11. A north London ramble-18.02.20

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2020 > 11. A north London ramble-18.02.20

An interesting day in north London with Andy and Mike. As well as exploring the Parkland Walk from Finsbury Park to Highgate, we went in search of the remaining mechanical signalling in London. A great day out ending up with a meal before returning home.

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Images 1-34 of 34 displayed.

350263, LN 07.10 Rugeley Trent Valley & 06.35 Crewe-London Euston (1Y14, 4L), Northampton station
Our train south to London arrives at Northampton station. Mike, Andy and I travelled on 350263 working the 1Y14 07.10/06.35 Rugeley Trent Valley/Crewe to Euston. As can be seen here, the day started off reasonably bright if a little chilly.
Keywords: 350263 07.10 Rugeley Trent Valley 06.35 Crewe-London Euston 1Y14 Northampton station London Northwestern Desiro

66136, 07.05 Dollands Moor-DIRFT (6M45), Wembley yard
Wearing its DB Cargo Yiwu London branding decals and sponsors' logos on its body sides 66136 stands in Wembley Yard. It is at the head of the 6M45 07.05 Dollands Moor to Daventry bottled water train.
Keywords: 66136 07.05 Dollands Moor-DIRFT 6M45 Wembley yard

82228 & former LNER Mk. IV set, stabled, Wembley yard
A short set of ex LNER Mk.IV stock sits stabled in Wembley Yard with DVT 82228 at the front. This set is awaiting trials on the WCML to commence in preparation for operations with Grand Central. Unfortunately, it does not look like that the powerful class 91s will operate the services with class 90s being used instead, see..... https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2020/02/21/grand-central-prepares-for-blackpool-london-launch/
Keywords: 82228 former LNER Mk. IV set Wembley yard IC225

700035, TL 10.16 Luton-Rainham (9P23, 3L), London St
After a short walk from Euston to King's Cross and St. Pancras we were forced to alter our plans slightly. Due to the remodelling of King's Cross station, we discovered that some local services had been diverted away from the station. We were directed to St. Pancras Thameslink station down in the depths of the station. Whilst waiting on platform B 700035 is seen pausing with the 10.16 Luton to Rainham Thameslink service.
Keywords: 700035 10.16 Luton-Rainham 9P23 London St. Pancras International station Thameslink

700126, TL 09.08 Brighton-Cambridge, cancelled from Royston (9S16, 35L), London St
Already working over half an hour late, Thamelink's 700126 arrives at St. Pancras International working the 09.08 Brighton to Cambridge service. Unfortunately, this service did not make up time and it was, eventually, cancelled from Royston. Mike, Andy and I took this train the short distance to Finsbury Park.
Keywords: 700126 09.08 Brighton-Cambridge, cancelled from Royston 9S16 London St. Pancras station Thameslink

717008, GN 10.55 Moorgate-Hertford North (2B54, 1E), Finsbury Park station
I have very few photographs of the twenty-five Siemens built Great Northern Class 717s - not the most attractive of designs it has to be said! They have replaced the elderly Class 313s that have been scrapped after over forty years of service. At Finsbury Park 717008 pauses, working the 10.55 Moorgate to Hertford North.
Keywords: 717008 10.55 Moorgate-Hertford North 2B54 Finsbury Park station

Former Finsbury Park depot site
A pretty anonymous north London 1980s housing estate hides an interesting history. This site was once that of BR's Finsbury Park depot. It was the first purpose-built diesel depot opening in 1960 and closing in 1983. I never 'bagged' the depot but Andy, being a local resident of Finsbury Park earlier in his life, had been a number of times.
Keywords: Former Finsbury Park depot site Parkside Crescent London N7

Former Finsbury Park depot site
Forty years ago, Andy and Mike would have been walking across the running lines within Finsbury Park depot no doubt incurring the wrath of the superintendent! Looking down Steve Biko Road from this position would have been looking straight into the rather compact six-road shed probably with the odd Deltic or two receiving some light attention.
Keywords: Former Finsbury Park depot site

Former Finsbury Park depot site
In this view, taken from Isledon Road, the truncated row of houses on the left and the small park behind the trees are seen. These feature in a number of contemporary photographs taken of Finsbury Park depot during the 1970s and 1980s. The depot, the home to many types of diesel that operated on the ECML, was located beyond the park where the housing estate is now built. It is probably the fabled Class 55 Deltics that were synonymous with the depot that eventually closed in 1983 a mere twenty-three years after opening. Initially, it was coded as 34G and from 1973, under TOPS, becoming FP.
Keywords: Former Finsbury Park depot site

Sign, Parkland Walk, Upper Tollington Park
Parkland Walk is an absolute gem of a local resource for Londoners. It follows the route of the former railway that linked Finsbury Park to Highgate and is now a green walkway just under three miles in length. It can be accessed from a number of locations along its length and during our walk, it was popular with runners, dog walkers and families out for a jaunt. The website https://www.parkland-walk.org.uk/ has many details about the walk and the history of its development.
Keywords: Sign Parkland Walk Upper Tollington Park Finsbury Park Haringey Council

Climbing to Parkland Walk, Upper Tollington Park
Mike and Andy climb up from Upper Tollington Park road in Finsbury Park to access Parkland Walk. If you are planning to visit the walk robust footwear is required as none of the surface is tarmacked. This can mean it is a little uneven and muddy during periods of wet weather.
Keywords: Climbing to Parkland Walk Upper Tollington Park

387122, GN 10.47 Ely-London King`s Cross (1T23, 4L), Parkland Walk, Finsbury Park footbridge
387122 is seen from the busy footbridge that accesses Finsbury Park from the western side. It is working the 10.47 Ely to King's Cross 1T23 Great Northern service. This footbridge was narrow and busy with people out enjoying some welcome fresh air either in the park or using the Parkland Walk to the western end of the bridge.
Keywords: 387122 10.47 Ely-London King`s Cross 1T23 Parkland Walk Finsbury Park footbridge Great Northern Railway

801103 & 801112, GR 12.03 London King`s Cross-Leeds (1D13, RT), Parkland Walk Finsbury Park footbridge
A little obscured by some registration arms, 800103 and 800112 get into their stride just north of Finsbury Park station woking the 12.03 King's Cross to Leeds LNER service. Behind the trees to the left is Finsbury's park, a very popular resource for locals if the number of people crossing the footbridge on which we were standing was anything to go by. Notice inner London dominating the skyline with The Shard standing taller than the other buildings.
Keywords: 801103 801112 12.03 London King`s Cross-Leeds 1D13 Parkland Walk Finsbury Park LNER Azuma footbridge

Andy, Parkland Walk, crossing Mount Pleasant Villas
Andy spent the first ten years of his life in Finsbury Park living very close to where this photograph was taken crossing Mount Pleasant Villas road on the Parkland Walk. He reported that as a young railway enthusiast in the late 1960s he remembered seeing north London suburban stock shunted in and out of the remaining track close to this location. The stock accessed the sidings by the mainlines and next to the park via a flyover that crossed the ECML just north of Finsbury Park station. Coaches were stabled there during the day in between use on commuter services in and out of the capital.
Keywords: Andy Parkland Walk crossing Mount Pleasant Villas

Mike, Parkland Walk, former Crouch End station
There were once two stations on the 2.7 miles section of track between Finsbury Park and Highgate that now makes up the Parkland Walk. Nothing remains of Stroud Green (closed 03.07.54) apart from the street-level station master's house. However, at Crouch End (also closed 03.07.54) the platforms are still extant as seen in this view. The platforms are of concrete construction replacing the originals in 1935 as part of London Underground's 'new works plan'. They were built to a compromise height in order to be able to accommodate underground and heavyweight stock for which the line from Highgate to Finsbury Park was to have been used. Mike is seen walking between the platform remains along the former trackbed towards the site of the station buildings.
Keywords: Mike Parkland Walk former Crouch End station

Andy, Parkland Walk, former Crouch End station
Andy walks along the former eastbound platform at Crouch End. The station was opened in 1867 by the Great Northern. It led a quiet life undergoing a rebuild in 1952 but was closed a mere two years later to passengers in 1954. The lines remained in use for freight and stock movements until complete closure came in the early 1970s due to the condition of a bridge and of the flyover crossing the ECML at the far eastern end. The tracks were lifted in 1972 and most infrastructure removed.
Keywords: Andy Parkland Walk former Crouch End station

Former frontage, Crouch End station
It looks like the Crescent Café has not sold a cup of tea, let alone serve a dinner for some time! This is all that remains of the Great Northern's station building on Crouch End Hill. The café features in many contemporary photographs even though it has a different appearance to how it is seen here. The main station building was located where the strange inverted brick arches are seen in front of the trees. It is a misnomer that these arches are the actual remains of the original structure; they were constructed after the building was razed to the ground in 1977. The pathway between the café and the structure is the access down some steps to the Parkland Walk on the trackbed that passes below the bridge.
Keywords: Former frontage Crouch End station

Work underway, Parkland Walk, Highgate tunnels
Work is underway at the current far western end of the Parkland Walk to clear vegetation and rubbish. The former twin Highgate tunnels can be seen beyond the work site shrouded in ivy. I have been unable to find out but I am wondering if this is a precursor to the reopening of the tunnels to the public as an extension of the Parkland Walk. If they were to reopen, this would provide excellent access to Highgate tube station that is a short distance beyond the western tunnel mouths. However, the tunnels are now home to bats and other rare species so re-opening could be a little problematic.
Keywords: Work underway, Parkland Walk, Highgate tunnels

Canopies and platforms, former Highgate station
Taken over the wall from the small carpark at Highgate tube station the canopies of the former railway station can be seen through the encroaching undergrowth. Opened in 1880 by the Great Northern Railway, the station was re-built in 1935 as part of the 'new works' plan hence its prefabricated concrete construction.
Keywords: Canopies and platforms former Highgate station

Canopies and platforms, former Highgate station
The structure of the long-closed Highgate station is seen over the retaining wall of the London Underground station car park. Access to the former platforms is now all but impossible apart from if one joins one of London Transport Museum's hidden London tours. However, Highgate is not currently on offer but it has been in the past. The last passengers used the station in July 1954 with the tracks remaining in use for a number of years afterwards. The Northern Line passes straight underneath the former station perpendicular to where I am standing.
Keywords: Canopies and platforms, former Highgate station

710268, LO 13.22 South Tottenham-Gospel Oak (2J40, 1L), Upper Holloway station
Originating from South Tottenham due to closure of the line beyond caused by a freight train derailment in January, the 13.22 to Gospel Oak arrives at Upper Holloway station. Mike, Andy and I travelled on 710268 the short distance to Gospel Oak giving me my first opportunity to sample one of these new Bombardier transportation constructed units introduced, after the customary delay, last year. They seemed functional, bright and airy complete with excellent display screens. One strange observation was that they had a small cluster of usb sockets somewhat randomly and inconveniently located on the bulkhead of the carriage ends.
Keywords: 710268 13.22 South Tottenham-Gospel Oak 2J40 Upper Holloway station London Overground

378228, LO 13.15 Stratford-Richmond (2N72, RT), Gospel Oak station
London Overground's 378228 arrives at Gospel Oak station with the 13.15 Stratford to Richmond train. We took this service to West Hampstead, a journey of about fifteen minutes. I think that the interior of these older 378 units is superior to the much newer Class 710s. They are certainly impressive when viewed inside from front to rear on a straight section of track looking down the entire length of the train!
Keywords: 378228 13.15 Stratford-Richmond 2N72 Gospel Oak station

Neasden Junction signal box (Mid, 1899) TQ213850
Remarkable survivor number 1.....

This is as near as I could get to the 1899 Midland Railway signal box at Neasden Junction and so a view through the trees and the palisade fencing will have to suffice. The box is still manned - controls, semaphores and with the route still operating as absolute block. The box looks somewhat different to when I last saw it way back in 1979, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/27444280604/neasden-junction-signal-box-tq213850 Then it appeared to be sinking into the embankment but has since been rescued and stabilised. The toilet extension and the inevitable galvanised steps have been added to the box. However, despite all the plasticisation of the structure, it still retains just one of its original finials as seen in my visit some forty years ago and could that be the same wooden nameboard?
Keywords: Neasden Junction signal box

66760, 12.04 Angerstein Wharf-Bardon Hill (6M75, 5L), Neasden Lane bridge TQ215851
RTT had indicated that there was a freight due along the short freight only line that links Acton Wells Junction to the MML at Brent Yard. Being in the middle of north-west London there was nowhere particularly photogenic to capture it. So, we waited by Neasden Lane bridge for it to cross in front of us being in receipt of some strange looks from the normals going about their business! I actually quite like this image of 66740 'David Gordon Harris' leading the 12.04 Angerstein Wharf to Bardon Hill stone empties. However, it's a shame that the loco does not quite fit fully on the bridge, being partially obscured by some saplings.
Keywords: 66760 David Gordon Harris 12.04 Angerstein Wharf-Bardon Hill (6M75, 5L), Neasden Lane bridge TQ215851 GBRf

Dudding Hill 12 signals old and new, Gladstone Park TQ225857
Remarkable survivors number 2.....

The two and a half-mile of freight only line that joins Dudding Hill Junction to Acton Wells Junctions still operates as absolute block, has semaphore signals and has a total of four signal boxes in operation, quite an incredible survivor. Not only that but, as can be seen from this image, Network Rail has embarked on an upgrade of the line, not to destroy all the old signalling but to replace the gantries and arms with new ones! Taken through the fence in Gladstone Park the DH12 signal post is seen with the new one recently installed, complete with arms' cover by the requisite black bags with Xs on them. The S & T team have had to improvise with the covers as no standard ones are available for mechanical arms as per the hoods placed over new coloured lights. Hence, they have appeared to have used bin bags with white gaffer tape! All the old signalling was being replaced. The question that I have is, who today will they have got to make the new enamel arms?
Keywords: Dudding Hill 12 signals old and new Gladstone Park TQ225857

Dudding Hill Junction signal box (Midland, C.1902) TQ227858
Remarkable survivor number 3.....

Taken from a pedestrian bridge in Dollis Hill's Gladstone Park the well preserved Dudding Hill Junction signal box is seen. It is a Midland structure dating from c.1902 that has undergone some modernisation with cladding and new windows. From this angle, its rather ugly extension is not so visible but at least it has a nice red Midland style name board. It controls the splitting junction that permits access to the Midland mainline, to the north (left in this image) into Brent Yard and the south to Cricklewood. I took a very similar photograph during my visit with Graham in November 1979, see...... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/27444281004/dudding-hill-junction-signal-box
Keywords: Dudding Hill Junction signal box Mid C.1902 TQ227858

Acton Canal Wharf signal box (Midland, 1894) TQ211829
Remarkable survivor number 4.....

When I visited Acton Canal Wharf signal box in 1979, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/27444280004/acton-canal-wharf-signal-box-tq211829 Graham and I were permitted access to the box. Now, with the HS2 work site having taken over vast swathes of former industrial land in the foreground, we could not get anywhere near it! Whilst the 1894 Midland box looks to be in good condition it has lost quite a lot of its original character having had a rather crude extension added but at least it is in a style that matches the rest of the box ignoring the galvanised steel base. In 1979, the former Acton Lane power station provided the backdrop, now the box is dwarfed by a huge warehouse on the appropriately named Powergate Business Park.
Keywords: Acton Canal Wharf signal box Midland 1894 TQ211829

Class 345s, stored, Old Oak Common
What a shambles! With no date yet set for the opening of Crossrail's Elizabeth Line, the stock that was delivered on-time ready for the planned opening date stands idle. The taxpayer is paying for these Class 345s to sit in the purpose-built sidings at Old Oak Common whilst arguments continue about who is to blame for this debacle. Whilst some of the trains are operating a limited service between Paddington and Reading on some sort of rota basis most sit idle and no doubt deteriorating but at the same time drawing power.
Keywords: Class 345s stored Old Oak Common Elizabeth Line CrossRail

800315, stabled & 800004, GW 15.41 Bedwyn-London Paddington (1K23, 2L), Old Oak Common
In the gathering afternoon gloom at Old Oak Common, 800004 speeds eastwards with the 15.41 Bedwyn to Paddington service now within two miles of its destination. The IET is passing three further units, with only 800315 identifiable, that are stabled at the former HS1 North Pole depot. Just before this train passed we had been observing a fox skulking about on the tracks in the foreground that seemed totally unphased by the passing of the trains and living cheek by jowl with the vast HS2 building work taking place all around it!
Keywords: 800315 800004 15.41 Bedwyn-London Paddington 1K23 Old Oak Common Great Western Railway IET

710257, LO 16.48 Watford Junction-London Euston (2C46, 1E), London Euston station
Having walked from Old Oak Common to Kensal Green station Andy, Mike and I took the 16.48 Watford Junction to Euston back to central London. After arrival at Euston, London Overground's 710257 stands at platform nine and still looks very smart having only been in use for a couple of months or so.
Keywords: 710257 16.48 Watford Junction-London Euston 2C46 London Euston station London Overground Bombardier Transportation

350122, LN 19.15 London Euston-Crewe & Walsall (1Y27 & 2A05, 5L), Northampton station
350122 leads another unit at Northampton station having arrived with the 19.15 Euston to Crewe and Walsall. Having enjoyed some dinner in London, Andy, Mike and I had returned to Northampton on this train bringing to an end a very interesting day exploring north London.
Keywords: 350122 19.15 London Euston-Crewe Walsall 1Y27 2A05 Northampton station London Northwestern Desiro

Tickets, Northampton-London Euston-Northampton
Rather than printing off card tickets, I organised e-tickets to be sent to my mobile 'phone. This is a copy of them but they are not the best value off-peak returns at £22.45 each and that includes a two-together and senior railcard discounts. If I had chosen particular trains it could have been a little cheaper but we needed a degree of flexibility for our return journey. For the rest of the day in London, I used my Oyster card with both Andy and Mike using contactless. I planned our route to take advantage of two of TfL's permitted walking routes that, if completed within ten minutes, are counted as part of one journey despite touching in and out during it. The first route was from Archway (Northern Line) to Upper Holloway (London Overground) and the second from West Hampstead (London Overground) to West Hampstead (Jubilee Line).
Keywords: Tickets Northampton-London Euston-Northampton Oyster contactless

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