22. North London-10.11.79

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1979 > 22. North London-10.11.79

A superb day in north London with Graham. We drove up early in the morning from the West Country in UAM, the orange Mini, and spent the day seeking out the mechanical signalling that still existed on an often forgotten about section of line that curves around north west London from Kew to the MML. Even today, a section of this line remains non-electrified and retains three mechanical signal boxes and semaphores; a quite extraordinary feat of survival. It is also amazing that we were able to access the lines and signal boxes with so much freedom. We ended the day at St. Pancras and a brief visit to King's Cross.

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Images 1-38 of 38 displayed.

Kew East Junction Signal Box (NL, C. 1900)
With frost from the previous night still on the sleepers, Kew East Junction signal box is seen in the morning sun. This North London box was constructed circa 1900 and looked smart but for the temporary roof repair made out of roofing felt! In later years it had a proper roof constructed of slate but at the same time, it also had the UPVC tretament. The box closed in June 2012 with control moving to Acton Wells.
Keywords: Kew East Junction Signal Box

Signals, Kew East Junction, looking NE TQ192785
With Kew East Junction signal box now behind me, this view is looking northeast towards Acton and Willesden. The incredibly tall pair of signal posts have four sets of co-acting arms. The top two were removed in later years but the posts remained right up to end when the mechanical signalling was swept away in 2012. Notice the lovely art deco style factory to the right of the image, unfortunately, this has been demolished and replaced by a huge B&Q superstore. The bridge carries the A496 Gunnersbury Avenue over the line and this was the cause of the sighting issues hence unusually high signal posts as mentioned.
Keywords: Signals Kew East Junction TQ192785

Signals, Acton Wells Junction TQ211817
Another example of an extremely tall signal post is seen at Acton Wells. There is also a number of other semaphores in the distance and the North London Acton Wells Junction signal box. The line curving away to my left drops down to the GWML and Acton yard. The line to the right continues south towards South Acton and the Kew triangle. As Acton Wells box was maned, witness the up home signal pulled off, Graham and I had to proceed with care so as to avoid being spotted!
Keywords: Signals Acton Wells Junction TQ211817

Acton Well Junction Signal Box, (NL, C.1892) & signals, TQ211817
An impressive three-way splitting LMS tubular signal that supports three dolls. The left doll has a home and distant for the line to Acton Canal Wharf, Dudding Hill and the MML at Cricklewood. The right-hand doll is for the North London Line to Willesden. The central doll is a mini arm controlling access to some sidings opposite the signal box. This is as close as we dare get to the box, a North London structure dating from circa 1892. At the time of writing it is still in use but controls no semaphores having a workstation installed in 2012. I would like to return to take a better picture of the box, but it is all but impossible to get close to, I need to take a train past it and attempt to take a photograph but this is a rarity as little passenger traffic traverses this line.

Update...... I have finally managed a photograph of the box from a passing charter, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30057285329/x24-acton-wells-junction-signal-box
Keywords: Acton Well Junction Signal Box signals, TQ211817

Acton Canal Wharf Signal Box (Midland, 1894) TQ211829
The delightful Acton Canal Wharf signal box is seen in the November sunshine. It is a Midland Railway type 2b box that was opened in 1884. As the name suggests, it is located just above the Grand Union canal that passes under the line just to my right. Behind the box is the old Acton Lane coal-fired power station that was still open and generating some 150mw of energy until it closed in 1983. Whilst the power station has been demolished, now the home of the Powergate Business park, the box is still in existence. It has been extended and UPVC clad meaning that it ornate Midland styling has been totally lost behind a mass of white plastic, the best image that I have secured was taken from a great distance caused by the HS2 works taking over the area, see...... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/28768437004/acton-canal-wharf-signal-box-midland
Keywords: Acton Canal Wharf Signal Box TQ211829

Track diagram, Acton Canal Wharf Signal Box
We were afforded a visit inside Acton Canal Wharf signal box by the signalman. I remember the box being a warm and welcoming place with a fire blazing keeping it warm. The track diagram is seen above the levers. The box is located eight and a half miles from St. Pancras via Cricklewood according to the milepost directly outside the box.
Keywords: Track diagram Acton Canal Wharf Signal Box

Neasden Junction Signal Box (Midland, 1899) TQ213850
Neasden Junction signal box is seen looking as if it is sinking into the ground at one end. Indeed, photographs taken in the late 1980s show it surrounded by steel posts and acrows in an effort to prevent it from tipping over completely! The box still exists today, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/28768436004/neasden-junction-signal-box but looks totally different being completely encased in UPVC. Long gone are the superb finials, wooden balcony and Midland nameboard with the graffiti vandal doing their best to destroy its looks even further.
Keywords: Neasden Junction Signal Box TQ213850

Dudding Hill Junction Signal Box (Midland, C.1902) TQ227858
Dudding Hill signal box is a type 3a Midland box dating from circa 1902. Originally, it would have been completely of timber construction but at some time a brick base has been constructed with metal-framed windows installed suggesting that this may have been carried out in the 1930s perhaps as a wartime measure. It looks a little sorry for itself having lost its finials and with mesh protection over the windows. The box still exists and is in use today but looks very different. It has had a clumsy extension added very similar to the one added to Acton Canal Wharf box and it is UPVC clad but retains a slate roof. My 2020 photograph can be seen at ..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/28768436804/dudding-hill-junction-signal-box
Keywords: Dudding Hill Junction Signal Box TQ227858

Dudding Hill Junction, from signal box steps, TQ227858
A photograph taken from the steps of Dudding Hill Junction signal box looking northeast. Both of the lines seen in this photograph lead to the MML forming a triangular junction with it. The line to the left leads to Brent Curve Junction with the one to right joining the MML at Cricklewood Curve Junction leading into St. Pancras. Forty years on from this photograph being taken, the lovely linesman's hut has gone but the rugby posts are still extant in the Dollis Hill sports ground to the far left.
Keywords: Dudding Hill Junction from signal box steps TQ227858

25178, PW train, Brent yard TQ231867
25178 trundles about doing its business in Brent yard. It is just in front of a lovely timber Midland gantry located at the north end of the yard. 25178 was a Derby built locomotive that was released to traffic in 1965 and withdrawn twenty years later in 1985. Beyond, in the distance, is the viaduct that spans the yard carrying the A406 North Circular road, the bane of so many Londoners' lives!
Keywords: 25178 Brent yard TQ231867

Brent Yard no. 2 signal box (Mid, 1892)
Quite how Graham and I had the gall to wander into Brent Yard and take photographs such as this is beyond me! However, we did seem to walk about the yard with impunity for the next few hours. Against a glorious November sky, the superb Brent Yard no. 1 signal box is viewed looking in virtually original condition with its finials and its twin stove pipes. Notice the pile of coal and the shovel under the steps ready to keep the fires burning inside the box during these chilly winter shifts. I can find out precious little about this box apart from it being of obvious Midland construction dating from 1892. If anybody can furnish me with any other information I would be grateful.
Keywords: Brent Yard no. 2 signal box

45116, 08.04 Leeds-London St. Pancras (1M14), Brent yard TQ231867
This magnificent Midland signal gantry should have been saved from demolition and preserved, unfortunately, it was not! It once carried signals on all of its eight dolls but many have been removed. I have found a contemporary photograph of the gantry looking from the north with all of the small arms still in place controlling entry to the yard roads. The fact that all but one has been removed indicates the general rationalisation and re-signaling that was taking place at this time. 45116 is passing the gantry, still at a fair rate of knots as it approaches its destination, St. Pancras, with the 1M14 08.04 from Leeds.
Keywords: 45116 08.04 Leeds-London St. Pancras Brent yard TQ231867

45125, 10.10 Sheffield-London St.-Pancras (1M15), Brent yard
With signs of the forthcoming resignalling in the form of a lone colour light and feather-covered with the requisite bag with a white cross in view, 45125 nears the end of its journey heading the 10.10 Sheffield to St. Pancras train. The train is passing through Brent Yard with some of its semaphores in view, soon to be banished. Also above the train are electrification masts already erected in and around the area that will soon become home to the class 317 units, the newly constructed Cricklewood depot.
Keywords: 45125 10.10 Sheffield-London St. Pancras 1M15 Brent yard

45114, 13.01 London St. Pancras-Sheffield (1E40), Brent yard
45114 is getting into its stride as it passes through north London with the 1E40 13.01 St. Pancras to Sheffield express. It is approaching the southern end of Brent Yard with the line to Dudding Hill Junction dropping away to the right. Just behind the Peak is one of the famous class 127 Bed-Pan DMUs.
Keywords: 45114 13.01 London St. Pancras-Sheffield 1E40 Brent yard

45114, 13.01 London St. Pancras-Sheffield (1E40), Brent Yard
I am not quite sure why I took a going away shot of the 13.01 St. Pancras to Sheffield, being led by 45114 as I had just taken a decent shot of it approaching? However, this is a nice photograph that gives a really clear idea of the size of Brent Yard complete with quite a number of semaphores. Much of the land to the left that contained many sidings has now been sold off and is the home to Geron Way, with a number of leisure and retail outlets built on the land.
Keywords: 45114 13.01 London St. Pancras-Sheffield 1E40 Brent Yard

Class 127 DMU, 13.05 London St. Pancras-Bedford, Brent yard
With its four Rolls-Royce C8NFLH engines producing a clear trail of exhaust, a class 127 Bed-Pan DMU accelerates away from its stop at Cricklewood station forming the 13.05 St. Pancras to Bedford service. These units operated on this line throughout their entire life, one of the most intensive ones that absolutely wore these units out prior to their delayed withdrawal in 1984 with one or two living on being re-used, for example as parcel carrying units.
Keywords: Class 127 13.05 London St. Pancras-Bedford Brent yard

45138, 13.25 London St. Pancras-Nottingham, Brent yard
I have not quite managed to place 45138 correctly positioning it behind one of Brent yard's signal posts, in this case, a distant operated by Cricklewood signal box. The Peak (formally D92) is leading the 13.25 St. Pancras to Nottingham. Notice Cricklewood depot in the background with a couple of Peaks on-shed along with a class 127 DMU.
Keywords: 45138 13.25 London St. Pancras-Nottingham Brent yard

Class 45, 11.00 Sheffield-London-St.-Pancras, Cricklewood yard
The 11.00 Sheffield to St. Pancras, led by an unidentified class 45, approaches Crickelwood passing the now-demolished depot to its right. The vast expanse of Brent Yard stretches out into the distance. I am not at all sure how Graham and I managed to remain unchallenged in the yard taking pictures and cannot remember how we gained access?
Keywords: Class 45 11.00 Sheffield-London-St.-Pancras Cricklewood yard

Cricklewood Junction signal box (LMS, c1929)
In the beautiful afternoon winter sun, Cricklewood signal box is seen just north of the station. It was a one hundred and twenty lever LMS box dating from circa 1929. As well as controlling the Midland Mainline it also permitted access to and from the busy depot. Finally, it had control over the junction to the Dudding Hill and West London line along with many sidings. Notice the superb Midland wooden signal in the foreground and the substantial Express dairy behind the box. This has now been demolished and is home to a housing estate with the access road aptly called Dairyman Close leading into it off Claremont Road.
Keywords: Cricklewood Junction signal box

45116, 14.01 London St. Pancras-Sheffield, Cricklewood yard
Having seen it working up earlier in the afternoon, 45116 is seen returning north again on the 14.01 St. Pancras to Sheffield. It is seen passing Cricklewood signal box and its associated infrastructure. Unfortunately, I have not re-adjusted the camera's shutter speed, probably from when taking the previous photograph of the signal box, so there is some motion blur.
Keywords: 45116 14.01 London St. Pancras-Sheffield Cricklewood yard

Class 127 DMUs, 12.47 Bedford-London St. Pancras & 14.05 London-St. Pancras-Luton, Cricklewood yard
A passing of class 127 DMUs at Cricklewood. To the left is the 12.47 Bedford to London St. Pancras service. This unit has had a few embellishments in the form of silver buffers and a silver stripe the length of the lower roof line. As this unit looks very different, I wonder if anybody out there could identify it or were there other units treated in this way? To the right another unit makes a smokey departure from Crickewood station forming the 14.05 St. Pancras to Luton. Notice the small hut to the extreme right of the photograph, this was the building that Graham and I took refuge behind when not taking pictures so as not to attract attention to our presence.
Keywords: Class 127 DMU 12.47 Bedford-London St. Pancras 14.05 London-St. Pancras-Luton Cricklewood yard

45104, 14.12 London St. Pancras-Derby, Cricklewood yard
Still wearing its nameplates, 45104 'The Royal Warwickshire Fusilier' leads the 14.12 St. Pancras to Derby past Cricklewood. The train is composed of a long rake of somewhat faded Mk. 1 stock. The sea of semaphores that the train is passing is a reminder of another era in our railway heritage. These particular ones had a very limited time left as the MML resignalling programme was well under way even though there is little evidence in this photograph.
Keywords: 45104 14.12 London St. Pancras-Derby Cricklewood yard

25280, shunting parcels, Cricklewood yard
You can almost here the rattling from the Sulzer 6LDA28-B engine as 25280 gets its parcels train under way in Cricklewood yard. The consist has a delightfully eclectic mix of vans including three LMS series III vans, M31340, M0314 and M31374. These would have been built at Wolverton works during the early 1940s. 25280 had another two years in service until withdrawal came with it being cut up at Swindon
Keywords: 25280 Cricklewood yard

Cricklewood Junction signal box (LMS, 1929) & LMS van
A true LMS scene at Cricklewood with the 1929 box and a parcels van basking in the afternoon sunshine. I suspect that this box was double manned given its size and the amount of traffic it handled. In this view, a superb Midland wooden bracket signal that used to sit adjacent to the southern end of the box has been removed. This had a variety of arms including a calling-on arm for shunting purposes. Notice that the windows into the frame room have been bricked up on the box.
Keywords: Cricklewood Junction signal box LMS van

Class 127 DMU, 14.35 London St. Panacras-Bedford, Cricklewood junction
A class 127 DMU rattles past Cricklewood Junction signal box working the 14.35 St. Pancras to Bedford service. Within four years this scene will have been completely transformed with the modernisation and electrification of the line out of St. Pancras. All the semaphore and the box will have been wiped away, the track massively rationalised and the ageing first generation DMUs replaced by state of the art BR class 317 EMUs.
Keywords: Class 127 DMU 14.35 London St. Panacras-Bedford, Cricklewood junction

Class 127 DMU, 14.35 London St. Pancras-Bedford, Cricklewood junction
Despite appearances there is actually two signal brackets in this image with them blending seamlessly into one. In the foreground is a superbly antiquated wooden Midland bracket that contains the home for the line curving away to the left round to Dudding Hill junction. It also has a shunting signal and a calling-on arm. Behind the wooden structure is a steel more modern affair with just one dol on it that has the home for trains coming away from Dudding Hill.
Keywords: Class 127 DMU, 14.35 London St. Pancras-Bedford, Cricklewood junction

Signals, Cricklewood yard
With Cricklewood depot in the background, a superb collection of mechanical signalling is in full view. Dominating the scene is a superb Midland Railway wooden post, with no finial, that has a fluted metal upper quadrant arm. All this superb signalling would be wiped away over the coming two years as the line was upgraded and electrified.
Keywords: Signals Cricklewood yard

Hendon signal box (LMS, date not known)
With the sun getting low in the sky, Hendon signal box is seen from the rear. This is another LMS signal box but I have been unable to find out very little about it and even its date of construction. If anybody has any information it would be gratefully received.
Keywords: Hendon signal box

Elstree signal box illuminated by UAM`s-lights (Midland, date not known)
By the time Graham and I had reached the north London suburbs it was dark. Struggling for light at Elstree, we directed the headlights of the Mini (UAM) as best as we could and a reasonable picture resulted. I am not at all sure what the signalman will have thought? The Midland signal box was located between the station and the tunnel, and I cannot remember how we accessed this position to take this time exposure!
Keywords: Elstree signal box

Elstree station
I like taking time exposures and in the days before digital photography as it was an activity that required considerable skill if one was to avoid wasting expensive Kodachrome 64 slides! Exposure times using 64ASA film at night obviously required a good tripod and a cable release to avoid camera shake from keeping the shutter release button depressed for some lengths of time. An exposure like this would have been in the region of thirty seconds using a medium aperture of something such as f8. By scanning the slides digitally I have been able to alter the colour temperature hue created by the ambient lighting. In the case of this image, largely illuminated by fluorescent lighting, there was a blue/green cast with the image presented here now having largely neutral lighting
Keywords: Elstree station

Cricklewood Junction signal box (LMS, c1929) & signalling
I love this photograph! Taken at night from the northern platform end of Cricklewood station it shows the running lines and signal box. To the right is Cricklewood depot with a class 47 on view along with a lot of stock. The lamps shining through the glasses of the semaphores stand out against the dark winter sky.
Keywords: Cricklewood Junction signal box signalling

Down fast signal bracket, Cricklewood station
An image taken from the northern end of Cricklewood station that shows the down fast home and distant signals pulled off clearing a train to pass. It is a wooden Midland signal with three dols but only one remains in use. Notice the strange ghosting effect with a lighting post and running in sign seen to the left of the photograph.
Keywords: Down fast signal bracket Cricklewood station

Interior, Engine Shed Junction signal box
In the midst of time I have forgotten how we managed to gain access to Engine Shed Junction signal box and even where it was located. All I do know is that it was located adjacent to the MML at the southern end of the Kentish Town triangle. The signalman must have afforded us access to the box and allowed me to use my flash to take this image of the levers and track diagram. Notice the number of white levers (OOU) and the mini panel above the telephone.
Keywords: Interior Engine Shed Junction signal box

Kentish Town station
A time exposure taken at Kentish Town station looking north-west away from St. Pancras. At this time, the station was looking a little tired being in need on renovation and modernisation, something that happened when the line was electrified in the next couple of years. Notice the benches in the alcoves along the length of the platforms. Also, notice the banner repeater signal on the down platform due to poor sighting caused by the sharp left-hand curve. A look at Google earth reveals that the two buildings above the station are still extant. The one with the turret to the right is The Assembly House pub and featured in my 2020 attempted recreation of the same scene, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/28800885404/kentish-town-station
Keywords: Kentish Town station

Frontage, Kentish Town station
The entrance to Kentish Town station sits on the bridge that caries Kentish Town Road over the railway. All of the buildings seen in this photograph have now been demolished with a glazed steel-framed structure located in it place. The access to the station is down some walkways from the road level. Close examination of the various posters reveals some familiar products being advertised. There is a Persil advert, one for a young person's railcard, a 'dial-a-train' poster (whatever that was?) and one entitled Electrification News'. Probably the best-remembered one is to the extreme left showing an HST and advertising Rail Riders. The viewpoint today reveals a very different scene, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/28800883604/frontage-kentish-town-station
Keywords: Frontage Kentish Town station

St.Pancras signal box (BR, 1957)
Taken from the platform end at St. Pancras station the signal box is seen. When the box opened in October 1957 it replaced three signal boxes, St. Pancras Station, St. Pancras Junction and Cambridge Street in one fell swoop. The panel installed in the box was one from Westinghouse Brake & Signal Co. and was one of the first to utilise thumb switches and was absolute cutting-edge technology when it opened. It succumbed when the station was transformed into what it is today in 2002.
Keywords: St.Pancras signal box

55015, 21.00 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh (1S66), London King`s Cross station
Before our late night drive home from London to the West Country, Graham and I paid a quick visit to King's Cross. We found two Deltics at the station, the first being 55015 'Tulyar' at the head of the SO 21.00 1S66 to Edinburgh. It was a tricky photograph to take as I had to pop off the platform end and it is taken looking back into the light of the station. Notice the HST sitting in a platform to the left. This Deltic is still with us today and, at the time of writing, thanks to the incredible hard work of the Deltic Preservation Society, will be operating again after a long restoration.
Keywords: 55015 21.00 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh 1S66 London King`s Cross station

31202, station pilot & 55021, 18.14 York-London King`s Cross (1A31), London King`s Cross station
The clock above the platform reads 20.46 at King's Cross. To the left is 31202 acting as one of the station pilots. To the right, 550021 'Argyll and Sutherland Highlander' arrived earlier at the head of the 1A31 18.14 from York. Notice the work going on at King's Cross that included some restoration of the superb roof.
Keywords: 31202 55021 18.14 York-London King`s Cross 1A31 London King`s Cross station

Images 1-38 of 38 displayed.