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Southern WCML

A Railwayman's View - BR Midland Region by Peter Collins > Southern WCML
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LPPC DSL CO 0140-Edit At the time, in 1966, a leading UK motoring magazine described a journey into London from the north-west as ‘continuing at three-figure speeds even as far as Queens Park. An imaginary pipe-dream? No! I was on a train!’ For this to happen when most commentators only referred to BR in the customary ‘curly sandwiches’ mode was remarkable so the impact of AC electrification of the West Coast main-line cannot be under-estimated. Not surprising when you see this splendid example of exactly what a modern railway should look like in the ‘60s as a superb AL6 Class 86 (E3145, later 86014/314/414/614) in blue with cast emblem and numbers waits to move off from Euston. Keywords: Digital, Rights Managed, Stock
LPPC DSL BW 1094 The genesis of main-line diesel power in the UK? There were two of these H A Ivatt designed Co Co 1600hp locomotives and they generally hauled express passenger trains, such as the Royal Scot, in multiple, but they were also tested on other regions singly. By the time this picture was taken, around the back of the LMR’s Willesden steam shed in late 1963, this one, 10001, was the remainer of the two and reduced to freight work only. Note that it is coupled to a brake-tender to help increase its brake-force when working trains that were not fully-fitted. Keywords: Digital, Rights Managed, Stock
LPPC DSL BW 0978 Perhaps this picture should be a what and where quiz question, it being a very little-known backwater tucked into the extremely complex track arrangements around and adjacent to Willesden Junction. When taking the shot, immediately behind me was Old Oak Junction. This is the point of divergence of what is now the Overground line from Richmond to Willesden Junction and beyond with the route you are looking at. It is freight only and leads around to the right to West London Junction, connecting with the West Coast main-line and enabling continuing round to Mitre Bridge Junction and the south. As can be seen it is rarely used and on this particular cold Saturday morning the Sulzer Type 2 Class 25 clanked away to itself, idling without moving for more than an hour or two. At least that provided current enough to boil the crews’ kettle. Keywords: Digital, Rights Managed, Stock
LPPC DSL BW 0662 Since the beginning of inter-regional passenger traffic from the West Coast line north of the Thames to the south, pioneered by the LNWR/LBSCR Sunny South Express, locomotive changes have taken place at Mitre Bridge Junction, Willesden and here a Merrymaker Excursion from the Medway towns and south-east London to Birmingham and Wolverhampton in the early 1970s has shed its Southern Type 3 Class 33 diesel for an AC lines electric and is about to make a swift run to Britain’s second city. It is early in the morning and the train has travelled via Herne Hill, Stewarts Lane and Latchmere junction to gain the colloquially named West London Extension line via Kensington Olympia. We were using this train as a means to travel onwards to Chester – see the Class 24 photographed there that day later in this book – via Shrewsbury and return via Crewe to Wolverhampton. It was a very long day. Keywords: Digital, Rights Managed, Stock
LPPC DSL BW 0832 This is the railtour illustrated on the next page and headed by a Southern Type 3 Class 33 as it heads out of the extensive Willesden yard and joins the West Coast Main Line heading for Birmingham and Walsall. It had reached this point having left from London Waterloo and proceeded down the Windsor line to Kew East Junction then, by way of the erstwhile North London line better known today as the Overground, it had turned north through Acton to Old Oak East Junction and Acton Canal Wharf Junction to dive under the WCML and so gain access to the Willesden Yard.
LPPC DSL BW 0831 On16th June 1984, the RCTS/SEG railtour, ‘The Birmingham Boomerang’ is about to depart from Watford Junction.. The route taken was of great interest incorporating rare mileage in London, the West Midlands, South Wales and the Bristol area. Starting from London Waterloo, the Reading line was taken turning right at New Kew Junction to South Acton, then right at Acton Canal Wharf to enter Willesden Yards and then access the West Coast Main Line towards Birmingham at Wembley Central turning right at Stechford for Bescot and Walsall. Departing via Pleck Junction and Wolverhampton the train headed for Shrewsbury taking the Abbey Foregate Curve to head south through Hereford to Maindee Junction where it headed into the Llanwern Steelworks complex to emerge onto the up goods line and the Severn Tunnel. Out of the tunnel it was right at Patchway and then to Hallen Marsh Junction and Avonmouth to Bristol, turning left at Dr Days and then via North Somerset Junction to Bath before turning right at Bathampton and left at Bradford Junction to regain the WR main line at Thingley Junction. Finally, it turned right at Reading and headed back to Waterloo.

Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.