District 150
Anyone going on the trips tomorrow?
-- Roland Perry |
District 150
Roland Perry wrote:
Anyone going on the trips tomorrow? I went on the first one today, departure was delayed for quite a while as something went wrong . I cannot confirm but the rumour was that Sarah Siddons lost or suffered damaged shoe gear which had to be fixed. Still the Sun was out and people seemed quite stoical and I personally did not witness anyone getting the grump. The first train ran very close in the slot of the 2nd and TFL created a later slot for the third. As can be imagined there were many “ normals “ reaching for phone devices to record what they were seeing having been alerted by station announcements and I believe some from train drivers as well. Witnessed an act of consideration when the driver of an inbound service train into Ealing Broadway platform 8 realising that a lot people were still jostling to get some photos of the special on platform 9 stopped short for a few moments so their view wasn’t blocked. When the trips were advertised I initially baulked at the cost of a trip but later thought what the eck and bought one, partly because the West end of the District holds a lot of memories. Today I looked down on a recreation ground near Turnham Green where 60 years ago I stood on top of a slide to get a better view of a Steam train passing. The prefabs that used to be there as well have long gone. GH |
District 150
In message , at 20:54:42 on Sat, 22
Jun 2019, Marland remarked: Roland Perry wrote: Anyone going on the trips tomorrow? I went on the first one today, I'm on the middle one today. departure was delayed for quite a while as something went wrong . Saw that on the wires yesterday. Hopefully whatever the fix was, will last the whole weekend. -- Roland Perry |
District 150
Roland Perry wrote:
Anyone going on the trips tomorrow? The Times report: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mind-the-soot-tube-ride-to-the-past-n3fflhnjj?shareToken=ba4a2bbcd9ed7c9d0229bb423dde6 8bd I'm curious why it didn't go on the original District line, through South Ken and on to Whitechapel? The route they did use was largely overground (indeed, on viaduct), and some near High St Ken was only covered long after the original opening. |
District 150
Recliner wrote:
Roland Perry wrote: Anyone going on the trips tomorrow? The Times report: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mind-the-soot-tube-ride-to-the-past-n3fflhnjj?shareToken=ba4a2bbcd9ed7c9d0229bb423dde6 8bd I'm curious why it didn't go on the original District line, through South Ken and on to Whitechapel? The route they did use was largely overground (indeed, on viaduct), and some near High St Ken was only covered long after the original opening. Too much risk of disruption to the main services of the District and Circle if something went awry? A good part of the route used is duplicated by the Piccadilly so could act as a relief for ordinary travellers if the District services got seriously disrupted, admittedly a hiccup between Earls Court and High Street Ken would be disruptive but that is a fairly short section. I am not familiar with the stations at the Eastern end of the District to know what Stations are suitable to stable a train long enough for it to be rewatered , temporary tanks had been erected both at Ealing Broadway and High Street Ken and while that is happening you need to allow for the smoke to escape. At High street Ken the position of the steam loco meant it was in the open but even so there was some drift and observing that while most normal travellers were interested in the historic train in front of them to take photos there were some who by their exaggerated actions in putting hands over nose and eyes did not appreciate coal smoke, some oriental looking people even whipped a couple of those face masks they often wear while cycling or walking etc. While the previous specials on the Met did go further into tunnelled sections it is nearly 5 years since Hammersmith and City 150 and I would not be surprised to find the general publics attitude to being subjected involuntarily to smoke has hardened a bit. It would only take a few extremists to kick off that TFL the organisation that administrators the emission zones then allows such a train to pollute through poorly vented stations to spoil the party. Like most Newspaper reports there is the odd gaff that the general reader won’t notice or really care about, Liverpudlians may well dispute the claim that London had the only subterranean Railway in the world as the Mersey Railway was known to be a smoky experience as well and was electrified a tad before the London subsurface lines as people were preferring to use the ferries. And the Times reported the Steam Loco lead on the Journey in and the Electric out. Completely wrong to what was planned and happened, not an earth shattering mistake but just another example of something you do know is wrong making you wonder what else is wrong about things you don’t know about. Interesting comments by one of the passengers who reckoned the train was more comfortable than modern ones, I thought the complete opposite, while there was definitely an ambience that was interesting for a pleasure ride the compartment on the Chesham set I was in was cramped and hot ,for HC 150 I got a place in the jubilee coach which was a bit more spacious but still quite confining. For everyday use on an intensely used railway the S stock is a much better travelling experience. GH |
District 150
In message , at 08:49:38 on Mon, 24 Jun
2019, Recliner remarked: Roland Perry wrote: Anyone going on the trips tomorrow? The Times report: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/m...e-to-the-past- n3fflhnjj?shareToken=ba4a2bbcd9ed7c9d0229bb423dde 68bd I'm curious why it didn't go on the original District line, through South Ken and on to Whitechapel? The route they did use was largely overground (indeed, on viaduct), and some near High St Ken was only covered long after the original opening. I'm sure it was a result of wanting to make as many trips per day as possible. According to the steward in our carriage, there's a 10mph speed limit approaching every station for this sort of train and the 2hr return trip diagram (to include boarding and detraining) was plenty long enough. A longer trip would also have interrupted the normal service too much (given the slow progress of the steam train). We brushed shoulders with all three of the character-actors in that photo, and there were a few more, including a Policeman, and of course the band. As for smoke-amd-smells, there was none, and one could be forgiven for thinking they weren't burning coal at all (they didn't say). Plenty of steam, and chuff-chuff noises, though. The only part that wasn't in daylight was from Earl Court station to outside South Ken. On the first half of the trip we stopped numerous times in that darkness. -- Roland Perry |
District 150
In message , at 11:00:18 on Mon, 24
Jun 2019, Marland remarked: At High street Ken the position of the steam loco meant it was in the open But even the under-the-canopy engine in their shot of Ealing Broadway is completely devoid of any smoke or steam. -- Roland Perry |
District 150
On 24/06/2019 14:25, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 11:00:18 on Mon, 24 Jun 2019, Marland remarked: At High street Ken the position of the steam loco meant it was in the open But even the under-the-canopy engine in their shot of Ealing Broadway is completely devoid of any smoke or steam. They've found some condensing tanks? -- Graeme Wall This account not read. |
District 150
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 11:00:18 on Mon, 24 Jun 2019, Marland remarked: At High street Ken the position of the steam loco meant it was in the open But even the under-the-canopy engine in their shot of Ealing Broadway is completely devoid of any smoke or steam. At Ealing Broadway platform 9 as you know having used it was set side for travellers on the special and a few others in connection with it, the normal passengers were not deposited alongside down a stairway on to the platform or off a service train on the other face of an Island Platform and even at Ealing the canopy is nice and high ,same with Earls Court. That’s why I used the term poorly vented ones rather than completely open,but further East along the District main line how far do you have to go to reach such a station able to turn around a steam special. Barking maybe and that may have been too far to run more then one or possibly two round trips. The engine crew did keep the smoke emission to a minimum but on the trip I did there was definitely some while doing the turnaround at High Street Ken and a little at Ealing Broadway. Perhaps there was not as much need to build up the fire at Ealing as Sarah Siddons would be hauling the train out leaving plenty of time to put coal on once clear of the canopy. That you didn’t have any just means that conditions for your trip were different than mine. Anyhow , did you enjoy your outing? GH |
District 150
In message , at 14:33:20 on Mon, 24 Jun
2019, Graeme Wall remarked: At High street Ken the position of the steam loco meant it was in the open But even the under-the-canopy engine in their shot of Ealing Broadway is completely devoid of any smoke or steam. They've found some condensing tanks? I don't know what remediation they have, but my close-up video of the loco arriving at Ealing Broadway has absolutely no smoke, and just a small amount of steam escaping from the safety valves. No steam from the traction gear. Examples from this video (not mine, I wish he'd buy some image stabilising software!) eg at 1:15, 3:20, a little smoke at 5:10, not much at 11:45, 14:40, 16:30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBK9Q9t03d4 -- Roland Perry |
District 150
In message , at 14:15:06 on Mon, 24
Jun 2019, Marland remarked: Roland Perry wrote: In message , at 11:00:18 on Mon, 24 Jun 2019, Marland remarked: At High street Ken the position of the steam loco meant it was in the open But even the under-the-canopy engine in their shot of Ealing Broadway is completely devoid of any smoke or steam. At Ealing Broadway platform 9 as you know having used it was set side for travellers on the special Curiously, it didn't stop the PIS displaying fictional District Line train to places like Plaistow. and a few others in connection with it, By day 2 they weren't making much effort at keeping normals off either the footbridge or the steps down. People would only be challenged once on platform 9, and approaching the first roped-off boarding area. even then, if you claimed to booked on a carriage further down the platform, they'd simply let you past. the normal passengers were not deposited alongside down a stairway on to the platform or off a service train on the other face of an Island Platform and even at Ealing the canopy is nice and high ,same with Earls Court. That’s why I used the term poorly vented ones rather than completely open,but further East along the District main line how far do you have to go to reach such a station able to turn around a steam special. Barking maybe and that may have been too far to run more then one or possibly two round trips. They used Moorgate on the previous occasion. Which while having some handy bay platforms, is not even vaguely open-air (I went on the C-stock last trip from there in 2014). That was different because it travelled at normal speed. Still took much of the day to go from Moorgate to Barking to Hammersmith. The engine crew did keep the smoke emission to a minimum but on the trip I did there was definitely some while doing the turnaround at High Street Ken and a little at Ealing Broadway. Perhaps there was not as much need to build up the fire at Ealing as Sarah Siddons would be hauling the train out leaving plenty of time to put coal on once clear of the canopy. That you didn’t have any just means that conditions for your trip were different than mine. Anyhow , did you enjoy your outing? It was OK, but I didn't ultimately feel it was value for money. Given the number of opportunities to get close-up afforded to the general public, it would have been almost as good to just go and look. See that Youtube video I found and posted. Not compared to a railtour brochure that arrived here today for a trip from Ely to Bristol, via Leicester (and back), at £80. Only diesel hauled though, but similar prices available for steam tours. -- Roland Perry |
District 150
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 08:49:38 on Mon, 24 Jun 2019, Recliner remarked: Roland Perry wrote: Anyone going on the trips tomorrow? The Times report: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/m...e-to-the-past- n3fflhnjj?shareToken=ba4a2bbcd9ed7c9d0229bb423dde6 8bd I'm curious why it didn't go on the original District line, through South Ken and on to Whitechapel? The route they did use was largely overground (indeed, on viaduct), and some near High St Ken was only covered long after the original opening. I'm sure it was a result of wanting to make as many trips per day as possible. According to the steward in our carriage, there's a 10mph speed limit approaching every station for this sort of train and the 2hr return trip diagram (to include boarding and detraining) was plenty long enough. A longer trip would also have interrupted the normal service too much (given the slow progress of the steam train). We brushed shoulders with all three of the character-actors in that photo, and there were a few more, including a Policeman, and of course the band. As for smoke-amd-smells, there was none, and one could be forgiven for thinking they weren't burning coal at all (they didn't say). Plenty of steam, and chuff-chuff noises, though. The only part that wasn't in daylight was from Earl Court station to outside South Ken. On the first half of the trip we stopped numerous times in that darkness. South Ken? Or High St Ken? During the steam era, that was all in the open (it was only built over in the 1950s, for the West London Air Terminal). That covered section past Triangle Sidings is very short indeed, so it seems unlikely you'd have stopped numerous times. You would also have gone through a different covered section between Earls Court and Barons Court, under the former exhibition hall. That too would have been open in the steam era, and for some decades thereafter (the exhibition hall was built over the tracks in 1935-7). So in steam days, that route would have been entirely in the open. And the sections that are covered now aren't real tunnels, just roofed-over former open sections. |
District 150
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 14:15:06 on Mon, 24 Jun 2019, Marland remarked: Roland Perry wrote: In message , at 11:00:18 on Mon, 24 Jun 2019, Marland remarked: At High street Ken the position of the steam loco meant it was in the open But even the under-the-canopy engine in their shot of Ealing Broadway is completely devoid of any smoke or steam. At Ealing Broadway platform 9 as you know having used it was set side for travellers on the special Curiously, it didn't stop the PIS displaying fictional District Line train to places like Plaistow. and a few others in connection with it, By day 2 they weren't making much effort at keeping normals off either the footbridge or the steps down. People would only be challenged once on platform 9, and approaching the first roped-off boarding area. even then, if you claimed to booked on a carriage further down the platform, they'd simply let you past. the normal passengers were not deposited alongside down a stairway on to the platform or off a service train on the other face of an Island Platform and even at Ealing the canopy is nice and high ,same with Earls Court. That’s why I used the term poorly vented ones rather than completely open,but further East along the District main line how far do you have to go to reach such a station able to turn around a steam special. Barking maybe and that may have been too far to run more then one or possibly two round trips. They used Moorgate on the previous occasion. Which while having some handy bay platforms, is not even vaguely open-air (I went on the C-stock last trip from there in 2014). That was different because it travelled at normal speed. Still took much of the day to go from Moorgate to Barking to Hammersmith. The engine crew did keep the smoke emission to a minimum but on the trip I did there was definitely some while doing the turnaround at High Street Ken and a little at Ealing Broadway. Perhaps there was not as much need to build up the fire at Ealing as Sarah Siddons would be hauling the train out leaving plenty of time to put coal on once clear of the canopy. That you didn’t have any just means that conditions for your trip were different than mine. Anyhow , did you enjoy your outing? It was OK, but I didn't ultimately feel it was value for money. Given the number of opportunities to get close-up afforded to the general public, it would have been almost as good to just go and look. See that Youtube video I found and posted. Yes, that's the trouble with steam specials: the paying passengers don't get nearly as good a view as the spectators. Not compared to a railtour brochure that arrived here today for a trip from Ely to Bristol, via Leicester (and back), at £80. Only diesel hauled though, but similar prices available for steam tours. Steam hauled is usually a lot more expensive, I thought? But I don't do very much main line steam in the UK. |
District 150
In message , at 16:33:58 on Mon, 24 Jun
2019, Recliner remarked: Roland Perry wrote: In message , at 08:49:38 on Mon, 24 Jun 2019, Recliner remarked: Roland Perry wrote: Anyone going on the trips tomorrow? The Times report: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/m...e-to-the-past- n3fflhnjj?shareToken=ba4a2bbcd9ed7c9d0229bb423dde6 8bd I'm curious why it didn't go on the original District line, through South Ken and on to Whitechapel? The route they did use was largely overground (indeed, on viaduct), and some near High St Ken was only covered long after the original opening. I'm sure it was a result of wanting to make as many trips per day as possible. According to the steward in our carriage, there's a 10mph speed limit approaching every station for this sort of train and the 2hr return trip diagram (to include boarding and detraining) was plenty long enough. A longer trip would also have interrupted the normal service too much (given the slow progress of the steam train). We brushed shoulders with all three of the character-actors in that photo, and there were a few more, including a Policeman, and of course the band. As for smoke-amd-smells, there was none, and one could be forgiven for thinking they weren't burning coal at all (they didn't say). Plenty of steam, and chuff-chuff noises, though. The only part that wasn't in daylight was from Earl Court station to outside South Ken. On the first half of the trip we stopped numerous times in that darkness. South Ken? Or High St Ken? The latter. (Too many Kensingtons!) During the steam era, that was all in the open (it was only built over in the 1950s, for the West London Air Terminal). That covered section past Triangle Sidings is very short indeed, so it seems unlikely you'd have stopped numerous times. I have it on video. We stopped several times. You would also have gone through a different covered section between Earls Court and Barons Court, under the former exhibition hall. That too would have been open in the steam era, and for some decades thereafter (the exhibition hall was built over the tracks in 1935-7). So in steam days, that route would have been entirely in the open. And the sections that are covered now aren't real tunnels, just roofed-over former open sections. -- Roland Perry |
District 150
In message , at 16:33:59 on Mon, 24 Jun
2019, Recliner remarked: It was OK, but I didn't ultimately feel it was value for money. Given the number of opportunities to get close-up afforded to the general public, it would have been almost as good to just go and look. See that Youtube video I found and posted. Yes, that's the trouble with steam specials: the paying passengers don't get nearly as good a view as the spectators. This trip was a bit different, especially for spectators. Going backwards and forwards over a short route and with numerous station platforms. But it was also notable how many people in houses and their gardens, and open spaces, that we passed were also filming and waving. I've also videoed several mainline steam tours as a spectator, and it's unusual to get more than a few seconds from a nearby field, road, or whatever. Not compared to a railtour brochure that arrived here today for a trip from Ely to Bristol, via Leicester (and back), at £80. Only diesel hauled though, but similar prices available for steam tours. Steam hauled is usually a lot more expensive, I thought? But I don't do very much main line steam in the UK. They all seem to start at £80. That's the cheap seats in the other half of the buffet car, usually. -- Roland Perry |
District 150
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 16:33:59 on Mon, 24 Jun 2019, Recliner remarked: It was OK, but I didn't ultimately feel it was value for money. Given the number of opportunities to get close-up afforded to the general public, it would have been almost as good to just go and look. See that Youtube video I found and posted. Yes, that's the trouble with steam specials: the paying passengers don't get nearly as good a view as the spectators. This trip was a bit different, especially for spectators. Going backwards and forwards over a short route and with numerous station platforms. But it was also notable how many people in houses and their gardens, and open spaces, that we passed were also filming and waving. The series of Trains had received mention on the various news outlets aimed at Londoners so many would have been aware of them, in contrast unless it is the Flying Scotsman most Steam tours pass unnoticed nowdays as they are no longer that rare compared with the situation a couple of decades ago when a local newspaper would consider a steam train passing worth a mention. Ironically a good example of that occurred at Ealing Broadway on Saturday Morning, as people assembled for the 1st departure of the District line tour a class 33 passed through on the main line with some MK1s and a Steam Loco on the back presumably ECS heading somewhere for a tour. It was hardly noticed, GH |
District 150
Marland wrote:
Roland Perry wrote: In message , at 16:33:59 on Mon, 24 Jun 2019, Recliner remarked: It was OK, but I didn't ultimately feel it was value for money. Given the number of opportunities to get close-up afforded to the general public, it would have been almost as good to just go and look. See that Youtube video I found and posted. Yes, that's the trouble with steam specials: the paying passengers don't get nearly as good a view as the spectators. This trip was a bit different, especially for spectators. Going backwards and forwards over a short route and with numerous station platforms. But it was also notable how many people in houses and their gardens, and open spaces, that we passed were also filming and waving. The series of Trains had received mention on the various news outlets aimed at Londoners so many would have been aware of them, in contrast unless it is the Flying Scotsman most Steam tours pass unnoticed nowdays as they are no longer that rare compared with the situation a couple of decades ago when a local newspaper would consider a steam train passing worth a mention. Ironically a good example of that occurred at Ealing Broadway on Saturday Morning, as people assembled for the 1st departure of the District line tour a class 33 passed through on the main line with some MK1s and a Steam Loco on the back presumably ECS heading somewhere for a tour. It was hardly noticed, Yes, steam charters are now quite routine at Paddington, Kings Cross and Victoria. Most summer Saturdays probably seem them passing Ealing Broadway. They're probably now more common there than HSTs. The same will be true next year at Kings Cross. Indeed, Gresley Pacifics will probably be seen more often than Deltics, HSTs or Class 91s at Kings Cross from next summer! Away from London, Carlisle, Exeter, Fort William, Lincoln, Scarborough and York also see plenty of steam. Despite the new signalling, it would be nice if LU somehow manages to run a steam train from Paddington to Farringdon (and on to Moorgate) on some future anniversary of 1863. |
District 150
In message , at 21:34:32 on Mon, 24
Jun 2019, Marland remarked: as people assembled for the 1st departure of the District line tour a class 33 passed through on the main line with some MK1s and a Steam Loco on the back presumably ECS heading somewhere for a tour. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/trai...06/22/advanced http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/trai...06/22/advanced most Steam tours pass unnoticed nowdays as they are no longer that rare compared with the situation a couple of decades ago when a local newspaper would consider a steam train passing worth a mention. https://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/n...train-to-come- through-sussex-this-weekend-full-list-of-times-for-each-station- 1-8971673 -- Roland Perry |
District 150
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 21:34:32 on Mon, 24 Jun 2019, Marland remarked: as people assembled for the 1st departure of the District line tour a class 33 passed through on the main line with some MK1s and a Steam Loco on the back presumably ECS heading somewhere for a tour. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/trai...06/22/advanced http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/trai...06/22/advanced Thanks, I had not got around to checking where it was heading apart from a cursory glance at the steam tours site which as mentioned elsewhere isn’t fully active at the moment. most Steam tours pass unnoticed nowdays as they are no longer that rare compared with the situation a couple of decades ago when a local newspaper would consider a steam train passing worth a mention. https://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/n...train-to-come- through-sussex-this-weekend-full-list-of-times-for-each-station- 1-8971673 I did say most not none, that report is unusually detailed compared to many. At locations like Salisbury they come through so regularly that nobody bats an eyelid, you do sometimes get a few photographers hanging around as it is often a water stop . In contrast when steam was rare hundreds would turn out, I recall it was Clan line back in Spring 1974 that was one of the first around here to break the the so called steam ban. So many people turned out that the SR got the jitters about allowing any to enter 3rd rail territory for many a year,eventually that got eased initially by timing them to run late so the lack of light put off photographers. One was the infamous quadruple header from Eastleigh to Clapham after an event at Eastleigh,initially it was going to be a steam double header but the powers that be decided the two class 50’s in attendance should be attached as well. At least one person because I watched him do it ripped up his ticket in disgust. Others like myself travelled as planned and were treated to a very lively trip up the line. Soon after a trip was allowed to Bournemouth and 1000’s turned out at that town as the return of steam had been well publicised, that just doesn’t happen any more unless it’s the Scotsman. It happened for a while with Tornado but that new loco is now old news. GH |
District 150
In message , at 11:26:03 on Tue, 25
Jun 2019, Marland remarked: most Steam tours pass unnoticed nowdays as they are no longer that rare compared with the situation a couple of decades ago when a local newspaper would consider a steam train passing worth a mention. https://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/n...train-to-come- through-sussex-this-weekend-full-list-of-times-for-each-station- 1-8971673 I did say most not none, that report is unusually detailed compared to many. It's typical of the reports I've seen in East Anglia, where if anything we get fewer steam tours at the moment than say 5-10yrs ago. But Tornado/FlyingScotsman have been sufficiently prolific recently that perhaps some of the novelty has worn off. I did go to Shippea Hill to view Tornado, but it wasn't that spectacular. A bit like Metro#1, virtually no smoke or steam, and could just as well have been electric. Here's the local paper announcing a FS trip https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/new...ying-scotsman- trains-cambridge-ely-13877335 -- Roland Perry |
District 150
In message , at 16:33:58 on Mon, 24 Jun
2019, Recliner remarked: The only part that wasn't in daylight was from Earl Court station to outside {High Street Ken}. During the steam era, that was all in the open (it was only built over in the 1950s, for the West London Air Terminal). When was Kelso Place built, that and the surrounding streets are above the line. Cutting out the stops, from Earls Court station about halfway along the platform we were moving under cover for 20sec, out in the open for 20sec, darkness again for 30sec, sidings for 30sec and then in darkness again (a proper tunnel!) for 1min 25sec. All timings to nearest 2sec. We weren't much above walking pace a lot of the time. You would also have gone through a different covered section between Earls Court and Barons Court, under the former exhibition hall. That too would have been open in the steam era, and for some decades thereafter (the exhibition hall was built over the tracks in 1935-7). I wasn't paying attention to the approach to Earls Court Station, but the line immediately west of the station is open-air and it ventilates the shed quite well. -- Roland Perry |
District 150
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 16:33:58 on Mon, 24 Jun 2019, Recliner remarked: The only part that wasn't in daylight was from Earl Court station to outside {High Street Ken}. During the steam era, that was all in the open (it was only built over in the 1950s, for the West London Air Terminal). When was Kelso Place built, that and the surrounding streets are above the line. Apparently it was first mentioned in 1853, but the houses may be later. With those early cut and cover railways, they'd have had to demolish any houses along the line of the route, as with the famous Leinster Gardens and its fake houses. Some of the local roads might have existed, of course, with the line crossing under them. Cutting out the stops, from Earls Court station about halfway along the platform we were moving under cover for 20sec, out in the open for 20sec, darkness again for 30sec, sidings for 30sec and then in darkness again (a proper tunnel!) for 1min 25sec. Under Kelso Place? All timings to nearest 2sec. We weren't much above walking pace a lot of the time. You would also have gone through a different covered section between Earls Court and Barons Court, under the former exhibition hall. That too would have been open in the steam era, and for some decades thereafter (the exhibition hall was built over the tracks in 1935-7). I wasn't paying attention to the approach to Earls Court Station, but the line immediately west of the station is open-air and it ventilates the shed quite well. |
District 150
In message , at 15:17:10 on Tue, 25 Jun
2019, Recliner remarked: Roland Perry wrote: In message , at 16:33:58 on Mon, 24 Jun 2019, Recliner remarked: The only part that wasn't in daylight was from Earl Court station to outside {High Street Ken}. During the steam era, that was all in the open (it was only built over in the 1950s, for the West London Air Terminal). When was Kelso Place built, that and the surrounding streets are above the line. Apparently it was first mentioned in 1853, but the houses may be later. With those early cut and cover railways, they'd have had to demolish any houses along the line of the route, as with the famous Leinster Gardens and its fake houses. Some of the local roads might have existed, of course, with the line crossing under them. Cutting out the stops, from Earls Court station about halfway along the platform we were moving under cover for 20sec, out in the open for 20sec, darkness again for 30sec, sidings for 30sec and then in darkness again (a proper tunnel!) for 1min 25sec. Under Kelso Place? Yes. -- Roland Perry |
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