The City Widened Lines: The Underground Line With No Underground Trains

By popular demand, here’s a video on one of the oldest and most important sections of the Underground, which never carried Tube trains.
For more on Smithfield: • Smithfield: We’ll Meat...
The County of London Plan: • Lines That Never Were:...
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[@davidsixtwo]

I, for one, am ready for the mini-series.

[@cardigan7726]

Me too!

[@saintmattio1988]

Agreed 👍

[@adydhotmail]

Likewise. Cracking vids, ta.

[@gbp2]

But not too many more about that grumpy uncoopeative fellow from the Wabash Dover Chatham Norfolk and Southern or what ever It might be. : ) Sorry, non-Brit here, too. Sure like to ride some of these when the coronies are at bay.

[@barrydysert2974]

Yes please!:-) 🖖

[@Blade_Daddy]

Yes to covering the different railway companies.

[@rgmusicom]

Hear, hear.

[@knowlesy3915]

Especially pre grouping; the biggest and or most obscure if possible.

[@chromiumphotography5138]

Yes please - sounds a great idea.

[@wesleypotter7969]

Yes please, sounds like a great series

[@delurkor]

From the colonies; Yes, Yes, Hear, Hear, Here, here, Pip, Pip, Up, Up, Down, Down, Oh wait.

[@baxtermarrison5361]

I like the idea of a potted history of the various companies. Why they started, and what they became. As the development of the railway was somewhat left to chance, no over-arching master plan, just individuals with a need to get from a to b, it would be fascinating to better understand how we got from there to here and how, and by whom.

[@matthewjohnbornholt648]

You think that's crazy. In Japan they've kept of lot of those pioneer rail companies which function as conglomerate in real estate, shopping malls, road freight, buses, mountain-top cable car transport, art museums and....all female musical theatre troupes. Its actually pretty cool. And there are the through running lines which link two municipal subways and 2 private railways.

[@baxtermarrison5361]

@@matthewjohnbornholt648 Indeed, sounds rather convoluted. I am aware that business in general is way more diverse when it comes to companies holding stocks in others, but not to the extent of former rail operators dabbling in the arts. Although 'British Railways' have often been accused of dabbling in the 'dark arts'.

[@matthewjohnbornholt648]

@@baxtermarrison5361 Well these dark arts are working pretty well.

[@trevorhart545]

Railways needed an act of Parliament. So ONLY wealthy landowners who were the MPs could build them. FREIGHT was a major driver followed by passengers.

[@matthewjohnbornholt648]

@@trevorhart545 I was talking about contemporary Japanese private railways but by all means assert whatever mythology you wish. ONLY is a rather strong word. Its very clear from the wage data that those railways actually hurt agrarian landlords through the import of foreign foodstuffs (see Lindert). The Industrialist-Worker Free Trade alliance was not perfect but it produced results. Inequality modestly declines in the late Victorian period.

[@oatveal]

Whenever you ask "would you be interested in a video about this?", the answer is always yes :) Especially on this topic. I'm amazed that, in a country where nearly every commercial venue is part of a larger chain, there were so many independent railways, so I would definitely like to know more!

[@skylarius3757]

Each company built their own rails and station which is why some towns have more than 1 train station.

[@zorktxandnand3774]

what makes good KZbin channels great is that it is about topics that the creator is intrested in. unlike TV where it is the other way round. It's just about the host of the program, who does not give an excrement about the topic of the program.

[@krashd]

@@skylarius3757 And why London has umpteen.

[@rayfisher3921]

@@skylarius3757 Not necessarily. Carlise the classic example - 1 station, 7 companies!

[@pvuccino]

Cedric Hauteville I hate to disappoint you, but these were massive railway companies that had amalgamated with/taken over numerous smaller railways. So technically, they were chains themselves! lol

[@nathanclements8421]

I would be interested in having a series on introducing railways.

[@DarkAudit]

As an American who is hooked on this series, an emphatic YES to the intros.

[@freddysanders2826]

Same here!

[@travelsofmunch1476]

@Pep FantasyFootball idk, It just is, my lil American brain quite likes this series. Whenever I visit London I’ll know some interesting context and history

[@AdamBray1]

As another American who loves this series, I'd whole-hartedly agree. I'd especially appreciate anything in the way of maps / graphics to help understand how these railroads connected and serviced different regions.

[@chrisfrandsen4201]

@Pep FantasyFootball I am also an American that has a fascination with the Jago’s videos about the tube, railways and various London oddities. When I’m in London, I love to take the tube, even when I know walking, taking a Uber or taxi might be more cost effective, quick and convenient. I suspect it’s the novelty of the hustle & bustle of the commuters, the ambient noises, the smells & swaying of the carriages. Plus, the people watching is fantastic. Drunken footie fans are a bit much though. ⚽️ 🇬🇧 🙂

[@blueskiesabove3950]

More railway history? Sounds like a capital idea.

[@Stormy_69]

You've touched on companies merging and other whatnot in the past, a dedicated series on the history of them would be great 😉

[@Coldyham]

We need a tube map style graphic to show the mergers

[@pf32900]

It'd be a hell of a lot of work to do that for every single railway company. This is a list of those railways that were constituents of the Great Western Railway: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_constituents_of_the_Great_Western_Railway

[@pf32900]

Of the London and North Eastern Railway: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_constituents_of_the_London_and_North_Eastern_Railway

[@pf32900]

Of the Southern Railway: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_constituents_of_the_Southern_Railway

[@pf32900]

Of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_constituents_of_the_London,_Midland_and_Scottish_Railway

[@Darzzr]

Yes, it would be good to cover the railway companies too.

[@EtwasMartin]

I used to write an eloborate comment under almost all of your videos since I found your channel like 3 weeks ago but today, I can't think of anything fancy to say. So let me say this: thanks for another great video that had me have a relaxing, charming and informative start into the day.

[@zach_c]

this was published at about 7pm last night for me lol

[@neville132bbk]

So you're quite happy, broadly speaking.

[@BarneyLeith]

I am a railway enthusiast, and I think it would be helpful to have a mini series on the railway companies.

[@philipdove6987]

I would like such a series even though i already know a lot about pregrouping and the big four. I'm always puzzled about a railway I've heard of but never read about called the Landon,Tiwbry, and Sarfend

[@Steamtramman719]

Yer? Be sayin you ain't never eard of Sarfend soon.

[@Twittler1]

😁😆😁😆😁

[@johnjephcote7636]

I remember using the Snow Hill tunnel on a 'special' when it was still only a goods line...and also what my father called 'the drain', the Widenend Lines with N2s coming up the Hotel Curve into KX Suburban (and later on in the sixties, a Type 2 diesel). Thanks for the updated history!

[@Twittler1]

The ‘Drain’ is the Waterloo & City line.

[@johnjephcote7636]

@@Twittler1 I always knew that..but I did say that my father used the term (for want of a better appellation, I s'pose).

[@michaeljames4904]

The former goods yard now car park accessed by spiral ramp, under Smithfield, was used as an experimental research station during WWII, and was where the likes of Dr Jacob Bronowski (yes, he) tried to fashion workable aircraft carrier prototype models, in miniature, made from pykrete -I’d never taken a wander down there, thanks for the sneak peek Jago!

[@KravKernow]

I'd always wondered what was down there. Although the big 'car park' signs should maybe have been a clue.

[@Larry]

This video certainly broadend my vision! :D

[@lukewest7216]

You might say it has wide appeal

[@bfapple]

Link me up.

[@hoagy_ytfc]

"widened" was the gag you were looking for.

[@silviasanchez648]

@@JamesTK Why three? What was the need of having so many?

[@ForWhomTheTartTotes]

I would die a happy man If some fact hunt/tales from the tube type video spawned from this comment. Also I love you Larry.

[@bbmikej]

Fun fact related to 6:38. The MTA in NYC has a museum of heritage stock in an old station in Brooklyn. Because of the way the Express/Local lines were developed, if you wanted to get to that station from Manhattan you would need to take an interborough train (express) to the first stop then get off and go back one stop to a terminus station for the local. It was hardly used so it was closed and is now the New York Transit Museum!!

[@srfurley]

I think that Court Street station, the one that is now the Transit Museum, is rather like our Aldwych. Both were termini served by short shuttle lines which were poorly used, both were closed, both are still connected to the network and trains can be run into them. Court Street became the museum, and while Aldwych did not the London Transport Museum does run tours of it from time to time.

[@1minigrem]

I would like to know more about the old railway companies having grown up with British Rail.

[@davidpanton3192]

3:56 - Greengrocers' apostrophes rarely come so big.

[@SheeplessNW6]

Ah no, that's a company owned by a guy called Radiator Cover

[@stevenhale2935]

They just have one big radiator cover, which is made to measure.

[@jonboyjon1976]

That so wound me up as well.

[@matthewgartell6380]

Wonderful camera shot from 5.41 onwards. What I love about railways is they enable us to feel the atmosphere of the past. This shot does this perfectly

[@maggimukasa828]

I too would be interested in a potted history of the various railway companies. Keep up the good work. You are one of those who excel in the world of KZbin.

[@demopem]

Jago: Is X something you'd be interested in? Me: Yes.

[@hyperdistortion2]

Definitely add me to the “more about the railway companies” mini-series fan crowd! Sounds like a great idea.

[@pavlekodak2147]

Yes for mini series about anything London or trains or interesting walks or whatever... Jago with your beautiful, interesting and witty way of presenting you can talk about anything and we will just listen in awe...

[@twothreebravo]

I am a hardcore train nut, but an American one, so I would LOVE the the miniseries to help me start to get a better grip on these things in your neck of the woods.

[@johnfairhurstReviews]

Knowing more about the railway companies would be great

[@doug3117]

Yep, would love a mini series on the railway companies. Always enjoy learning something.

[@emflower33]

My answer to your question is: Yes, very much! It would be so useful to know and it'll add more to the enjoyment I already get from watching these videos.

[@BobMuir100]

Bought back memories to this geezer living in Manchester region for 30+ years now. And missed all the modern upgrades to the lines!!!

[@boohaka]

You always manage to sift through the intricacies and ‘nonsense’ so admirably, prosaically and poetically! I’d be interested in those introductory videos to the original companies.

[@bryan3550]

Indeed, a series on the various companies would be interesting! Out of left field, how about a look at the rail locations used in filming "The Ladykillers"? Railways certainly had a part to play in the conclusion of the plot! 🤔

[@JagoHazzard]

Quite a few of the other locations are also visible today. Maybe that’s one for post-lockdown list...

[@degrave1]

Your passion for and knowledge of history and the rail is impressive. Your commentary is gold. Perfect!

[@DandamanV]

I'm an Australian, and I find the London Underground fascinating. I visited London in 2016, and the Underground was so vast and intimidating to me, but I am awed by it nonetheless. Thank you for your excellent videos Jago!

[@groupcaptainbonzo]

I’ve been a “Train nut “ since... ... well, never you mind when I’ve been a train nut since... BUT. The mini series (I think) would be great. 😊

[@TheMusicalElitist]

Can you learn to type properly, please?

[@SheeplessNW6]

Is that you posing at 7:13?

[@MattTCfarm]

We are all nuts, but a good kind of nut!

[@jameshatfield1194]

the North London railway always fascinates me

[@terrycostin7259]

Ah! Another deluded one like myself 🥴

[@ILuvSynchro99]

Hello, I do not live in the UK anymore, am not a train enthusiast & have only ridden the underground a handful of time, but I greatly enjoy your videos and find them very relaxing. You have a very calming & reassuring voice. I hope you will continue and will pursue your series on the short history of the railroad companies and their lines, or other UK history. Thank you and I hope you are well

[@NeilsNature]

Yes I would love the opportunity to listen to more of your relaxation dulcet tones, giving me an insight into the origins of our railway companies, thank you.

[@boldford]

Your mention about Up and Down line omits the Midland Railway's train travelled UP from St Pancras to Derby.

[@highpath4776]

nowadays the midland mainline is basically two sidings from derby, one to sheffield one to st pancras. Its probably quicker to do St Pancras Derby non stop than West Rusilip to Ongar on the central line

[@boldford]

@@highpath4776 If it is a siding it is a very long and fast siding. Much of which is electrified and has cross-connects to many other lines. ' - )

[@corinnakroemer1749]

No train nerd here, but nevertheless YES to more series. Instead of short and quick please make them long and informativ. Thx so much!

[@steveparadine1970]

Me tooo!

[@grumpyoldman47]

Another excellent film; thank you I must admit that I was surprised that Smithfield ex GWR goods closed as early as 1962. There was a west to east connection between the Metropolitan Railway proper and the Widened Lines between the Ray Street Gridiron and Farringdon station, and meat trains ran through Paddington's Hammersmith & City platforms, through Baker Street, and then over the connection at Farringdon to access the ex GWR Smithfield goods station; into the 1960s, there was still a cattle train running between the layerage at Birkenhead and Smithfield, and it passed round the Chester avoiding line between about 21.00 and 21.30. Us anoraks living in the area would sometimes go out to see it as it was often hauled by one of Churchward's 47XX 2-8-0s; at that time the 21.45 sleeper to Paddington was usually hauled by a class 52, often D1000, providing an interesting comparison between two of Swindon's finest. So if 1962 is right for the closure date, there was only a small window of time in which it was possible to see both the 47XX and the class 52, but from memory it does seem longer I once watched a freight climbing up from the gridiron to Farringdon behind a class 31, heading for Blackfriars; you can guess what racket that was making! I'm not sure exactly when that would have been, but it was certainly post 1964. Wasn't there a siding at Farringdon's west end in which an 08 was sometimes parked to bank freight trains up through the Snow Hill Tunnels to Blackfriars? I never used the connections to/from the GNR, but have travelled over the connection to the Midland; my last trip along the Widened Lines from Moorgate was on a class 317 EMU as far as King's Cross Thameslink - and it was a long walk through the tunnels from there to St Pancras! I understand that some of the tunnels presently used by the Metropolitan Line platforms beneath St Pancras were originally constructed to enable the Widened Lines to be extended to the west; obviously, this never happened.

[@highpath4776]

Some of the short stubs at Farringdon, Moorgate, Barbican(?) and Liverpool Street were for locomotives. including the Met electric ones.

[@ShortCycle.]

I'm here mostly for the railway content and know the big 4 and the majority of pre-grouping companies but hearing your take on them in a dry, down-to-earth layman's terms would absolutely be worth a series. Thanks for the content 👍

[@solidsnake4595]

i have never seen a steam loco in that formation that is one intresting design for a tank engine!

[@ericprice3225]

If you have a an idea for a video, make it, you know we'll like it. I usually press the 'like' button when the video starts and you've never disappointed me yet.

[@acleray]

I worked trains through the tunnel at York Road and Hotel Curve to Moorgate when I was a secondman on the Brush T2's (Class 31) Deltics and other express loco's The Class 31's were small enough to work trains on the Widened Lines. At York Road it was the secondman's job to open the isolating valve for the Tripcock. I've also brought trains in and out of service at Farringdon Sidings, (now disused) on the Underground lines. I was a guard on LT.

[@ONETOM2]

Your peoposed introduction to the British Railway Company's would be a very significant contribution to the history of same and an extremely useful education for posterity. I look forward to the series.

[@wilfredarasaratnam]

Intro to the old train companies would be appreciated

[@paulrydzinski9995]

Wow first for a change! Great work as always

[@douglasfleetney5031]

Bring on the mini series, but you will have to get it absolutely right. Just remember that hard core rail enthusiasts are a little rabid when it comes to their favorite company (please don't get the LCDR wrong as it's my favorite). This was just what I needed today, thank you for doing and posting.

[@AcornElectron]

I look forward to these as soon as I wake up now. Nice, balanced, interesting start to the day! Keep up the good work fella and stay safe.

[@sewing9434]

1. "The down train fell back down into the Stygian gloom, as burly railway men of another era posed atop condenser locomotives..." Someone could write folk songs based solely on your videos! 2. And Jago, I love your proposed idea at the end! May I humbly suggest starting with each railway's London terminus? (That's how I learned about them). Of course, not ALL the great pre-1923 railways served London (e.g., Lancashire & Yorkshire), but there's roughly a 1:1:1 correspondence between [a] the historic railways, [b] their London termini, and [c] the modern Network Rail main lines. And where there are exceptions (e.g., the two railways serving Victoria, or the Great Central--now Chiltern line--out of Marylebone), that would make your proposed series even more interesting!

[@highpath4776]

Start with the goods depots, more interesting !! Anyway Stig-ian or Stidgeon for pronounciation ?

[@iankemp1131]

And while waiting for the video on London stations, one could read either Alan Jackson's classic "London's Termini" or Christian Wolmar's recently published "Cathedrals of Steam".

[@jonathancook4022]

I myself have a question; what is the most rail-dense km2 in London? IE: Where can you find the most amount of track in a given area? There must be some areas that are chocca block with rail and tube infrastructure!

[@pras12100]

In the nineteenth century I would have guessed it was the area around Copenhagen Fields (North of King 's Cross / St. Pancras). Now things are much more spread out but Stonebridge Park comes to mind. Maybe others will have.better ideas.

[@johnedwards3760]

The area north-east of Clapham Junction, maybe? Or the South Bermondsey area until they closed the Bricklayer's Arms depot?

[@highpath4776]

@@johnedwards3760 Acton ?

[@johnedwards3760]

@@highpath4776 You could well be right there

[@tinplategeek1058]

I used to enjoy travelling on the Widened Lines from Moorgate when the tube lines were having issues and they had to terminate/start services from Moorgate instead of further east. It was nice to see a different section of tunnel although it did add to the walk out of the station.

[@highpath4776]

Why did no one connect Moorgate Widened lines to London Bridge with a south connection from the Great Northern Line - would have avoided a dead end tunnel smash up

[@NexusGamingRadical]

Would love that end idea, I personally am not a hardcore train nut. But its lovely learning about the history of this city and its transport. Very interesting stuff.

[@RobertWood042]

I would be interested in who the different railway companies are/where

[@azuma7628]

Phew I thought this will become an architecture channel.

[@andrewgwilliam4831]

Nah.

[@birchward]

A great presentation ! especialy as a ex london lad , thankyou from france ritchie . p.s. I remember seeing steam trains at paddington station , going onto the the met underground line .

[@davidford85]

This video has cleared up a lot of the questions I had about the Widened Lines. I've come across numerous references to them, usually where other lines connected to it, but I've never really sat down and tried to connect all the dots. Now I don't have to, the dots are all connected. The dots and I thank you.

[@JagoHazzard]

You’re very welcome!

[@tinglestingles]

Personally, I was surprised Ludgate Hill closed in 1929.

[@highpath4776]

Where did the bridge over Ludgate Hill go to, was it still in use I dont recall seeing trains run on it, though I missed it when Corporation of London took it down as it supposedly spoilt the view. To be it looked great in its setting.

[@1258-Eckhart]

@@highpath4776 It was between Blackfriars and Holborn Viaduct. Shortly after it going north, the lines diverged right to Holborn Viaduct terminus and left down into Snow Hill tunnel. All gone now including the bridge, which was painted a rather fetching shade of blue and bore the arms of the City of London. As you say, it blocked the view of St. Pauls from Fleet Street. It had a sort in your face railwayishness amongst all the road traffic.

[@joncrawford3485]

Ok, apart from Jago being overly technical there, what with the terms "chunky boys" and "things"; after hearing his Jagoness say "tuuuubbbe" at the end I think we need to hear him say the word "Tunes" (I am showing my age there ... FYI kzbin.info/www/bejne/jovTfaCbicmWeKM )

[@raychambers3646]

Using the word Tunes is nothing to be sniffed at ,see what I did there?

[@highpath4776]

@@raychambers3646 was not the train ticket to dottingham bought at st pancras ?

[@raychambers3646]

@@highpath4776 oh dear ,think I might need to go the (baker)loo.

[@elgee7264]

I worked on the Smithfield refurbishment in the 90s on the building services. There was one plant room (huge fans for the car park extract) in one corner of the underground car park, and one day while doing an inspection, I found a gap in between the old walls and new ones. Being adventurous, I squeezed through it in total darkness, aware that there was loud noise from the adjacent Metropolitan line, meaning I must be close to it. I could feel that I was walking on timber, and ventured forward a few yards before one foot went through what was rotten timber. The place had a really weird feel to it, freaked me out and I hastily made my way back to the sliver of light where I had entered. This is the first time I have recounted this - I didn't even say a word to any colleagues as it remained my secret until now. I gave it some thought and concluded that the timber I walked on must have once upon a time been a station platform. Seeing this video, perhaps what I found pre-dated those widened lines. I've often wondered if anyone else has made the same discovery and established just what the dark area was.

[@susiewickham9990]

Having travelled along this line and wondered every time I passed these abandoned rail tracks what on earth was going on over there, I am now getting the picture. I’m going to have to watch again to fully understand the strange mind of the Victorian railway builder. 😀 Thanks for a really interesting video

[@thedumgamer2046]

>:( British rail ruining the fun i wanted to go on the up line that goes down

[@MarkWaller2]

Worry not: this happens in plenty of other places on the UK network as well. For example, Finsbury Park to King's Cross ("up" to London, but very noticeably downhill), the approach to Victoria station from the bridges over the Thames, and the West Coast Main Line north of Lancaster, and again north of Carlisle.

[@thedumgamer2046]

@@MarkWaller2 yeah but it’s not a wierd pointless one with a random pointless but cool station only going one way down it tho is it

[@thedumgamer2046]

Oh and Jago please teach me on what the LBSCRGSIQIAICNR and the LCLBMLGER is Both real I promis

[@whyyoulidl]

Jago, like others below, you have us in the palm of your hand re: a mini-series of the various railway companies. My gast awaits a flabbering lol!

[@garyhollingsworth5443]

Wonderful video! It brought back so many memories of my Dad's stories of driving passenger and goods trains over the Widened Lines and through Snow Hill tunnel. He was a driver at Hornsey, then King's Cross when Hornsey shed closed.

[@alberto5147]

I'm from Montreal, Canada and to answer your question about the miniseries I say...YES!

[@jonburne1]

Yes please to the railway company introductions. As a serious "railway nut" from Australia I really enjoy both the style and content of your videos.

[@SixthQuarter]

Absolutely yes to your question about the rail line series. Get on that!

[@paulmartin6397]

Yes please to a series about the different railway companies. I think I know all about them but a new perspective is always refreshing. Good luck with the South Eastern and Chatham!

[@wooble73]

Yes, an intro and refresh about railway companies will be great! Thanks!

[@Telescope1LH]

The introduction to the different train companies sound like a wonderful idea, I look forward to watching them.

[@MIkeDye200202holla]

I think the mini series of the railway companies would be very interesting. Even for railway enthusiasts who know a lot. There is always more to learn!

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

A definite YES to a series on the various companies! Another great video. To me the big breakthrough in usefulness for the widened lines was in the early 80s when the "Bedpan" lines from Bedford to St Pancras and Moorgate were electrified, as suddenly this became a modern and fast route right into the City for many commuters. And a novel way of going from Moorgate to Kings Cross for train nerds 😁

[@RogersRamblings]

The Great Western Railway ran trains from Birkenhead to Smithfield carrying Irish beef. They were fully braked with a brake van and ran as express passenger trains. A former acquaintance was a keen railway modeller and built spoof models and applied "what might have been" liveries. One such spoof was a bogie brake van. When showing it on his layout at model railway shows enquirers were informed that they were dedicated for use on the fast meat trains. Eventually he heard a visitor tell a friend what it was. His work was done.

[@TappanZee1234]

Yes, please make a series on the various companies and why these were separate and not just a separate line of one company. Thank you.

[@no_one_of_that_name_here]

Great video! So many beautiful shots. I bloody miss London even more now. Those views of overgrown no man's land by a rail tunnel, the unique buildings on century old streets, and maybe especially the abandoned station. Your city is so full of interesting idiosyncrasies. And that's just the infrastructure... I vote yes please on that mini series

[@icheckered6837]

I'd love a mini series about the different railways, not necessarily for some extra knowledge about them but also to see what a series like this would look like from you,

[@chrisvaughan159]

Congratulations on another tour-de-force! Even I learned something! Superb. More please.

[@KBM345]

Please make the mini-series anything you make is enjoyable, have a great friday!

[@MrGreatplum]

Amazing foresight that the Victorian builders would build this in anticipation of a modern commuter railway with 24tph (I think) through those tunnels! Always happy to hear about railway companies 👍🏻

[@michaelberg9656]

I remember the "Stygian Gloom" of Platform 14 well. When it was still using steam locos (N7 I think) fitted with condensing apparatus, I stuck my head into the tunnel just as a train came in, exhausting all its built-up steam. An experience not to forget!

[@DavidAndrewsPEC]

The series on different railway companies would be absolutely brilliant!

[@MattTCfarm]

This is the kind of video that makes me sad to see all the lost and buried old architecture but ends up reminding me how slow and difficult the service is compared to modern transport. I have a 1917 traction engine but would never want to mow my lawn with it, which was never possible. Likewise, I am far happier to operate the 5 foot wide zero turn mower, or the air conditioned cab tractor pulling a 16 foot mower, over a human powered sickle or scythe even though I do have one. As always, I love the video! Thank you

[@highpath4776]

If you have a ploughing engine you would work in pairs with the rotating drum hauling ploughs across the fields between the engines (you dont want to crush the crops / seeds ) I assume same could be done with road engines but generally horse or bullock were cheaper for silage cutting - only the loss of horses (and need for oats to feed humands )and agricultural labourers for WW1 spurred on the traction engine boom , as for WW2 did for the diesel engined Ferguson etc tractors

[@MattTCfarm]

@@highpath4776 I'm laughing at the idea of using a cable plough/plow rig to pull a lawn mower back and forth. I almost want to do it just for the outrageous video that could be made.

[@highpath4776]

@@MattTCfarm words flail me

[@DeannaAllison]

Yes please to more about the different railway companies. I am not yet a 100% hardcore train nut, but I'm certainly getting there thanks to your excellent videos.

[@4away]

Yes! Some more background on the companies would be awesome! I think you will be the only one who can make it understandable for us "normal human beings"..

[@timothyjohnston4083]

Yes, please ! A series about the various railway companies would be very welcome. Being from Canada, I sometimes feel a bit lost when you talk about these companies. So, yes, please do some videos giving brief histories of each.

[@ianhelps3749]

Thanks for this informative film. Tgere had been proposals back in the 1960s to run commuter traina through the Snow Hill tunnel, but British Rail had cold feet. They were worried that if a train failed in the tunnel, it would cause havoc on all of the commuter services north and south. Also, the curves and gradients on the route meant that it was nor suitable for modern freight traffic.

[@Robslondon]

Fantastic video as ever, Jago. I’ve always been fascinated by this labyrinth of tunnels but knew little about their history until watching this :-)

[@JagoHazzard]

Thanks!

[@Robslondon]

@@JagoHazzard Pleasure; keep up the great work.

[@oc2phish07]

I would love you to produce that mini-series on the railway companies. Go for it, Jago.

[@LewisSkinner]

Literally just searched KZbin for "Great Northern Railway". +1 for that miniseries!

[@michaelaskew6025]

A mini series of quick introductions would, for me, be very much appreciated. Thank you.

[@twixieshores]

I'd absolutely love a mini-series.

[@Zenas521]

A mini-series about train companies that have a hard time naming stations, sounds like fun.

[@sproutstanding]

Any additional videos and info from you are always welcome Jago

[@johnmurray8428]

As a rail nut, like I am sure so many of us who caught railways at an early age Ian Allen ABC and all that, are a bit amazed that not everyone understands the stories of the railway growth, mergers (before and during 1922-23) and nationalization and de-nationalization. So if you can apply your great tallent of story telling to a project like this a big thank you. Another great video.

[@Steven_Rowe]

Thanks Hugo. My experience of the widened line was as a 1960s trainspotter , oh yes we had been discovered then with Fixed and pork pies in rucksacks. As a Tottenham boy I would go to Liverpool Street then walk to Moorgate via Finsbury Circus The station was open air then ? Diesel hauled trains would depart for the Eastern Region and Midland, note though if you took a train on the Midland you need up at Kentish Town. My love was the Eastern and so the train would take the gradient up the very steep hotel curve into platform 16. Until 1966the Eastern Greeley articulated quad art sets Trip fright used the line from Hornet to such exotic destinations as Hither Green or Brick layers arms Integer ever did the inward journey to Moorgate. Of interest which you may or may not be aware off is that when you left York Road to heat towards Moorgate there was a junction that led to the West bound circle line. Another interesting use of the line was for tube stock on the isolated Northern City line. The line was totally isolated from the LT network, any tubes that needed overhauled at Neasden were hauled by Battery loco up to Finsbury Park then over the flyover onto the demands of the old Northern Heights line. This in due course closed and so they top and tailed tube stock with battery locos up to Finsbury Park, the train would then reverse to KX York Road down the drain as it was known to Farringdon. At Farringdon the train would then reverse over the cross over onto the LT electrified lines where the train would run up to Baker Street and then on the Met to such delightful places as Neasden. I'm guessing that by this time the York Road to west bound circle track was not in use. So here is your homework, tell me if I'm talking BS, I really want to know. The most surprising thing I actually ever saw was on the Circle line at KX on the westbound and an 08 shunter passed through with wagons. This was a weekday afternoon. I really miss the happy hours I had, I found no need to best up old ladies or commit acts of vandalism. What a sad old Git I was.

[@MrDavil43]

I worked in Bishopsgate in the 60's and usually travelled home to Cockfosters by Metropolitan and Piccadilly. But every now and then I'd use the Moorgate to New Barnet service, and would enjoy hearing a type 3 Brush diesel struggling to get the old Mk1 suburban coaches up the slope to Kings Cross. I always got home late, but it was worth it. On one occasion there was a LT Pannier tank chugging the other way at Faringdon. An interesting video, thanks

[@TheWolfHowling]

Sounds like a great idea Jago. I look forward to your Mainline Railway Roundup

[@bockersjv]

Yes definitely like the idea of a bluffers guide to railway companies. You could draw something akin to the Rock Family Trees, if you’re not familiar with they show how some rock bands evolve over the years with members coming and going and name changes etc.

[@roberthill6216]

I remember seeing the thameslink liveried 319's in the dark blue livery with the yellow stripe on the widened lines in the late 90's.

[@markimber7272]

Another good story would to explain the 'railway spaghetti' of approaches to London from south of the river. The story of how the SER, LCD and LBSC sometimes competed and sometimes cooperated, AND all wanted a City terminus as well as a West End station drove the construction of the extraordinary tangle of lines still with us today. Enjoyed the widened lines item.

[@n17hero]

Subscribing and clicking like on Jago's videos has done wonders for my youtube recommendations. Now getting so many fascinating London video recommendations like John Rogers walking tours of the lost rivers. The lines that never were series on this channel were a great watch, so a train companies and what ever happened to them series would be most welcome. Also anything about oddities and peculiarities in London like Jay Foreman's unfinished London series always fill me with an odd sense of satisfaction.