Cab Ride - Charing Cross to Sevenoaks (and return)

Brucie Bonus at the end. Wrong line running from London Bridge into Cannon Street!

[@embwhitton9792]

I had an uncle who worked on the london train system out of Hayes Middlesex for many years. He loved trains.

[@musicforaarre]

I really enjoyed the ride to Seven Oaks and back. It was especially interesting to see the grade turnout delay from the slow to fast up train crossing in front in Lewisham. I know that we can't have flying junctions every single place, except in our dreams. The delay was only 16 seconds from the other train's clearing of the turnout till a clearing signal for our train. I love operations and track layouts.

[@DavidCollison]

Thank you for a great cab-ride video on one of my favourite routes

[@nigelbeiley6668]

Good vid, brought back memories of travelling this line in the 1980’s. Live in Bromley and would walk to Elmstead Woods station and travel in to Charing X then get the Jubilee to Green Park, journey back would be the Bromley North service Grove Park and Sunridge Park, later move other side of Bromley and caught the train at Shorlands and go in to Victoria via Denmark Hill, those were the days❤

[@emmo999]

I grew up in Bromley too. Fond memories of the old slam door Bromley North shuttle

[@hamshackleton]

Could do with subtitles saying what the stations are, for those that don't know the area (like me!).

[@emmo999]

You’ll note on recent videos, I’ve done exactly that. When I get a moment, I’ll get this - and others - captioned

[@Michael-il8ls]

I see lots of Jubilee line ventilation shafts if it helps. Southwark, London Bridge etc

[@jameshatfield1194]

@@emmo999 great idea

[@thespicyicecubexd_8932]

Charring Cross makes the best wheel sounds!

[@bobbrooks266]

WOW absolutely brilliant. Many thanks for posting this

[@jeremywilcox]

I guess it was the wrong left then! That need for an oil can on the London end of your Unit must ge on your nervs. Thanks for you posts - interesting to see the Thameslink work.

[@martinmarsola6477]

A fine video today. The train rides are always satisfying to watch. See you on the next! Cheers mates! 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸

[@gb5uq]

Super video many thanks.

[@kevblue8043]

Lovely to see my old stomping grounds back when I was on BR. Shame my old boxes (Sevenoaks and Chislehurst) have both been knocked down thought. Also nice to see the station at Sevenoaks again, my old work place until 2000 when I left BR altogether.

[@emmo999]

Kev Blue I recall Sevenoaks box, but I don’t remember Chislehurst. I need to refilm this route, as much has changed between New Cross and London Bridge

[@lemonhead6994]

@@emmo999 are you still able to film it?

[@davethatcher4954]

I don't know how far you go back, but did you know Dennis Thompson who worked Chislehurst back in the mid? 70s. He was originally at Elmer's end Box, and I was at Hayes in the very early 70s.

[@brucewilliams8714]

On my first visit to UK, 1977, I walked across the Hungerford Bridge to the Festival Hall. On my last visit, 2008, I used the newer footbridge, coming from the London Eye. A great sight at night.

[@emmo999]

It doesn’t vibrate like the old one used to when trains run past! 😂

[@plto4ka71]

Great video, awesome!

[@phwbooth]

Excellenr, Mr Emmo. Thanks.

[@emmo999]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Next video will be uploaded in a day or two.

[@dennisjeffs4239]

Ian Watson.....In answer to your question about a Paul Callar I have no knowledge of him, however, as a retired Southeastern driver, ex BR before privatisation, there was a Colin Callar who was a Slade Green Depot driver who drove the old 51 stock EPB's in the 80's and early 90's and he became a manager for Connex after privatisation, then the franchise changed to Southeastern.

[@robertozube]

I was a driver for Connex in 99. My first solo turn was Charing X to Sevenoaks.

[@ivanahavitoff7308]

and yr train was probably late.

[@crazycraigy01]

My uncles a train driver for BR i always had a thing for railways and ballast...great relaxing videos..

[@ferryf6410]

Great acceleration!

[@TheArkamedBat]

Because these trains are designed for high seating capacity stop start stop start running.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Shows the scale of the work being done at London Bridge and why it seems to be going on for ever.

[@peaceman269]

great ride. useful to know time of day on rides thx

[@camotech1314]

Interesting view of London from Overground

[@musicforaarre]

Question. Per Boogie's Trains, now at Bromley South, the fast is again on the north, and the slow now on the south, where the fast used to be; they switched sides. But at Petts Wood, the fast is on the west side, and the slow is on the east side. How do fast and slow now cross over each other's paths at the Petts Wood fast and slow junctions, and subsequently Bickley junctions. There is now a conflict for Orpington to Bromley South routed fast versus slow routings; no ???? There used to be no conflict when the fast was on the south side at Bromley South. Aarre Peltomaa

[@MarioDSLife]

Love the Networker, hope they stick around long!

[@TheArkamedBat]

I like the smooth junctions at Sevenoaks.

[@emmo999]

They are quite good, but then if you’re on the through lines, you can (in theory) go through them at 80mph

[@timstephenson4520]

Just found these videos on youtube, as previous comments could do with captions, but still a cracking video.

[@emmo999]

You’ll note all the latest videos all have captions, so such comments have all been taken on board

[@jameskingsford7794]

Nice and loud brush traction tm970 and hitachi igbt vvvf inverter sound

[@stevehillier7018]

2 sites passed of probably the 2 worst Disasters for Southern Region in the 20th Century. Hither Green 1967 and St Johns 1957

[@emmo999]

Steve Hillier The bridge at St John’s is still the temporary military structure erected in speed after the accident

[@stevehillier7018]

emmo999 Thanks for that information. A remarkable structure for its time.

[@merledoughty5787]

Love these videos only wish that the station names could be put up and explain what the alarms in the cab and the signals, I am from New Zealand and these films are the closest I will ver get to a train ride its a credit to the system that you have these rail networks something so lacking in this country, I notice the third rail simple when it runs for long lengths but what of the crossings and points as you cross those points etc thanks

[@Grey3dge]

The alerts in the cab are from the AWS (Automatic Warning System). It’s a system that alerts drivers to signal status when they are approaching, triggered by a magnet in the middle of the track. The single chime means the track is clear. Whereas the longer alarm means there is a yellow or red signal ahead, letting the driver know to stop or be prepared to stop.

[@andrewparkinson9667]

Re the third rail each train unit has a collector shoe on both sides of the carriage at the front and rear (ie a 4 coach unit will have collecting shoes on carriages 1 & 4). They're linked by a power cable to each end so even if the front shoes are in a gap say at points as long as the rear shoe is on the third rail power will still be collected. Its for the driver to be aware through their route knowledge of those points were no shoe would be in contact with the 3rd rail and the unit becomes what's referred to as "gapped".

[@robhines4537]

Orpington at 32.00, my home station, yeah!

[@Grumpany]

Great video 👍🏻 can you tell me what the noise in the cab is, it's when the train is stationary at every station. Thanks 👍🏻

[@supershrek99]

The clicking is the Driver/Guard releasing the doors and in turn the train loses the interlock meaning no power can be taken by the Driver - the clicking you hear are electrical relays in the Drivers cab all working to do this. On some Electrostars, losing interlock also gives you an emergency brake application and you'll hear even more relays clicking accordingly.

[@user-me2qq6lx7i]

The ring is the aws

[@MrDomsem]

great video. will you do an updated version when platform 6 reopens at london bridge? also can you do charing x to tunbridge wells please?

[@emmo999]

Dominic Sem-Mintah Will undoubtedly do a revised when it is fully open and try to get Tun Wells too

[@MrDomsem]

emmo999 thank you. keep up the good work

[@tonylazzaro1196]

Dominic Sem-Mintah can you identify the stations and the junctions. I am new to British rail.

[@leeclegg2943]

Do you do the Dover Priory/Ramsgate run at all

[@martw5291]

1:51 left hand side, shout out to that one lone two tone siren of some sort.

[@emmo999]

Ah, that’s the on board PA going off for Waterloo East

[@dodgydruid]

Does Paul Callar still run this route as he used to drive EPB's on the exact same working in the eighties and the nineties?

[@ernestwhittaker3512]

Ian. N bio 9 ? What about you and I would recommend you check your order and cancel Cancel. This.

[@bb-3653]

Love the metro cammel return

[@robmarkworth5377]

Do you drive for both South Eastern and Southern?

[@andybear_9]

I'd love to do this

[@FalconXE302]

What happens when a big puddle of water covers the live third rail and the wheel rail next to it...? Would the wheel rail not become live also...?

[@Taschenschieber]

No - that would create a short circuit which would trigger fault detection, which in turn would turn off the power supply for that section. Which doesn't matter all that much because when your rails are under water, something has gone really wrong and you need to worry a lot more about your track bedding. Electrocution (which I assume is what you are worried about) happens when you link two poles of the power supply system (which would be live rail at 750V? and guiding rail and/or ground at 0V). Because in your scenario the two poles are already linked (with a far lower resistance than that of the human body), this risk is mitigated even during the short time before the shortcut is detected. (you should still stay the heck away from faulty electrical equipment, though, just to be safe.)

[@tou7331]

are wheel rails electric?

[@paulanderson79]

@@tou7331 They are at earth potential ie. 750 volts less than the conductor rail. They are used as the current return path.

[@HeartNDagger18]

Do you have much interaction with the passengers, have you had any bad experiences with them or good?

[@rileyludlow961]

was this filmed in 2017 like when this was published or before because a grey striped 465 is still there 19:32

[@SamuelIles2015]

Are all SouthEastern train routes guard only operated or driver only operated services?

[@emmo999]

It is a mixture. Metro services are DOO, mainline are crew

[@SamuelIles2015]

And please can you record more videos.

[@saradalatha]

listen I love st johns and new cross

[@robertozube]

Used to be a driver for Connex. 2000 ish.

[@Winston4848]

❤👌👌

[@jameskingsford7794]

9:05 nice horn

[@MrEkg98]

How frequent do trains run in the UK. Lines like this one I mean. More than once a day. Every half hour? Do they run 24/7?

[@emmo999]

Off peak, this service runs every 30 minutes. More often in busy times

[@MrEkg98]

I am impressed. We have nothing like this in usa. The website i checked out didnt display the correct info. What website do you use for the rail service. Here it would be amtrak but your lucky to get a train once a day. Maybe three times a week

[@bulwinkle]

MrEkg98 In the south east of England the lines are in such intensive use that any problem with a late running or broken down train can cause delays across the whole system for hours.

[@MrEkg98]

Only large train system I have seen is Toronto, Canada. How does it work. From some of the videos the stations looked like they had parking lots. Do you just show up and is there a 24 hour kiosk for tickets and information? Everything in the USA is based off the Eisenhower interstate system. Few of the larger cities have irregular(comparatively) bus services and some have subway and elevated trains but nothing like this for the whole country. We have large bus companies if you need to go some where across country or there are airplanes. However unless your in the far far east (Wash dc to Boston) there is not much from Amtrak. Most of our nation is freight. Long long freight trains. Some cross country US trains can be 1500 meter to 4500 meter long. With the average size some where in between. Speeding at over 100kph.

[@blueprintswe]

I'm from Sweden and I live in a town called Uppsala about 70 km north of the capital Stockholm. Between Uppsala and Stockholm in the morning rush hour, there are I think 9 or 10 trains / hour. I would guess that it at least as much in the London area, and most certainly more. The long distance trains in Sweden normally runs once / hour on the more busy railways between the larger cities. In the north where its less populated, I'd say one to five times / day between cities. Of course Sweden is about as big as California (and the fifth largest country in Europe when it comes to area) so if you count the whole US, it's a totally different kind of distances you are talking about.

[@user-xh4nq4vt5y]

As I am unfamiliar with this route and couldn't see the station signs, I had no idea where Seven Oaks was, and was very surprised the train ended where it had started. Where did it start to turn back towards London?

[@emmo999]

This is an older video. All videos for many years now are fully captioned Sevenoaks is a large commuter town just outside the M25 in Kent. It is considered the boundary of the “metro” services, with trains beyond generally heading to the Kent coast

[@Jacobs_TrainspottingAdventures]

Was it 465/1/0 and 466/0 6 car train. Or an 8 car

[@lauriefielder8762]

Aride downmemory lane lived at Grove park all thro the war

[@Winnisa]

I noticed a third rail next to the two on which the train runs, what is it for?

[@emmo999]

Provides 750v DC which powers all the trains in south east england

[@Winnisa]

@@emmo999 I did not think about it!!

[@Someone-ex7ok]

Hey is there any recommendations you could do to become a train driver like is there internships or something similar?

[@emmo999]

It doesn’t work like that, unfortunately. There are various tests. Jobs are advertised externally, or you can get your foot in the door and start on the platforms, for example

[@davezammitt2114]

at the start why did the 377/375 have a dark blue door?

[@emmo999]

There were a couple of 375s carrying unique paint schemes. 375609 and 375624 ring bells, have a google. Basically they had repair jobs and as such had unusual colours

[@peter59fg]

Hello, from France, On which BR Class EMU did you the ride ? Merci, thank you !

[@emmo999]

A class 465 Networker

[@peter59fg]

Okay, but they're not refurbished as 375 class ? About, this latest class, are they on duty on Sevenoaks service too ?

[@emmo999]

375s and 465s are completely different. 465s generally do the stopping trains, 375s the expresses

[@peter59fg]

Thank you to explain the difference between the two classes service. Have a nice WE

[@maileno1468]

La class 465 fait parti de la famille des Networker la class 375 des electrostar

[@Stevenhamer82]

Great video. What train was this? Thanks.

[@emmo999]

It’s a class 465 Networker

[@Stevenhamer82]

@@emmo999 ok thanks. I take it that you drive those trains every day?

[@emmo999]

Life Eternal No, but I used to. I work on the railway now in another field that gives me access to cabs

[@Stevenhamer82]

@@emmo999 ok. The train on the way back sounds like the class 365 where I use to live which went from Peterborough to London Kings cross, and back. I recognised the sound of the train.

[@emmo999]

Life Eternal The 365s use similar running gear to the MetCam Networkers 465/2 and 465/9

[@dustybinproductions4779]

What unit is that with the dark blue doors as you leave Charing Cross? I need it see it

[@emmo999]

321417 Productions Believe it was 375610, as it was unique with those doors. However you're too late, as all 375/6s have been refurbished into the blue colour scheme

[@bobthebomb1596]

Usually try to avoid this train if possible, it takes ages!

[@pabllo2004]

Whats the class?

[@louscr8249]

Is this a class 465 networker but with the javelin motors?

[@emmo999]

They’re Hitachi motors, certainly. Whether they’re the same as Javelin, I have no clue

[@louscr8249]

Hmm they sound exactly like the Javelins in my opinion.

[@emmo999]

Well a 465 does 75mph and a 395 does 140mph, so whilst I don’t doubt they share some parts I suspect they are somewhat different

[@TheHBSOURCE]

The cabin pings seem to go off prior to signals - pls explain ..

[@emmo999]

Marty McFly Trains have what is known as AWS - Advanced Warning System. As you approach every signal, you get an audio warning of what it is. A bell (the ping) means the signal is green. A horn (the buzzer) means the signal is *not* green. The driver must acknowledge this horn within 2 seconds or the emergency brakes are applied. The horn may also go off if the train is approaching a particularly significant lower speed limit. Again, the driver must acknowledge to avoid the emergency brakes coming on

[@TheHBSOURCE]

emmo999 Thank you that makes perfect sense. Currently in the services but thinking about the switch to driving - the main factor that concerns me is the isolation and repetition as have always worked in big squads with varied work ..

[@emmo999]

Marty McFly Depending where you're based, you might fit in better on the track maintenance side of things. I have left passenger working now and work instead on hydraulic machines that maintain track, where there's always a few of us out on shift together. We go somewhere different almost every night and because it's a close knit team, we all pull together, get the work done and have a bit of banter on shift

[@sagilady523]

Van you post the junctions as well as list the destination stops please?

[@emmo999]

This is one of the old videos. All routes for many years are fully captioned now

[@kevsbangerracers2027]

Hello will you be doing more of these videos again?

[@emmo999]

Yes. But I need daylight, and that’s in short supply currently!

[@dieseldave3879]

🚂👍

[@class87srule]

What's the long thing in the 4' at 0:45" please?

[@emmo999]

I think they’re just wooden boards, to make it easier to walk

[@kenttrainspotter402]

What class is this

[@emmo999]

It’s a class 465/0 or 465/1

[@southernenthusiast7843]

Wait, why didn’t this train stop at London Bridge?

[@emmo999]

Some platforms at London Bridge were closed at the time for rebuilding

[@truckerboy4641]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😇

[@peaceman269]

also a map or pop upthat indicates whcih station thank you

[@leorbx2013]

The train sounds like Class 395

[@TheXboxlover1]

That’s because they both have hitachi traction motors

[@philsmith132]

Can't beat a good old cep stock or rep stock

[@FM60260]

Spot the siren at 1:45 and 1:32:03

[@aimdrummer]

4:05, my old offices on the left.

[@emmo999]

The Network Rail offices?

[@shooudusuhe4829]

So it got diverted into Cannon Street on the way back?

[@emmo999]

No, we go back into Charing Cross at the end. After London Bridge is Waterloo East then Hungerford Bridge

[@shooudusuhe4829]

@@emmo999 hungerford bridge?

[@emmo999]

It’s the name of the bridge that goes over the Thames before Charing Cross

[@shooudusuhe4829]

@@emmo999 oh I never knew that.

[@TheStorm5150]

The last 3 minutes of this video are definitely a shunt from London Bridge to Cannon Street.

[@Southerntrainspotter315]

cLass 395?

[@jpaulc441]

43:04 Approaching a space jellyfish

[@emmo999]

I did have to check to see what you were on about 😂

[@peridotfacet2r7p-5xr2]

The AWS Went off alot

[@emmo999]

Sapphire [Bossy] That’s London for you. Signals and trains all close together until you get away from the centre of town

[@ArchiezAviation]

I wonder why scotrail can’t get a electrostar

[@astropenguin7]

Majority of Scotland is non electrified. 377s need electricity. Everything north of Edinburgh (I believe) is un electrified.

[@tommyasquith]

Would be much better if captioned to show locations.

[@russouk]

thought you going to derail at 1:35:42 lol

[@33stevelinda]

wreckless driving :)

[@davidoswald9253]

Cab controls always seem so noisy??

[@emmo999]

It’s all the relays in the cab for door interlocks and the suchlike

[@ethangaming3311]

So

[@BS-yd3xf]

Drb

[@jacksugden8190]

Too bad that each station was shown at each stop.

[@mikecawood]

Could do better with the windscreen wipers.

[@emmo999]

Can’t do much about them! They are what they are

[@trainrover]

why wear and tear emptily long trains when merely short ones could ply GB more economically..hmmm.. .. . .

[@trainrover]

awfully reminiscent machinations of ozzy wizardry there..hmmm.. .. . .

[@emmo999]

Sorry I’m not understanding your comments, to reply

[@trainrover]

Must Quebeckers living there ever miss _their_ expressways, I wonder.

[@andrewjg_]

doesnt even say what train it is

[@roger5807]

a bit out of focus

[@russouk]

digital cameras dont like fast moving pixels...lol its camera,notice sharp pic when stops.. its a thing with didgital...

[@jacquesmolders30]

Looks obsolete and out of date. Rail tracks crying out likely to generate metal fatigue. Frightening !

[@emmo999]

I have zero clue what you’re on about, or what your evidence for this opinion is. But whatever it is, it is absolutely wrong given all tracks are covered by an ultrasonic test train often checking for defects. So, I have one comment in return. If you don’t like it, please feel free not to watch

[@TheZacDJ]

Victorian technology, completely obsolete. We are slowly getting rid of trains and replacing them with cars, so we can be more like America, with its atrocious air quality. Very, very few people travel by train these days. Most go by car or plane. Even very short distances, say Sevenoaks to London, most people fly these days. I'm being sarcastic, BTW. Underfunded: yes, absolutely. But outdated and obsolete, not on your nelly. Most of this Route is now signalled by very advanced Signalling Centres at Gillingham, Ashford and the newest at Three Bridges. Private companies have indeed extracted huge amounts of money from the railway, obscene amounts. In its last year British Rail cost the tax Payer just over £1bn. Nowadays the now Privatised railway costs £26bn. If we'd have invested in our railway, at similar levels to our European cousins, we'd have the best railway in the world. It is already the most efficient in terms of asset usage, train allocation - our trains are in service for more hours a day than anywhere else in the world. And we do it with lower staff numbers too. Looks obsolete and out of date, don't make me laugh. Sorry, that turned into a bit of a rant, didn't it? Putting my socialist ideas back in their box, and returning to the red corner. As you were, chaps. I was never here....