Harlesden Trains Pass - Sparks Fly

London Overground Class 378 and London Underground Bakerloo Line 1972 tube stock trains at Harlesden station in north London and seen passing each other just to the north of the station.
Northbound Bakerloo Line trains always depart the station is a shower of electric sparks - the reason why will become apparent on watching the film

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

in addition to what spoorus said, its worth noting that where Bakerloo and District Line trains run on the same tracks as 'other' trains, the tracks are part of the 'national' railway network, its just that many decades ago the Underground trains started using those tracks 'as well'. At one time the District Line route between Gunnersbury and Richmond was shared by 5 different railway companies, all of which used steam trains. That was over 100 years ago! simon

[@Great_WesternTVFan]

Seamus Finnagan: *WenGarDeleviosa!!* Seamus' wand: 0:25 Seamus Finnagan: *Gets burnt*

[@rick_rs57]

Shared sections of Underground / "main line" railway exist between Queens Park - Harrow & Wealdstone, Gunnersbury - Richmond (both shared with Overground electric trains) and Harrow-on-the-Hill - Amersham (shared with Chiltern diesel trains). There are other lengths of parallel running between the two systems but not where trains of both systems run over shared track.

[@wharris302]

They enter the platform really fast

[@TheChicagoL]

Not being from the UK, I didn't know that Class 378 ran on the same track as London Tube trains, especially since it appears that the Overground runs by a primary outside third rail, but the Tube trains run by a third and fourth set of power rails. So, do the Overground trains actually utilize the inside fourth rail when they run via Tube track right of way? Just curious.

[@jemelonyt8349]

Class 378 to London euston from Watford junction

[@saikyoDRAGON]

ahem... North west London... ahem used to love watching trains go past at Stonebridge Park

[@Snapdragon4472]

The signal took a long time to return to red after the trains had passed it...

[@viagensimagens]

great vídeo, good work!!

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

actually, the outer rail is positive and centre rail is negative. when the Watford route was first electrified it also used the 4 rail system; BR converted it to 3 rail in circa 1970. District and mainline trains also share tracks on the section of the Wimbledon branch that is south of the River Thames, although since 1916 only District Line trains have operated the normal passenger service - mainline trains use the route for empty trains.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Between Harrow On The Hill & Amersham the mainline (nowadays Chiltern) diesel trains travel over electrified tracks which are also used by Metropolitan Line trains. Until the early 1960's many Metropolitain trains were steam hauled and travelled beyond Amersham, mostly as far as Aylesbury, although some went further north. Some even had Pullman cars! At one time long distance express trains from London Marylebone station to Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester also travelled this route.

[@Great_WesternTVFan]

Will the AD-100 Hitachi trains replace the 1972 stocks? Because I'm looking forward and I hate the 1972 stock

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Probably but I will be sad to see the 1972 stocks be withdrawn. I went to school on them!

[@Great_WesternTVFan]

I'm so sorry :( but hey are worst. But trust me the AT 100 is way smooth than 1972 stocks

[@spdfatomicstructure]

They likely won't - the replacement will probably be the Siemens Inspiro

[@rick_rs57]

The fact that these trains share tracks in places arises from the complex history and development of London's railways. Underground trains draw current from the outer negative rail and return it via the central positive rail. This system was adopted to avoid current leakage and potential corrosion in tunnels. Overground trains which do not share the deep tunnels beneath the centre of London return traction current picked up from the outer rail via the wheels and running rails.

[@inglian02]

I don't remember platform announcements at Harlesden. They must have been introduced for the Olympics.

[@DaveInBridport]

So who owns the 378s? Seems like they have LT roundel on side?

[@spoorus]

No. Class 378 and other 3rd rail stock that shares tracks with Bakerloo and District lines does not use the 4th center rail, but instead return current through the running rails. Where the routes separate safety devices check if the 4th rail is used to prevent 3rd rail stock proceed on underground tracks.

[@Great_WesternTVFan]

spoorus

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Thanks :-)

[@RedArrow73]

Harlesden or "Holliston"?

[@dawndoherty1]

Harlesden

[@rajankerai8245]

why is the gap at end of platform open for people to walk through?

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

thats how platforms always were... people were wiser and did not walk on to the tracks. Plus there were more staff about watching the passengers.

[@rajankerai8245]

citytransportinfo What about these days.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

There is a trend to sealing off the platform ends. It really should not be necessary, if only passengers were sensible and used common sense. But alas sometimes they do not.

[@ElloImNoodle]

@@CitytransportInfoplus on the tube some stations are blocked but I didn’t see on the overground

[@neilshearer6899]

Normally trains that share the tracks with underground services do not need the negative return conductor rail as they don’t have a central collector shoe only the one that picks the power up from the positive live conductor rail

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

not nowadays, but the when the LNWR electric trains started running they also used the 4th rail, it was only in 1970 that the line and its trains were converted to the three rail system