Boogies Trains: GW from Euston, 28 December 2024

[@iainmaturin8460]

Smashing vid. I spent a lot of time at Willesden spotting back in the 70's. Thanks for posting!

[@johnboy423]

Excellent filming. In olden times the GWR was initially going to terminate at Euston, but there was a fall-out with the LNWR, so Paddington it was!

[@BaltimoreAndOhioRR]

Thumbs up as always! 🙂

[@davidmatheson8172]

Great action video Thank you for sharing

[@deauvilledad07]

As you say trying to get from the GW main line into Euston was a great challenge but one that the planners overcame. I also totally agree with your sentiments, the orange army that completes these major blockade really do deserve total respect, sadly though many won't give them a second thought. Well done Mr Boogie excellent video. Looking forward to your 2025 editions. 🤓

[@letrainavapeur]

I'v tried to follow this on variougs maps, nice to see it in the flesh, thanks for posting the video.

[@sidslick1]

Great video.

[@andrewhotston983]

Great record of unusual workings.

[@BoogiesTrains]

Thank you.

[@Andrewjg_89]

Nice to see GWR operating in & out of London Euston during Christmas works at London Paddington and on the Great Western Main Line.

[@johnboughton7451]

We often hear the term “Signing for the Route” as the Engine Driver signs for the route as they know it So were local knowledge drivers used from Ealing to Euston who had the knowledge of the North London Line ? Thank You For Taking The Time To Film Edit & Post

[@BoogiesTrains]

I am advised that GbRF provided conductors to give the GW drivers the necessary instructions and guidance for the Ealing Broadway to Euston section. The conductor would know the route but not the traction.

[@peteh7646]

There would have been a lot of route learning for drivers and guards as well. Good video of a very awkward area to capture any movements

[@endofthelines9843]

Summer of 2023 they diverted lner trains to Liverpool Street

[@alfredschik4794]

Why is the overhead power not being used?

[@bryantozer]

The trains stopped at Ealing for operational reasons only ie to lower the pantograph and proceed on diesel NOT to pick up passengers. They also stopped at Reading for crew purposes and not for passengers. There were special services from Ealing to Bristol mainly 387s

[@BoogiesTrains]

Ah. My misunderstanding. I was looking at movements on Traksy but didn't check the details of the stock and calling patterns. I was aware of the information available to the travelling public and reached the wrong conclusion.

[@Lewwytravels]

@@BoogiesTrainsThe stops at Reading were indeed intended as Crew stops however instruction was sent out to release the doors during these stops (sometimes up to 8 minutes including the service I was on). I cannot say for certain about Ealing Broadway but can hazard a guess that the setup was similar!

[@limeyfox]

@@Lewwytravels At Ealing I think they were stopping with only the crew door on the platform to allow the pilot to board/alight. Doors were not being released on the Euston services.

[@busesandtrainsinthecounty684]

I was at Euston

[@leeroberts1192]

How long a stretch is the diversion, from where they leave their normal route to Euston? It seems strange for them to be running in diesel mode when they've got the OLE available

[@randomidiot24563]

they go over a freight part which is not electrified

[@BoogiesTrains]

As mentioned below, the SW line from Acton Wells Junction to Willesden West London junction is a gap in the electrification. Bizarrely, Acton Main Line to Acton Wells was recently electrified to close the gap between the GW and North London lines but it was easier to switch to diesel at Ealing Broadway. The clips from the overbridge on Old Oak Common Lane show the section with no wires.

[@Jamie92208]

@@BoogiesTrains as far as I know, switching from diesel to electric and back needs to bevplanned so that the enginesxarecwarmedcup and running smoothly. Force short distance like this it was easier to do it at Ealing once

[@charlesjw2]

Do the drivers get special training because they're on unfamiliar tracks or is there a system like notams which pilots use

[@BoogiesTrains]

A 'conductor' that knows the route but not the traction accompanied the driver, giving instructions and guidance as necessary. From other comments, I think that GbRF provided the conductor. I can understand that GbRF train crew know the route from Ealing Broadway to Willesden Junction. Not sure how they would know Willesden to Euston.

[@charlesjw2]

@@BoogiesTrains Thanks.

[@tomheadington4762]

I believe they called at Ealing Broadway to let off a GBRF driver who instructed the GWR driver through the division section. Heard this on Reddit a while back though so I'm not 100% sure

[@BoogiesTrains]

There was definitely a conductor for the Acton to Euston section so it would be logical for them to come on board at the Ealing Broadway stop. I observed an incoming crew going for a break at Euston. The stop was primarily to give a connection to passengers arriving or going forward on the Central and District lines so that Euston was not overwhelmed. Other GW services were starting and terminating at Ealing Broadway, making their reversal near Acton Main Line. The through trains appear to have been routed via the goods loop at Acton yard.

[@keystonedriving8180]

​​@@BoogiesTrainsAt Ealing Broadway only the front cab was actually in the platform whilst the conducting driver boarded or left the train. It was not a passenger stop. It was also where the change from electric to diesel traction, and vice versa, was made. I made my journey from Tiverton Parkway to Euston and back on Saturday 28th.

[@bryantozer]

The trains stopped for operational reasons only ie to lower the pantograph and proceed on diesel NOT to pick up passengers. They also stopped at Reading for crew puposes and not for passengers

[@bryantozer]

@@BoogiesTrains Rubbish

[@bryantozer]

@@BoogiesTrains What reversal ??

[@breeze1472]

are these works to do with HS2?

[@Jamie92208]

@@breeze1472 yes, the GWML lines at Old Oak are going to be slewed north to run through the new HS2 station and there is going to be a new bridge over Old Oak Common Lane that's wider and also will allow double deck buses under it. I presume that these works are all preparation for the next phase. Out of interest as GW sets couldn't get into North Pole depot, so e of them have been stabling in the Great Western Society site at Didcot on the Ash roads.

[@BoogiesTrains]

Thank you for adding this.

[@pgchase4578043026]

Pretty convoluted and slow diversion... Would sending them to Waterloo from Reading been any better?

[@BoogiesTrains]

I remember HSTs going to Waterloo. The IET coaches are longer so perhaps they aren't cleared for running into Waterloo. Avanti now has Hitachi units so Euston must be cleared for the stock.

[@alfredschik4794]

Sorry , saw the reason later in the video.

[@philipgay4878]

It is a shame for all, that given there will be many many more days of these diversions, the short section they traverse that is not OHLEquipped has not been so treated as part of this project. If it were done, it would at least alleviate the use of diesel on what are otherwise electric services in the larger part. Presumably becuase of this lack of OLE the GwR class 800 & 802 units remained on diesel in and out of Euston? Given that the Class 221 voyagers are no longer on Avanti books, it makes Euston a Diesel free zone till an 800 or 802 is diverted there!

[@blueflower4921]

@@philipgay4878 I wonder how long the gap without OLE actually is on this diversion route. On openrailwaymaps it looks as if there’s only a few hundred metres missing? Indeed, it would have been useful to have that gap closed…