Drivers Eye View Class 59 Acton to Purley - Part 1 Acton to Herne Hill

[@fiachra4266]

Lovely complex cross London route. I used to travel daily from Kensington Olympia to Clapham Junction in the 80s when Olympia was still massive . The District Line for Wimbledon passing under was perfectly timed.

[@rogerplumridge5828]

I love your commentary and the info graphic on the right.

[@peterbrackenbury]

Thanks for a great video. The annotated, rolling map is an excellent feature which makes the video even more interesting. Looking forward to watching Part 2.

[@keimahane]

@11:53 I was like, what the... is that a... yup, it is a steam train. So cool to see that passing by, wow what a treat that must have been to pass by. Thank you so much for this, very enjoyable.

[@timw.8452]

I've always wanted to see an up-to-date driver's video of the freight route used by the trains from the Channel tunnel to the North and West of England (and vice-versa), and this fits the bill perfectly. Many thanks for the time that you spent making it. That information bar on the right was impressive too.

[@barrygower6733]

As someone who was born and brought up at Clapham Junction, I really enjoy these cross-London journeys via my home patch.

[@milezero31_55]

That pure excitement when a new video is uploaded

[@johntipper29]

Excellent. The graphics, information and driver's view give clarity and add to the enjoyment of this particular journey. Well done.

[@patrickspeaight9154]

Brilliant, always keeps one interested, you have context, know where, and also understand the route ahead. Photography is good, yet the train knowledge is not diluted. Thank you.

[@jbrails444]

It's lovely to see how you and others go on amazing routes and see things like mayflower. Awesome video

[@Mrbeahz1]

A Track Map! - What a great idea.

[@mikechaplin2935]

So cool to see lines that I used to work on from a drivers eye perspective and how they are all interconnected! I remember coming in at Powerday and working on the WLL and SW lines! A lot more overgrown than I remember though!! ha

[@carolinecleaveley]

thanks for this very good for signal idents going through acton wells.

[@DadRail]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Chelmervalleyhigh]

Nice one. Full of interest.

[@wrigjo101]

Really good graphic at top right

[@neilcrawford8303]

Great Video, thanks for sharing. I'm looking forward to part two. I'm also a fan of Don Coffey's cab ride videos. The gradients don't look that obvious, but they really do snuff the momentum of a loaded train. It must take some time and experience to master knowing just where and when to apply the power before the train runs out of pace. It's quite a feat to run all the aggregate and container traffic inbetween the frequent London Overground services, especially the Willesden Jct High Level to Gospel Oak stretch. Compared to the South Western division I notice the Central and Southeastern divisions have a lot of flat crossings and conflicting movements. I used to take the train from Epsom, the Central had such a different feel to it to the South Western route to Waterloo. The South Western has or had a lot of dive unders or bridges at places like East Putney, Raynes Park, New Malden, Hampton Court jct and the Cobham branch, Byfleet etc. The one that does bring virtually everything to a halt is the empty aggregates traffic from Tolworth (Day's) and Chessington (Cappagh's) that have take the up slow, cross to the up fast and then cross the both down lines to join the Thames Link platform at Wimbledon, all on the flat. Again, great video and much appreciated.

[@rpm412]

Brilliant video (as are the others) and I love the graphics and the explanations. I've always been fascinated by the rail network of London since my interest began in the 70s. The West London line struck me as a magical "back door" how it linked the Southern to other networks and I would love standing at Clapham Jct waiting on some interloper to pass by either to or from the WL line. Nowadays with ThamesLink and CrossRail I find it even more fascinating.

[@thebonsaiprojectkernow]

I would love to see a video on the whole journey of a freight train say from loading to unloading at docks. Great video,I've been mesmerized by it the whole way through

[@musicforaarre]

Track Diagram aces it !! That shows that you like operations, and not just vehicle rosters. I have to go to sleep; I will save this for tomorrow. It seems strange that the freight locomotive cab videos are often more interesting. I guess it is their strange routings. Please make more of these videos. I subscribed. Aarre Peltomaa of Mississauga, Ontario

[@xxfyrezgamerxx6279]

Thanks for the great vid, also my grandfather used to also work in the old Carlisle upperby 12b locomotive and maintenance sheds around 1960's and worked on the trains as well as being the fireman and signal man and guard and also quite a few other jobs as he grew more into his job, sadly he passed away at the age of 80 on the 26th of November 2022, just looked through his old railway books and photos and found a lot of photos of him working also some of his old badges as well as the 12b loco shed badge that he wore on his old railway coat and also found his British rail identity card with his photo and I'd number on it, wanted to also work on freight trains ever since I was a kid, me and my grandad would always talk about old trains and I know a lot about railway stuff as I'm 20 now, sadly I have epilepsy got diagnosed back in November of 2017 but if I ever get rid of it I'm going to try and get a railway job, usually play on train simulator world 3 driving old class diesel freight trains like the class 37, class 40, class 45, for the modern freight loco I'm always using the class 66, the class 68 and class 88 are also amazing cant use them on the game but I have seen them in real life and I love them.

[@hoagy_ytfc]

Thanks

[@elthamlad468]

I have driven part of this route a few times as part of my training. This video will come in very handy for when I am route learning so thank you and keep up the good work :)

[@davidfarrow44]

The first of your videos ive watched. Impressive and really like the map on the right. Not intrusive and like the information provided,

[@DadRail]

Thanks David and welcome to the channel.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Very good sound quality. A 59 does seem less noisy in the cab than a 66, you can tell the difference between the 16-645 and the 12-710

[@iainmaturin8460]

Mm sounds like a 66 tp me. Pretty sure this reuplod

[@keithsewell8389]

Excellent work, most informative.

[@datalasse]

Great narrating and track map. Thanks for sharing.

[@OfficiallyCharles]

Brilliant video! Really enjoyed this one, especially how it is local to me!

[@kevinellis8869]

Love the side graphics

[@markvogel5872]

Love these cab rides!

[@MrAuriga67]

Excellent quality video, track plan and commentary. Subscribed !

[@AndreiTupolev]

Pretty neat25:45, there's a Class 66 waiting to come up from Clapham Jct and a Class 59 coming the other way on our line

[@jan-akemagnusson4559]

You make exelent videos with a lot of interesting information! Thank you from a swedish trainfan.

[@dieseldave3879]

Fantastic journey round the backs of the houses - London at its grimiest! 🚂👍

[@MartinMiller1]

Excellent

[@malcolmfairs7752]

Great video, thank you.

[@jondavies9347]

Thanks for this,a lot of effort has gone into this with great information as well, brilliant.

[@jmtiptonengland]

Excellent ~

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

I can see mayflower on a railtour passing the class 59 loco with the onboard camera

[@reach90002c5]

nice to see one of these vids with commentery thanks great vid

[@ramonwilliams5721]

As a ex steam fireman and driver, really enjoyed your video, around areas of London.

[@dubbodaniel]

Great video 👍

[@TrainVideosNI]

Great video I'm a Railway Enthusiast I love trains and I've subscribed

[@gerrymckenna4878]

Great video. I believe there was a Battersea railway station approx 24:30 - 24:50 ( open to any correction ) which was damaged during the second world war and never re-opened.

[@Coltnz1]

Yes - closed on 21 October 1940 after air raid damage during the Blitz.

[@DrMoe.Lester]

Oh so THIS is the train that gets in my way at Shephards Lane Junction :D

[@hoagy_ytfc]

I'm new to this channel - I like the presentation style, particular the speed and signal/track layout indications on the right. Thanks. It's so good it makes me want more, though :) Gradients would be a tremendous addition (sorry, I now this is already likely to be a lot of work). Thanks again :)

[@keithstroud5623]

Loving your video especially the track map, so much detail. Is that map available to us 'civilians'?

[@tonnaboy1]

I really enjoyed this video as I worked this line to Batersea power station and worked non stop until it was time to return to Old Oak common and clock off. I was interested in your comment about stopping at olympia to get an open road to OOC. the home signal for OOC. was half way up North Pole Bank, and I'm sure there are a few of us remember approaching

[@tonnaboy1]

that signal semaphore at stop, I got stopped there and stuck for steam twice and blocked the line for over an hour , the fire was always dirty after the engine had been working 24 hours non stop . we used to call that job the wall of death

[@DadRail]

Hi Keith thanks for your comment. Unfortunately it’s no longer possible to access old oak common via the spur at North Pole. The spur is out of use, and would only provide access to the North Pole depot. Access to the GWML is now via Acton Wells and the Poplar lines. We call the Sutton loop the wall of death. Sounds like a hard job for the engines and crew.

[@rhysrobertstransportationa1668]

Great video

[@Mortimer50145]

I wasn't expecting to see loco 61306 pulling "The Royal Windsor Steam Express" at 12:00

[@bertspeggly4428]

Why is the line called "Up Poplar"? It's nowhere near Poplar. Great video, thanks. Love all the info.

[@DadRail]

Ive no idea and have often wondered myself.

[@mikebuick2332]

Cracking! 👍

[@skozzy1968]

I like watching these, but I am always surprised how slow most of the rail system is over there and the length of the trains isnt that long. But does give for more chance to see all around.

[@EuropeanTrainDriver]

Sehr gut

[@jackhstproductions649]

1:41 that freightliner class 66 is pretty close to the buffers!

[@tobys_transport_videos]

Very interesting video and very well put together! I just found your channel today and instantly subscribed! That map is everything! I'm just amazed at so many lines merging and breaking away! There is is so much more than I can follow on my London Underground wall map! I don't suppose there's a good PDF available that I can get stretched out to poster size to help a British Railways-mad Aussie navigate London's railways?

[@DadRail]

Hey thanks for your kind comment. I don’t know of any full sized maps as such. The problem with a lot of the maps is that they only show passenger lines and not freight.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Puzzling that Chelsea & Fulham never reopened. That would be useful today, I'd have thought

[@srfurley]

A few slabs were laid on one platform edge some years ago; I don’t know why. It’s right by the football stadium, but the next station, West Brompton I think, is only a short distance away.

[@kinkisharyocoasters]

34:02 so the rails move to avoid the frog gap?

[@DadRail]

That’s right. It’s know as a switch diamond.

[@pajotero4219]

Good video. Very informative. Been a long time since I was around those parts. Which camera did you use and how did you power it?

[@geoffbarry9540]

Have travelled this route on a number of occasions from the comfort of my armchair and enjoyed your commentary and the route map immensely. One correction however; Latchmere Junction number 3, the creep-up spur to Waterloo, was not built for Eurostar. It first opened in June 1865. It certainly came in handy when planning the original Eurostar infrastructure, providing a ready made access from Waterloo via the West London to North Pole depot (the exit from which is now the North Pole turnback siding to which you refer). But it wasn't purpose built. That said, looking forward to part 2 which, if travelling down via Streatham and Streatham Common, will later pass my favourite childhood train watching location - the back garden of 56 Bensham Manor Road Thornton Heath, midway between that station and Selhurst (between 1959 and 1962!).

[@stephenkettle7733]

Great video, very informative. Do you happen to know the gradient in the down direction between SB and North Pole? P.s minor error on your route diagram around Latchmere Jcn No 1 (crossover is the wrong way round)

[@DadRail]

Hi Stephen, I did notice that error, once the video was uploaded. I’m not sure on the gradient. I tried several sources to try and find it out but to was unable to do so.

[@stephenkettle7733]

@@DadRail cool, thanks for letting me know. We’ve got a couple of 1 in 39 here in Tasmania. They literally crawl up at walking pace.

[@jackjohnson887585]

After imperial wharf, how come the train doesnt diverge towards clapham junction on the down brighton slow line? It would have cut a chunk off the journey. Is it simply too busy on the brighton main line between clapham and croydon?

[@DadRail]

It could be for a number of reasons. As you say the Brighton mainline is a busy bit of railway so it could be a pathing issue. It may also be to retain drivers route knowledge over the diversionary routes, or a lack of route knowledge on the section between Clapham and Streatham.

[@mdhazeldine]

Great video Richard. Were you the driver on this one? When exactly was it recorded? 2022?

[@oldtechnobodycaresabout]

Do one on marsh link Next!

[@steveluckhurst2350]

Any ideas as to why this service does not go from latchmere junction to Clapham Junction and then down the BML to Purley ? Thanks.

[@kevinrayner5812]

Why does this train go via Herne Hill and not access the Brighton Line at Clapham Junction? Seems a round about way to get to Streatham?

[@DadRail]

I am not 100% sure. It could be due to availability of pathways, or just to maintain drivers route knowledge.

[@davidjohnson00001]

Purley is not in Surrey but in the London Borough of Croydon.

[@DadRail]

From my research it depends on if you are selling or buying :-) I think you are correct though it is part of Croydon as of 1965, but I believe even the locals are decided on how they like to be identified.

[@davidjohnson00001]

​@@DadRail Ah, but I bet they wouldn't want to give up on their Oystercards, Freedom Passes etc. not too mention the sheer frequency of TfL trains and buses.

[@BigJoeChrisLewis]

@@davidjohnson00001 It's part of the London Borough of Croydon but the official postal address is Surrey. Go figure, as the Americans would say...

[@neilcrawford8303]

@@davidjohnson00001 I used to live on the Surrey side of the Surrey-Gtr London boundary between Ewell and Chessington which I regretted. My Surrey disabled pass only got me buses, yet over the boundary and I would have got a disabled Freedom pass. Now live on the Merseyside-West Lancashire border. I'm in Merseyside so get free trains, buses and Mersey Ferry. Those in West Lancs just get the bus. Plus, like London, people can get a local Merseytravel pass at 60 for travel within Merseyside until the national bus pass kicks in at 67.

[@mikkie444]

untill shepherds bush station were there any other stations on that strech of line?

[@markcf83]

There used to be one near to Stamford Bridge.

[@juliansadler6263]

North Pole where the Sussex Scot used to change from cl47 to cl86. Then straight to Wolverhampton with the Aberystwyth train waiting across the platform. Oh but wasn't British Rail terrible curly sandwiches they say who never used it.

[@russiandrivers9986]

What are the maps that you're using for this?

[@DadRail]

They are all custom drawn by myself

[@Brian-nf6bt]

Wheres part 2 ?

[@stevehornsby7727]

You may be able to help. I recently put up a video as a passenger on train sim 3 and added real train announcements. Would I be asked to remove it if they think they are copyrighted? Thanks.

[@beeble2003]

I'm not a lawyer. With that disclaimer, I doubt that train announcements are copyrightable. There are two possibly copyrightable aspects: the text and the performance. In my non-expert view, there is no creative content in either. The text is purely informational and expressed in the most obvious way ("We are now approaching station X", etc.); the performance consists of simply reading (or ad-libbing) the text, again in the most obvious way, with no obvious artistic component. However, if the train company asserted that they held copyright, it wouldn't be worth the expense of contesting that claim in court, even if you won.

[@stevehornsby7727]

@@beeble2003 thank you. It gives me food for thought. 👍

[@DadRail]

I’d agree with what has been said. Worst case scenario you will get a copyright claim on KZbin and they may mute the audio

[@stevehornsby7727]

@@DadRail Thank you for your response. Keep up the excellent videos. 👍

[@tBsTwister]

Another great video, thank your driver for the content. Can I assume that it was a freightliner haul?

[@abbiearcher4716]

Steam Train's at 11:53

[@GTRRailwaysTrainspotter]

Nice! How did you get this? It looks like you are in the cab yourself lol!

[@jameshennighan8193]

GREAT FOOTAGE - BUT THE UGLY VANDALISM OF GRAFFITI Great footage of lines we do not usually see, and an excellent commentary..... Unfortunately the entire journey shows how the ugly and despoiling scourge of graffiti has spread.......been allowed to spread.....and is tolerated by so many in authority, be they Network Rail, the Train operating Companies, Transport for London and the Local Authorities. Parts of the scene and locations shown are almost as bad as inner city Paris for this....... Modern railway architecture, does not help in keeping this menace at bay, where vast amounts of concrete have been used without any thought being given to protect it. Line-side signalling equipment cabinets.....an obvious target for this vandalism...... are not grouped more together as they should be and protected with fences.......and signs and bridge parapets also fall victim. The more this is tolerated......and it has been for years...the more it spreads... It is ironic that vast swathes of high-security style, (very expensive), fencing is used in so many areas of our railway infrastructure where it is not really necessary.........and is seldom used where it should be. One thinks of the manner in which the WCML is flanked by high-security fencing, (painted green), all the way up Shap, to keep all those sheep away from the mainline and fast trains, when the sheep have been watching trains behind the security of their stone walls since railways first began. James Hennighan Yorkshire, England

[@johnkent-thanet-uk]

THE UGLY VANDALISM OF GRAFFITI also seen in Switzerland, Germany and France. Why, what is wrong with these vandals? 🤬

[@EXSKIN]

Don't worry HGV driving is harder and we don't deserve the salary we get. one quote I heard was at least lorry drivers need to know the route to there destination, ohh how I chuckled yeah you ain't got 4 million signals 4 million speeds and 4million route indications to learn, depending where you sign.

[@JokerOrTickle]

Looks and sounds like a 66 😂