll Railtour.

Two tube sized battery locomotives top and tail a rake of airconditioned BR MKll carriages on one of the most amazing railtours of the London Underground.

The tour included parts of the District Line, although it was only possible to film at 'above ground' locations.

Also seen are a spare pair of battery locos.

I think this was a rake of carriages which were normally used on the Gatwick Express (it was ages ago - I dont remember for sure).

InterCity goes underground!!!

Filmed in the 1980's using a silent super8 cine camera.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Tube
• train
• MKII
• railtour
• underground
• railway
• railroad
• locomotive
• electric
• London

[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

[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!

[CHRIS90ANDES]

clapham juntion? or something?

[citytransportinfo]

Barking... and environs.

[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.

[dccodring21]

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

[JillBattleSlut]

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

[fetishfiendish]

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

[fetishfiendish]

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

[fetishfiendish]

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

[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.

[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'