The Tube Train In the Channel Islands

On the small island of Alderney in the Channel Islands, did you know there's a railway which uses old 1959 Tube Stock to run its services. So I took a trip and spent a few days there to explore the island, ride the railway, and revel in the old Northern Line stock.
Bonus video, Alderney's Lost Railway : • Alderney's Lost Railway
The Alderney Railway website with schedule and all the further information you need is at: www.alderneyrailway.gg/
Thanks to additional photos & video, from Richard Griffin and LS/YourIslandPhotography.
You can read Richard's report on the 1959 Tube stock (and their last day of working) here: www.squarewheels.org.uk/rly/s...
CORRECTION:
0:15 I've got 'Herm' and 'Sark' transposed in the graphic at the beginning, which is hugely annoying!

[@magnoxian]

What an unexpected little treat. I lost my father last year. He was a guard on the Central Line when he first came over from the Caribbean in the 1950s. We lived in Tooting on the Northern line so I fondly remember him explaining all the indicator abbreviations. As I child, I loved watching the active brake pressure gauges. Miss you, Skipper 😪

[@Walkermatt3]

All the Stations: Alderney!

[@MianCowell]

Exactly!

[@chriswall4795]

Hi Geoff, in 1972 my parents got jobs in the Island school. We lived a rented bungalow alongside the track looking out across Braye Bay and in those days, the rubbish dump! I turned 5 just before we moved and started school on Alderney; we used to walk to school along the line. In those days the train, pulled by Molly, was in use ... probably moving stone for maintenance of the navy breakwater as they ran out on to it regularly. Sadly, house prices leapt in 1973, so we moved back to the Mainland. Last time we were there as a family was Summer 1979 for a holiday. Chris Wall

[@CBeaumontHIGTFY]

The lights on the tube train cab end are actually flashing as I remember when I visited. One thing that Geoff didn't mention is that the loco and tube carriages at each end are fitted with Dash Cams - sadly road traffic on the island has increased and as you can see from the map of the crossings there are a large number of them, most of which are road ones. None of the crossings have lights or barriers. Whitegates crossing, near to Eclipse Halt (which serves the Football Club and Saye Campsite a short walk to the north) - is a particularly dangerous crossing - the train is effectively entering a road blind in the westbound direction. It's useful for the drivers of the loco to be able to see over the top of the train as well, as it's push and pull operation. The bells are the crew communicating and the team at the westbound end have to authorise the loco to pass each crossing via bell communication. A wired telephone also exists between each driving end (one of which is the loco) - for speech communication. When travelling Eastbound, the second man in the loco is on lookout for road traffic. Fun fact, as Geoff mentions, the compressed air braking system is still there and they are the original brakes on the carriages. They are linked up to the loco's brakes via the air pipe, but if the crew at the westbound end apply the brakes of the carriages they will stop the carriages and the over 70 year old loco - even if the loco doesn't shut off power - they are that powerful.

[@Andrew.Prince]

Years ago when on holiday, I hired a car, drove around the whole island in a slightly shorter time than you could walk. Airport was a grass field and as a pasenger you virtually sat next to the pilot. Great fun.

[@bensonby]

One of your best ever videos Geoff. You’ve inspired me to pay a visit myself one day!

[@geofftech2]

thank you Ben, extremely kind. spend all week putting that togehter! not a ten minute job .. ;-)

[@gaius100bc]

@@geofftech2 quality work, sir

[@edwardlees4585]

Alderney is a wonderful snapshot of what Jersey and Guernesy used to be like before they became the modern financial centres we see today. I haven't been over there for around 10 yrears but hope to get back as soon as the ferries from France start running again. Geoff, if you ever get to Jersey rent an electric bike and cycle the two former railway routes which head east and west from St Helier. The one to the west, in particular is well woth if for the views at the far end.

[@Professor_sckinnctn]

This video is why I love your channel, Geoff: your infectious joy is brilliant.

[@mdhazeldine]

Geoff "go the extra mile" Marshall. Not only did you go all the way to the channel Islands to ride on the Underground, but you also took more dives onto gravel than any other video I think you've ever made, and tried some pretty unusual shots (camera on the track anyone?). It's almost like you've done a course in videography and are trying to up your game with new unusual angles. Well done for pushing the (guard's) bar ever higher! lol.

[@andyhill242]

I like the way the locomotive is tall enough to see over the carriages when running backwards.

[@Drawyah]

I'm going to Alderney this Saturday for the sole reason of riding this train! 😂

[@geofftech2]

GET IN!!! excellent. tell them you saw my video!! ;)

[@derekantill3721]

I rode on the 1959 Tube stock on the Northern Line every day, to and from work when it was new.

[@casanovalenny]

Anyone else feel Geoff's pain mentioning the train he's too big for 😭

[@LeoStarrenburg]

Looked like 7¼" gauge, quite capable to haul persons much 'larger' than Geoff.

[@funkyjunkyjai]

I don't care how big I am... I'm riding that train ! 😆

[@armchairspaceman9134]

no. quite the opposite :- I _wish I could_ say that. :D

[@russrh]

You're never too big for miniature trains Geoff!

[@caw25sha]

Next video: Eclipse Halt, Least Used Station on Alderney

[@djackmanson]

PID: No Rubbish bins: No Services: Very very rarely

[@TWLIV]

I'd like an all the miniature stations please - never too old for miniature trains!

[@tonij9801]

Isle of Wight railway also uses tube trains (1988) for a regular all year service connecting through Ryde Pier and a ferry with the London mainline at Portsmouth Harbour

[@keithkellogg6085]

Geoff! Your enthusiasm and genuine affection for Alderney was lovely to see, and infectious. A great video. Big cheers to the volunteers!

[@petittrainguernsey3297]

Guernsey does have a train! The Petit Train! My tourist land train tours St Peter Port throughout the summer and Christmas.

[@grantwise5735]

G'day Geoff Grant from Hobart here. Great video mate, I have visited London 4 times and love the tube almost as much as the London buses. Keep up the good work. Grant

[@bobbynoggin]

Must have impressed the Alderney Railway Society as there is now a direct link to this upload on their website. Travelled on this line in 1995 when presumably it would have been on the older stock. The current tube carriages seem to be in much better condition than the one I remember being on.

[@EDMLyfe]

That man at 8:50 has a Toronto blue jays hat on it’s the mid 2000s design as well. Let’s go!

[@zoefroon4269]

Thanks for sharing this beautiful part of England 💞

[@randomroveruk6715]

Oh dear, another place to visit! Thanks Geoff, very entertaining and informative as usual!

[@PaulfromChicago]

This was an absolutely fantastic video. Thank you for posting it. You really made my day.

[@KonradOlbrycht]

Really rare to see videos on the island. I only know of 2 videos talking about Alderney, so this made me smile 😃

[@raisingkidsinyorkshire]

its not rare, there was a couple hired by the tourist board. They spend 2 lockdowns there filming and making videos about everything in Alderney. I spotted them on Instagram but they have KZbin channel too. They are Scottish and since then have left the island...

[@robertthomson1587]

Wonderful! Your enthusiasm has warmed me up on a cold and windy spring morning.

[@template16]

Love the infectious enthusiasm in that video. Thanks Geoff

[@anniesoernym]

What a cool thing to have there and do! You seemed absolutely giddy with delight, Geoff! Which I can completely understand

[@Hammondfreak]

Just love your enthusiasm Geoff. Great video and really enjoyed the final shot of the train disappearing into the countryside.

[@saraclayton-smithson5083]

This is my favourite LU Northern video!! Thank you!!

[@m1klgordon]

So many memories of this old stock and travelling on Tube Trains. Thanks Geoff.

[@johnclauder615]

I love your style ...so lively and refreshing, thank you. PS . Beautiful image quality as well !

[@wesleycardinal8869]

Fantastic content Geoff, some great camera angles and your enthusiasm is palpable. We need more of these kind of happy videos in these days.

[@SaturnCanuck]

Thank you Geoff, that was a blast from the past. I so remember riding them, mostly from when I was 10 and visited Nan and Grandad in 1974. And yes, that door sound, amazing. Brought back a lot of cherished memories, thanks.

[@davideddy5877]

One of your best Geoff. Very enjoyable.

[@philroysmith]

Excellently shot and produced. A really good piece. Thank you.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

That tube train looks like it’s come all this way to the Channel Islands from its old home in london

[@tessla9244]

Beautiful, high quality video. Thank you!

[@chaydavis7389]

Very well presented with invaluble nuggets about the Northern 1959 stock carriages. I also love your infectious passion.

[@matttbones]

Great video Geoff, nice to bump into you over the weekend, you mentioned that this week’s video was going to be a good one and it didn’t disappoint! Keep up the good work! cheers, Matt

[@airzulu2733]

Very nice to watch . And well presented , after seeing this looks like a worthwhile trip .

[@allanfoster6965]

Fantastic video again. Thank you!

[@wigwayj]

Been waiting for this video for years. Chuffed for Alderney Railway to get the privilege of a Geoff vid. Now everyone visit!

[@matthiashartge5520]

Thank you for your lovely videos and the short distraction from every day life they pose. All the best from Germany :)

[@baystated]

Great sliding into the dirt. Geoff does his own stunts!

[@geofftech2]

like Tom Cruise!

[@zenthemanchild]

@@geofftech2 now you have to fight on top of a train, like mission impossible 1

[@baystated]

@@geofftech2 I had to pause it there. The resemblance is uncanny!

[@eekee6034]

The car in the background at 9:56 tho! 🤣 Stay free-spirited, Geoff, it's great! 👍😄

[@michaeldwyer3352]

Never thought to see you off piste in the Channel Islands. Many thanks for this surprise video.

[@peterjohnson4932]

This was awesome Geoff! I had no idea this existed. I rode these trains daily on the Northern line..... And Mornington Crescent was my home station, so seeing the sign there was especially nice. Great video. Thanks!

[@zoeward2649]

Brilliant video Geoff! It was great to meet you on the train (& later the plane!)

[@MelW999]

I love the video! Your enthusiasm for Alderneys railway is catching, even I want to take another trip! It was lovely to meet you and hope you can come and stay with us again sometime soon.

[@chrisprice4203]

Great video, and it was my pleasure to meet Geoff in person in my local pub this evening. He is just as friendly in real life and I look forward to more videos.

[@davidoliver1169]

Another great video Geoff - thank you!

[@pauljones401]

That was brilliant and I had no idea! Great to see such pride in the line!

[@seanw7452]

Love this Geoff, the power slide at 5.05 made my day!

[@Lulu-jl5zd]

Lovely vlog. And I don't think I have ever seen you so excited. I love the fact the islanders changed back to the original gauge. "Our island... our gauge!"

[@petebeard324]

So many wonderful memories of my childhood holidays to the channel islands in the 1960's. I grew up in North London and remember jumping on these tube trains at Cockfosters or High Barnet, memories of the wooden slatted flooring, the strap hangers etc. Thank you for a wonderful video, it's prompted me to return to Aurigny very soon.

[@Khalqui]

very nice vlog........Hats off to the volunteers who are keeping this historic track alive

[@RichardWells1]

What an inspiration! With bags of enthusiasm from @Geoff Marshall. What a great little video!

[@chrisrichmond403]

Oh Memories Geoff .. In the Mid 80’s we as a family used to do day trips from Torquay to Alderney ( There was a ferry company called Torbay Seaways) While on Alderney as a family we always had a trip on the train what was always unique with the stock being ex london underground.

[@stephenjenkins10]

Loved this video. I never knew that this railway existed in Alderney, so it was an education for me as well. Thanks for making these videos Geoff, they are so interesting.

[@raisingkidsinyorkshire]

yep, me too. Never realised they had one!

[@jonojersey29]

Woohoo jersey boy here…. I suggested this to you a couple years ago - happy to see you did it. Jersey also had a Railway but only the old station buildings exist now as it was lifted by the Germans during the occupation but what’s left is still worth a look at including the scenic railway walk

[@charlo90952]

it wasn't lifted by the Germans. they relaid all the track to 60 cm gauge to build the extensive coastal fortifications. there was a track to Ronez quarry and down to St. Ouen's bay, and a tunnel under Mt. Bingham. the tracks were lifted after the Occupation.

[@dianekivi5349]

Nice to see you've finally travelled on my local railway line, Geoff!

[@knottyal2428]

We had an Easter holiday on Alderney in 1980! We rode on that train on its first day, April 5th! Great little island, and a lovely holiday. Flew from Bournemouth airport, and the landing was like coming in to the deck of an aircraft carrier, at the clifftop!

[@davidjames2910]

The train and its situation are wonderful but I also love your enthusiasm!

[@philliphurley5341]

I remember those old tube trains well. My family and I lived in Wood Green north London near Turnpike Lane tube station.

[@billinglot4670]

Thank you Geoff for a great way to start a day.

[@sebxiou-lifestyle4465]

Brilliant video! Thank you.

[@davekirwin]

Glad you finally made it over! Lovely place. Glad you noticed the Sark/Herm mix up too!

[@w1swh1]

Thanks Geoff, very enjoyable. Must go someday.

[@stevies.1975]

What a great video. First time I’ve been made aware of a line on Alderney.

[@stephenswift9868]

How charming! Well done all!

[@ernestparker3648]

Absolutely brilliant Geoff.

[@brendanmcgahan9807]

Probably your best video yet Geoff. I really want to go now 👍🏼

[@rossgoodchild1852]

Absolutely brilliant thank you Geoff

[@paulash7993]

Very nicely done, mate. This brings back happy memories on 1997 when I worked in Old Street and used the Northern every day. The '59 stock was decrepit by then -- I once rode the lead car of one train whose door to the driver's compartment was missing, offering a mole's eye view of how the line twists and turns under London. Great vid, and spectacular sound!.

[@walkingwithsteve0583]

Hi from New Zealand. Enjoy watching your content. Today you were like a kid in a candy store. Love it Geoff!

[@pacerchaser9434]

Absolutely brilliant video, thanks Geoff! I've been wanting to visit Alderney for years, having seen this I'm going to have to do it

[@jimmyskite]

OMG!!! Can't believe you have visited Alderney! My Gran and my Auntie both live on the island and this was almost an annual summer journey as a kid riding this train lol

[@OhioticketswithRobert]

Thank you for this interesting look at these carriages and the island.

[@katesmith5767]

I was due to do this during my summer holiday to Guernsey this year. However a seismic shift in personal circumstances during the trip put paid to that. However, I still love the Channel Islands and this video was just the thing to convince me to try again next year. Thanks 😊

[@nlemecfc]

Brilliant, my family heritage is Alderney and Guernsey with my father evacuated during the war. We've been to Alderney three times in recent years but have yet to be there when the train is running.

[@havingalook2]

Now that was fun. You are very lucky. Well done.

[@0KiteEatingTree0]

I remember as a child the thrill of one of the old carriages coming along on the northern line I was born in the late 70,s so just watched them decline. This really is a bit of a treat Thank you

[@grahamhp]

Been to Alderney several times but never knew it was there, next time I'm taking a ride cheers Geoff.

[@andrewphipps8103]

That ending was really touching and sweet, Geoff ☺️

[@WhiteTiger333]

That was so much fun! I felt as if I had a mini-excursion myself.

[@cheeseysponge944]

Must have been a lovely time great job!

[@delboy7039]

That brings back memories of the old girls on the Northern Line [BO for Watling] is our station....!

[@Vampire.Vegan.]

Thanks for sharing this, Geoff.

[@Eddyspeeder]

Geoff, as a loyal viewer, can I just say this is one of my all-time favourite videos of yours from a production viewpoint? I love the way it was cut, the sequence of the scenes (which includes you recording your voice-over), and just the overall vibe of the video. What might have helped with the latter is that you were visibly giddy every time you were around the train. Sliding!

[@geofftech2]

Eddy, thank you .. kindly! spent a LOT of time working on it trying to get it just perfect! am thrilled you noticed, thank you, humbly.

[@scullytawoody4852]

Great video as always. Love the old style tude train wonderful.

[@Flymochairman1]

That looks a fun destination for a holiday. The simplicity of the railway is wonderful. What history on that little out-crop of sandstone. Oh for the little trains on Isle of Mull again! Cheers Geoff!

[@mochynddu723]

Marvellous! I'm quite envious.

[@thesnowman9474]

Brilliant videos! Watching from Canada!

[@tallslimguy]

I thought that having London Underground trains on the Isle of Wight was unusual but this certainly wins the star price for oddity value.

[@richardshanahan7776]

Lovely video will def try to drag family over for sure. Keep up the good work Geoff

[@jayeatman1]

This is now my hands-down favorite GM video. Mind you, I've been going to Alderney since 1965 (when I was 4). We holidayed there every year as kids. I then work there summers , including 1980 when the railway opened. My parents retired there, their house 100m from the line in Newtown. We scattered my Dad's ashes at Corblets, the closest beach to Mannez. We walked the railway incessantly because it was the shortest route to the golf course and the beaches at the Mannez end of the Island. My brother was hit by a car at the crossing 150m from where you were lying (only a broken leg, he's fine). So many memories!

[@neilbain8736]

I've heard about this line and it's great to actually see it. It's on a nice sunny day, too, and I get the impression the weather can turn quite nasty being surrounded by the sea.

[@helenroberts6851]

I've watched this with a huge smile on my face!

[@solsticepilgrim]

Great video thanks for posting. I wondered when you'd do Alderney and now you have!

[@lisakaz35]

OMG, that was awesome. Wish I could rid that lil train. Looked like great fun.