Push and Pull on the West Ealing to Greenford Line

Going loopy on the Greenford Loop.
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[@AndreiTupolev]

"A ghost train. This is not as exciting as it sounds, unless you're a train nerd." Or Geoff Marshall

[@alejandrayalanbowman367]

Or an exBR employee

[@ianmarlow805]

Not forced to watch.

[@luxford60]

Surely the category "train nerds" is assumed to include Geoff Marshall.

[@johnmurray8428]

Are we all not train nerds? I am proudly one!

[@peterharvey1762]

😂😂😂 seen that video

[@MikeWillSee]

This line gives the same energy as the Romford - Upminster line

[@BoaFilmsPlc]

I used to work the Greenford "Bubbles" in 1990-91 whilst based at Old Oak Common Depot. We used to do our turn at the "Oak" then get the worker bus to Paddington, see the TCS (Train Crew Supervisor) there & see if there was anything uncovered (to obtain 12 hours pay). Normally it was a Greenford & back on a class 121 bubble car or a Reading one wayer for me. The starter signal at Greenford was rather unique, as it was a pneumatically operated, lower quadrant semaphore operated from Greenford Signal Box. Sadly now long gone, replaced by a 2 aspect colour light by the looks on your video.

[@GeoffArnold1]

For a few months in 1962 the Greenford shuttle was a key part of my commute. 60+ years later, I can remember it vividly. That summer, we moved from London to Beaconsfield, Bucks. I had just completed my first year at a school in Ealing, and I wanted to try to continue to attend it. My mother was skeptical, but.... So from September to December in 1962 my morning commute looked like this: - Walk a mile from home to Beaconsfield Station. - BR train to West Ruislip. - Central Line to Greenford. - Greenford Shuttle to Ealing Broadway - Walk (or bus) a mile to school. And then reverse in the evening. I was 11-12 years old. At the end of term, I transferred to another school.....

[@tt-ew7rx]

I first came to the UK more than 30 years ago and this line was one of the first I used - the very first train ride for me, even.

[@christophernoble6810]

When I attended Ealing County Grammar back in the mid 50s we had a games field close to South Greenford Halt. We were supposed to playing football but many of us used to spend more time watching the trains. There were a lot of freights then passing over the branch. Only in 1962 did I travel over the branch, and then only between West Ealing and Castle Bar Halt. Your video brings back good memories.

[@billy54bob]

I used to go to ECG daily from South Greenford. Games day meant that 😊I could walk home in minutes. I travelled the line last year. That same old changing room still exists. Hope that the same old concrete communal bath does not.

[@analogueman123456787]

Those school playing fields down the road from South Greenford remained in use by (what became) Ealing Green High up until the school closed in approx 1993. The council subsequently wanted to sell off the grounds for housing development, but local objections that went all the way to Parliament blocked that from happening, and the playing fields remain as was to this very day, though woefully underused.

[@cramarshe]

I used to live at south greenford and realised i could just take the south greenford train to greenford station and then the central line for slightly cheaper pay as you go instead of walking to greenford like i usually would. Not sure why it was cheaper but it was closer and quieter :). Also the one stop journey was so relaxing coming back after a long day in the evening going over the a40 right before getting off.

[@markstramtrainbuscapades1729]

I rode the line back in 2004, and the service was still running from Paddington then, as that's where I caught the train, going to Greenford and getting the Central Line to East Acton, from where I caught a Routemaster on the 7 just before it was one manned! The service was cutback to West Eailing when Crossrail began to be built.

[@tongmasi]

Woah there Jago! The Greenford to Paddington service most certainly did not stop in 2000. Late 2010s or so (someone here will have it). Could have mentioned the (rather rare) ungated level crossing at West Ealing. Everyone’s a critic. Really enjoy your videos. Keep going!

[@crrntvntsnthnlnftnsscmmnty]

2016 iirc. I was using the service at the time, & ppl were having to do a very unsafe run down the platform as of course the connecting trains were late and GWR decided to not hold them. Then they held them, but stopped again when TFL took over the mainline stopping services (which were not super reliable for making the connection). This period killed a lot of the demand for the service, especially in the evening. As did not really being a good way of getting to/from Ealing Broadway for local pax anymore.

[@analogueman123456787]

@tongmasi - Actually, Plassers Level Crossing has half barriers. And has done for years.

[@philipgibbard304]

Thank you Jago! I remember seeing westbound push-and-pull trains at Ealing Broadway in the late 50s to early 1960s, made up of two coaches and a pannier tank engine.

[@nixtrain]

Yep, The Greenford Flyer.

[@bertspeggly4428]

I used to ride push-pull trains on the Finsbury Park - Alexandra Palace shuttle. I just took them for granted, didn't realise they were a "thing".

[@davidsteele5102]

The Greenford service stopped going to Paddington in around 2017/2018 to make way for the Hayes and Harlington shuttle that was to increase capacity before the Elizabeth line was running. The Chiltern service used to run into Paddington every day. This was for driver familiarisation as Paddington was sometimes used as a diversion if Marylebone was closed. The HS2 works caused the use of busses. The 165s are just Turbos. That’s what BR called them. The TurboStars are the later classes.

[@johnm2012]

There are no HS2 works that could be used as an excuse for cancelling the Parliamentary service. The New North Main Line was severed between North Acton and Old Oak Common by Elizabeth line works so the section between there and Greenford is effectively out of use but the single track section between Greenford and South Ruislip (Northolt Junction) is still in use daily by freight trains and could still carry the West Ealing to West Ruislip shuttle. In fact, on another channel, someone said that it has been reinstated on some Sundays, though I haven't seen it yet myself - I live in that area with a view of the Central line. All HS2 work east of West Ruislip is to be in a tunnel and work on the tunnelling hasn't started yet, though there are two or three ventilation shaft sites currently being constructed ahead of the actual tunnel boring.

[@malcolmgibson6288]

Paddington to Paddington via the loop truly was the Great Way Round.😂

[@bigaspidistra]

In the way that old terminology sticks on the railways, the curve north from Didcot is still called the "Chester Curve" even though trains wouldn't have gone that way regularly to Chester since the "New" North Line, 120 or so years ago.

[@atraindriver]

Don't worry, Network Rail are busy replacing historic names for lines, junctions and pretty everything else much the public aren't aware of, apparently for no better reason that that someone at Milton Keynes doesn't like historic names and wants everything to look nice and neat on their database.

[@roderickmain9697]

Well researched (again) and recorded. Ghost trains, or parliamentary trains ...there are several other names... are an interesting oddity to keep lines or stations open. There used to be one at Newhaven Marine (not to be confused with Newhaven Harbour) that would leave on a Sunday night at about 19:00 and effectively terminate at Lewes with no intermediate stops. Not advertised, no timetable. You could ride it if you knew about it. You could often see the train "parked" at the station early on a Sunday afternoon. Sadly, Marine station is no more. It used to double as the passenger terminal for the ferry service. Almost no trace of it is left.

[@markiangooley]

The phrase “Parliamentary trains” always makes me think of that song from The Mikado: The idiot who, in railway carriages, Scribbles on window-panes, We only suffer To ride on a buffer In Parliamentary trains.

[@hb1338]

@@markiangooley ... with the syllables enunciated individually "par - lee - a - men - ta - ry".

[@norbitonflyer5625]

@@markiangooley In the Victorian era a "parliamentary" train had a slightly different meaning - all railways were required by law to provide at least one train a day calling at all stations, available to 3rd class passengers at a fare of 1d per mile. Needless to say, the railways ran these to very slow schedules, with ancient rolling stock, and at inconvenient times of day.

[@SB-km6fp]

Sadly it looks like they're now winding down Newhaven Harbour railway station

[@norbitonflyer5625]

The main purpose of the Greenford Loop was to allow trains (mainly freight trains) from the GW Main Line to reach the New North Line, on routings such as Reading to High Wycombe or High Wycombe to Acton (for the connection to the North London Line) This has been particualrly useful recently when the bridge collapse at Nuneham prevented trains travelling direct between Didcot and Oxford - many freight trains between Reading and Birmingham were diverted via the GWML, the Greenford Loop, and High Wycombe to rejoin the original route at Banbury. A few years ago, during a scheduled closure of the West Coast Main line, Virgin West Coast ran some trains via Banbury, High Wycombe, Greenford, Ealing Broadway and Acton Wells to rejoin the WCML at Willesden.

[@michaelrose6233]

Lovely trees and blossom everywhere. Easy on the eye when you live in the desert.

[@TerraFirmaTyger]

King Jago 👑 He’s consistent. Entertaining. Informative. Actually funny without forcing it like others.

[@jeremybuck1818]

Recently the Wednesday rail replacement bus has been operated by a very large Oxford Tube coach, due to a contract change...generally with no passengers.

[@ianhalsall-fox]

Like many of the Middlesex / West London stations, Greenford is also very handy for narrowboaters like me in getting access to the Grand Union Canal.

[@MsGrandunion]

So did the Black Horse close? I saw plans a few months ago but never found out.

[@johnrafferty8087]

I went Gurnel Middle School as was. Next to Castle Bar Park. 4 years watching trains. I have now been working on the Railway for nearly 3 decades.

[@Orforio]

It's charming! I enjoy walking along the canal to Greenford then hopping on the train to Ealing. It has that rural vibe to it.

[@Lynxfan2]

Hello Hugo. the Class 165 are known as Network Turbo and there were two subclasses built : Class 165/0 - Chiltern Turbo for London Marylebone - Amersham - Aylesbury and London Marylebone - High Wycombe - Banbury Class 165/1 - Thames Turbo for London Paddington - Reading - Didcot Parkway/Oxford The Chiltern Railways Class 168 are known as and referred to as Clubman The Class 170 are known as and referred to as Turbostar.

[@asdaneedsfunds]

*Networker Turbo, with their electric versions in classes 365, 465, and 466 known as Networkers

[@baystated]

The rhythmic shot of the GWR train passing in front of Acton Main Line sign was a moment of excellence. 4:17

[@williamgeorge2580]

"I have never traveled on the line..." Monocles pop out in shock and splash into brandy glasses across the internet.

[@tbjtbj7930]

Flabbergasted. My butler had to revive me by shouting "Yerkes!" in my ear.

[@janehollander1934]

​@@tbjtbj7930😂👌🏻

[@photoisca7386]

Unless Jago brought a bike with him, filming all those intermediate stations would have taken hours. I last used the line on Friday only to be stymied at West Ealing because the Lizzie line had failed again. Thank you E7, somethings still work. I do so love software upgrades, provides endless entertainment.

[@harveybrant3352]

Another oddity about the line is that Greenford still has a manual signal box. When I applied for a job there in the 1980s I was told I was mad because it was going to close within 3 years. It ended up outlasting the power boxes at Old Oak Common and Slough, and even the IECC at Slough which replaced Old Oak Common! As well as passenger traffic the line carried a fair amount of freight, and was used to turn HSTs.

[@johnrgm3047]

The machine room where all the relay sets are located in transparent cases sat on racks of metal shelving looks like it belongs in a museum. I was told it's cheaper to keep the manual signals and pay the signalmans wages than to upgrade the whole of the signalling in that area to enable it to be automated. That's why it's still manual and the box is about 120 years old!

[@johnm2012]

It is currently seeing quite a lot of freight on weekdays.

[@PtolemyJones]

Reminds me of the Push Me Pull You from the old Dr. Doolittle movie from the sixties.

[@fernbedek6302]

1 train a week is a ‘minimum legal service ghost train’ in the UK. In Canada that’s pretty normal Via Rail service. 😆 (😭)

[@janehollander1934]

Oh woaw!!😮 Such a 🚅 schedule would be unheard off, and bring the whole of The Netherlands 🇳🇱 to a total standstill. Like "Pandemic style standstill"😔. ✌🏻

[@Shads5]

I travelled on the “Ghost Train” back in November 2016 when it ran on Fridays only from Paddington to West Ruislip avoiding the Greenford branch altogether

[@PeterHHodge]

I was lucky enough to travel down this branch behind 9466 a few years ago.

[@darkhillwoodstudio2195]

I live in South greenford so this is a cool history and video about GWR from West Ealing to Greenford 😊

[@StarboundUK]

Ahh the Greenford line😂 .. I used to catch this line from Paddington WAY back in the day when I used to do contract work at old GSK in Greenford when I was living in West London.... All ways guaranteed a seat if not a near half a coach to your self... Nice meandering trip through Acton & Ealing... Good times.... 😂

[@mad_wombat]

I once went on a Steam Hauled railtour to Paddington, and they used the Greenford Loop to turn the loco round.

[@sams3015]

King Charles better hurry up with that OBE for Jago’s services to train nerdiness

[@ianpatterson6552]

CBE surely.

[@neville132bbk]

The GCSI at least.

[@ianpatterson6552]

@@neville132bbk Order defunct in 1947.

[@hb1338]

Have you submitted your recommendation ? That is how gongs come to be.

[@johnm2012]

GWR promised to increase the train frequency to 4 per hour as compensation for cutting back the through service to Paddington but used the pandemic as an excuse to renage. I'd like to see the line become part of the Overground. The line sees a fair amount of freight traffic these days - one train every 1 to 2 hours on typical weekdays. There are ballast trains from the quarries in the west country heading towards Calvert via Princes Risborough and Little Kimble. They usually have a locomotive at each end (the rear one shut down) so presumably there's a lot of end changing en route with limited run round facilities. There are also car transporter trains taking Minis from Cowley. And there are the empties going in the opposite direction.

[@crrntvntsnthnlnftnsscmmnty]

Tbh this isn't quite my understanding. There was a government commitment to making this happen ages ago but it was quite clear by 2015 they were not going to do it. I had a conversation with the DoT or whatever it was called at the time. GWR always had zero interest in using additional stock or a 2nd driver on the line if they didn't need to. The truth is pax numbers don't really justify a higher service, at least outside of peak times.

[@norbitonflyer5625]

It has been very useful when the Nuneham viaduct (just south of Oxford) was closed for emergency repairs. Any car trains for Southampton Docks had to run via Banbury, Greenford and Reading.

[@PavlosPapageorgiou]

Castle Bar Park has something for everyone!

[@markwanklyn4195]

used to use the line on a regular basis in the late 90s when it still ran though to Paddington - ran every 30 mins back then as well. It normally used the two shorter platforms at the back of the station (13 & 14?) next to the Hammersmith & City line. Was a useful route for me as could take the Central line to Greenford then GWR straight to Paddington with my office being the GWR building right outside the station (on the right as you went up the ramp to Praed St from by Platform 11/12 Remember the old semaphore signals being there and I still pass though Greenford every few weeks and see the remaining ones on the line.

[@AviationCommercials]

After years, this is my first comment. This is the most quaint line! I love it.

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

Greenford station was where I began commuting to the city in the late 1970’s. To my shame I never once used the BR Greenford loop. Recently I revisited Greenford and was determined to go on the loop. Ahh, not on a Sunday 😢 One day, one day. 😂

[@darganx]

It's a shame the line doesn't run on Sundays, seems like the perfect day to try it out!

[@richardadams3655]

I used to commute from South Greenford to Westbourne Park. Does anyone else remember a time when they closed Westbourne Park but the kind drivers used to stop there anyway, a sort of running stop, before the buildings themselves were removed? Perhaps I am imagining this!

[@ianmcclavin]

I was unaware that any trains on the main line continued calling at Westbourne Park after that side of the station closed, I remember they used to share the entrance with the tube station...the passageway to the right was then blocked off. No sign of the platforms now.

[@highpath4776]

@@ianmcclavinlooks like that could be an interesting future service as the number of flats increases

[@analogueman123456787]

@richardadams3655 - Not quite. No trains called at Westbourne Park after the station was officially closed. What you might be remembering, was that not all the trains coming to (or going from) Paddington / Greenford were timetabled to stop there. However, a kind word to the Guard who would ask the Driver often meant they would (unofficially) stop for you. Did it many times.

[@mateolopez9172]

This is so strange, I only just travelled on the Greenford line a few weeks ago. I literally was watching your "Greenford station video" from a few years ago while I was waiting for the West Ealing train. It was just over a half hour wait, for a journey that took about 12 mins. Nice to see a more in depth video about the branch line😁😁

[@Mgameing123]

Apparently they want to run it one day every 15 minutes.

[@johnm2012]

​@@Mgameing123 That was the promise, as a sweetener when the through service to Paddington was cut back but, well, ...the pandemic. Maybe the Class 230s will allow that or maybe after a 12 minute journey they'll need to charge for half an hour or maybe they won't see service. I'd like to see the line become part of the Overground.

[@Mgameing123]

@@johnm2012 No I think its using a fast charging technology.

[@lapiswake6583]

I like this branch. I rode on it a couple of years ago as part of my ticking off train services local to my girlfriend in Staines (and now local to me, as I've moved in with her), ticking off all the stations in one afternoon. I then revisited it for the final ghost train, which was interesting because we were severely delayed joining the Chiltern Mainline at South Ruislip due to a trespasser further up the line; I'm also glad Chiltern put on a 3 car turbo instead of the more usual 2, because nearly every seat was occupied. I'll be revisiting this line once 230001 starts operating on it. I have seen a picture of it in its new GWR green though.

[@andrewhotston983]

I was on the last Ghost Train, too. Saw Geoff Marshall at West Ealing, but don't tell Jago!

[@DarthCoco]

I was very glad I took the opportunity to go on the 3rd or 4th last Ghost Train running from West Ealing to West Ruislip last November. However, you have certainly pointed out what I am shocked to have still not travelled on myself. Must do, and will do this summer. Really like the 2-carraige design.

[@iankemp1131]

I went down to ride the 2nd last ghost train and it was cancelled with 30 minutes to go! So I did West Ealing to Greenford instead.

[@DarthCoco]

@@iankemp1131 Good on you sir.

[@martindeane9631]

I was born at Perivale Maternity Hospital which used to occupy the land to the east of Sound Greenford station which is how housing. That's one of my security questions that I am going to have to change 😆

[@aquilarossa5191]

Ghost train. I remember watching a Sapphire and Steel episode about something like that. Weird paranormal stuff at an old train station close to London. Early 1980s. I was a kid. I have moved all the way to NZ, but that episode still haunts me periodically. 🤣

[@philroberts7238]

There's also a play called 'The Ghost Train', a kind-of thriller, written in the '20s or '30s by Arnold Ridley, the old guy with the prostate problem in 'Dad's Army'.

[@stevewfreeman]

In the fifties we would go on the push pull from west ealing to greenford and back as a treat. It was pulled by a pannier engined steam engine

[@MattTCfarm]

This made me realize that if the USA had a similarly active rail passenger service and the history of odd little track sections, you would not live long enough to ride all of them. Most short lines were closed long ago but we used to have them.

[@thesteelrodent1796]

The US was once the world leader in public transport. Then along came Ford with his mass production of cars and it all went to hell from there. And, not to get overly ranty, the really odd thing is, despite being a nation focused entirely around personal vehicles, the US car industry has been on life support since the 1970s and still don't do anything to be able to survive on their own - they still build cars with transmissions designed in the 1950s with a suspension designed for horse drawn carriages, and yet still feel entitled to complain about people buying Asian and European cars instead of the American motorized carriages. Meanwhile their very existence is the reason no one is willing to invest in establising proper public transport - can't have people taking the bus, it'd put the lazy carmakers out of business

[@MattTCfarm]

@@thesteelrodent1796 I have been researching this topic and unfortunately the general issues is made of complex issues; some of which are outside the existing view of the topic. There is one key issue that makes "rail-roads" better, and one that makes rail-roads difficult to implement. The great benefit of rail-roads is their durability. The detriment is steel on steel traction. There seem to be two connected solutions to traction issue, textured track surfaces and polymer, note: vulcanized rubber is a giant polymer, tires on the wheels. They could be solid or inflated. If we developed hybrid cars with steel rail option and an electric connection, it would be possible to get in a car, drive it to a rail-road, change to the rail wheels, tell the car where to go and let it take over. I have to ask for the story behind "thesteelrodent1796." Later

[@chrisstephens6673]

Such memories, i used to live fairly near that line in the 50s/60s and used to watch them but never put pennies on the track to crush them😚 'onest guv i never. It wasn't till i got my freedom pass that i thought to finally ride it. That's another off the bucket list!

[@austenhamilton7312]

ah, a fellow non penny-crusher!

[@chrisstephens6673]

@@austenhamilton7312 yes I joined penny crushers anonymous and they cured any thoughts I might have had to do such naughty things. Shame though as it would have been so easy in those days as there were no fences stopping access to the track. Another thing H&S has spoilt!

[@genevincentrocks]

Another good video Jago. I travelled through Greenford many a time when I used to go to Northolt (I lived near there for many years), I've never travelled that line! The mainline rail lines round there still had semaphore signals when I was last there, but I did move to the coast 11 years ago!

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

You could have mentioned that Greenford Signal Box still survives, and even still works lower quadrant semaphore signalling! It fringes on all 3 sides with modern signal boxes at Marylebone IECC and Thames Valley Signalling Centre, BR never had the money to replace it when modernising the surrounding area in the early 1990s..... Until the late 1990s the signals were still paraffin lit, very hard to see at night! I used to sign the road back in the 1990s, a very handy route for light engine moves from Acton Yard to Old Oak Common depot, or for turning HST's that had been turned elsewhere and had 1st Class at the wrong end, or turning the Heathrow Express trains to even out the wheel wear they get on the curves at Airport Junction. The embankment did start to collapse the the mid 90s and a fortune was spent propping it all back up again......

[@btuckervideos4705]

I only made my first trip to the Greenford branch early in 2022. A nice little line, but not much happening tbh. When I travelled along it, I visited each of the stations in turn, while also using it to connect between the Great Western Main line and the Chiltern Main line, without the need to travel to either Paddington or Marylebone. Speaking of odd branches, the Bromley North line does seem to be another weird one with a shuttle service between Bromley North, Sundridge Park and Grove Park

[@mickeydodds1]

5:17 Interesting to see semaphore signalling still in place on London's railways in the year 2023!

[@jonistan9268]

Didn't Greenford trains go to Paddington before the purple trains started absolutely crowding the main line? The ghost train actually ran daily at first and was later cut back to a weekly service, running only on Wednesdays. Officially at least. In reality, the train ran Monday to Friday. Starting at Marylebone, it went up to Ruislip, down to West Ealing and then back up again past Greenford to wherever. It just wasn't open for passengers. I actually witnessed this once, I went to West Ealing to see a Chiltern train arrive, stand around and then leave again.

[@rattyfus8218]

I lived in Greenford for a bit in the 90’s. The train did indeed run into Paddington. I used it occasionally by way of variety. Not much else to do in Greenford.

[@JagoHazzard]

I sometimes visit the Hobbycraft there.

[@dublodad7367]

Thanks for this, I used to travel from Ealing Broadway to South Greenford, where the school playing field was, during the mid 1950's. The train was two coaches when carrying us to South Greenford, but a single coach at other times. The "spare" coach was parked in a siding to the London end of Ealing Broadway station when not required. Generally the locomotive was one of Southall based 14XX 0-4-2T's, but occasionally either 5410 or 5420 pannier tanks.

[@GeoffArnold1]

Another St. Benedict's guy, yes? ;-)

[@dublodad7367]

@@GeoffArnold1 No Ealing Grammar School

[@GeoffArnold1]

@@dublodad7367 That whole area included playing fields of various institutions, mostly because it was the flood plain for a stream (cue John Rogers!) and probably a watercress growing area, and hence really flat.

[@anthonylloyd6094]

....and indirectly, or more directly,..... I had the joy of travelling on the final Parliamentary Train from West Ealing to West Ruislip.

[@georgegard.aka.currymonste1498]

Jago just keeps puffing along giving us so so much information

[@SiVlog1989]

Speaking about the GWR, a confusing situation (in my view) exists at Exeter St Davids Station. There are two directions trains can go to reach London. Trains bound for London Waterloo over the former LSWR Mainline leave St Davids Station in the "down" direction, whereas trains heading for London Paddington head over the GW Mainline in the "Up" direction

[@norbitonflyer5625]

There are other examples - Dover, Edinburgh, Kingston, and Ramsgate for example. The odd service from Leeds to London also goes via Hambleton instead of Wakefield. Formerly there were also trains from both Plymouth and Sheffield Midland to London leaving in opposite directions, but the routes via, respectively, Okehampton and Retford now have no through services. And for other destinations - Chester to Liverpool, Edinburgh to Manchester, , Lincoln to Peterborough, Manchester Victoria to Edinburgh (although most WCML services now go from Piccadilly), Southampton to Salisbury

[@thesteelrodent1796]

maintain a half hour service is pretty good going. Far better than what's happened to many other lines

[@roystudds1944]

Great video Jago. I had no idea about the stations on this line and obviously have never used it. I’ve lived in west London all my life and am very familiar with the area. Thanks for this enlightening and entertaining view of the Greenford loop. Roy.

[@kennyangel]

I did travel on that line once, after work drinks in Ealing, then get on the wrong train drunk.

[@tonys1636]

Push pull is still common even on main lines, the Gatwick Express was and here in Ireland on main lines.

[@ianmcclavin]

The West Ealing terminus is relatively recent "innovation." Before the regular Paddington - Greenford seevice was reinstated, trains used to start from Ealing Broadway, reversing in a siding which was removed during the electrification of the main line/Elizabeth Line modifications. The Class 230 operation, using the ex-Vivarail battery operated trains was due to commence recently, but Class 165's were still running last time I looked.

[@surajgandecha5908]

Speaking of quirky little branch lines, I've recently started using the Bromley North to Grove Park shuttle and as much as it infuriates me, it equally amuses me.

[@iankemp1131]

Tried it recently and the thing that nearly caught me out was the lack of signage at Grove Park station on which way to go to catch the shuttle - I followed the crowds to the bridge at the wrong end of the platform before finding out and had to sprint back to catch the shuttle just in time.

[@LegendaryHopOnBaby]

Entertaining and informative as ever, plus I actually managed to correctly guess what the "you are the x to my y" would be 🎉

[@RogersRamblings]

In 1959 (I was seven) my family moved into Harp Road adjacent to the railway to which it runs parallel until close to the Ruislip Road where there is a sharp left turn. We lived in one of the houses perpendicular to the railway. This is important later. The line has a triangle connection at each end and at the West Ealing end the triangle was occupied by the civil and signal engineers yards. Now used by Plasser Theurer of tamper fame. The new station building at West Ealing stands on the site of the milk dock. To allow trains to leave the dock towards Paddington the Up Relief platform was on the Paddington side of the road bridge. On the down side of the main line was a coal and goods yard and another coal yard on the up side of the branch behind Drayton Green station (now a housing estate). In 1959 there were still steam locos working the railway and one day my little sister and I went to the station to watch the trains. At the time the platforms were still timber and the joints were loosening. A shorts goods train hauled by a class 57xx pannier tank came rattling through. The platforms shook and a certain little sister ran down the road in terror. Come the middle/late 1970s and I've got a powerful hi-fi system on which I occasionally played recordings of steam locos. One day was particularly pleasant and I had my bedroom windows open and had cranked up the volume to allow the neighbours to enjoy the sounds of GWR King and Castle class locomotives. The neighbour in the house away from the railway dragged his granddaughter into the garden to "see the train". He's had rather a long wait. 🤣

[@Damien_N]

That junction at West Ealing surprisingly allows access from the west to facilitate freight travel coming from the direction of Southall

[@johnm2012]

That's fairly busy at the moment. There are several weekday ballast trains that leave the GWR main line there and head off towards Calvert. See my other, longer, post.

[@DavidWilson-hh2gn]

I can remember the push pull services on this line and did use it occasionally,they were one or two coaches operated by WR 14XX push pull fitted tank locos-0-4-2 wheel arrangement.Some of these 14XX tanks were based at Southall depot (81C ) code.It's quite lucky really to have survived.

[@nixtrain]

I recall from my spotting days at Ealing Broadway that Pannier Tank 5410 was a regular on The Greenford Flyer.

[@DavidWilson-hh2gn]

@@nixtrain I can remember that one and on looking in some old abc loco shed books had been a Southall loco for quite some time,the 54XX class appear to all have been push/pullfitted.Many good hours were passed on the Southall footbridge! regards.

[@ianstransporthistorystuff8175]

I agree it's a intresting branch line , used it a bit over the years.just as a train nerd and rember when it had semaphore signals and the single Class 121 dmus.

[@li2uo]

Fab video again. My local line is famous!! I haven't been in it since they cut it back from Paddington to West Ealing, must've been 2015/16 to make way for the Elizabeth Line.

[@Coeurdelion-js4le]

Best train line ever created live right next to castle bar haven’t paid for a train since

[@jackiespeel6343]

The line also provides a link from the mainline going past Greenford to Ealing (once saw a goods train using it).

[@batman51]

You mention the lack of toilets on the Elizabeth Line which, from Reading to Chelmsford could be a problem! The strangely named "CityBeam" trains now appearing on the South Eastern are similarly deprived; the platform indicators even draw attention to this omission. Not really a step forward.

[@danb7601]

When you said you hadn't been on the train, I nearly left. When you pronounced eluded as "elewded" you got me back on board

[@quantisedspace7047]

How else can you pronounce 'eluded' ?

[@danb7601]

@@quantisedspace7047 really? the way 99 percent of peopl on earth do haha "elooded"

[@richcolour]

Thanks for the memories! As a 70s kid, my granny called it the Push Me Pull You. Used to love Saturday shopping rides into Ealing Broadway. More recently it's been ideal for trips to Greenford, then a walk through Oldfields Circus up to The Greenwood pub. Loo comes in handy on the return journey.

[@analogueman123456787]

Believe it or not, that's exactly what my Gran used to call it at the time!!

[@markherzog9484]

It’s a pity the trains no longer run to Paddington, it’s a quick overground line and a joy in the summer …..passengers numbers have fallen off dramatically since….the trains are based in Reading and come in early morning and operate the 2/3 trains per hour in each direction but no Sunday services

[@andrewreynolds4949]

I do wonder if the Chiltern route to the new Old Oak Common station would be diverted onto the Greenford branch instead

[@8bigs8]

My ends. Love it !!

[@ianpatterson6552]

If ever Jago is ever oop north, he could do a vid on the Leamside Line, now disused but occasional plans are mooted to bring it back to glory. The Victoria Viaduct over the Wear is particularly stunning. It was the north south line prior to the ECML was engineered.

[@apc108]

Yesterday, I was looking at the map and wondering about this line and here you are today with the full story!

[@paintedpilgrim]

I think it would have been about 20 years ago, but there was an issue with the Central line and I remember when visiting a friend in Greenford having to use the service to get there, for about 2 weeks this little line was overrun with folk who would usually use the Central Line so they had to rapidly agree to use more trains. If I remember correctly it was the Chancery Lane Derailment, parts of the line were shut for about 2 or 3 months but the outer parts of the lines it was only 2 or 3 weeks.

[@blameless_hyperborean8638]

I suppose the question before the House is whether it is now quicker for the citizens of the Greater Hanwell Conurbation to take the Greenford Shuttle to West Ealing and then change for the Elizabeth Line, rather than just trundle in on the Central. If so, then you would think that it might well give the thing a new lease of life.

[@damiana3682]

I was hoping to meet you on this line! It’s such an oddity

[@simonwinter8839]

Then you can tell us all what the great man looks like !!

[@austenhamilton7312]

@@simonwinter8839 He's the spitting image of Charles Yerkes.

[@simonwinter8839]

@@austenhamilton7312 The bounder !!

[@DougMortonUK]

A service from West Ealing to Willesden Junction would save so much time! Currently you have to do the following. West Ealing - Ealing Broadway (Elizabeth line) Ealing Broadway - Turnham Green (District line) Turnham Green to Gunnersbury (District line) Gunnersbury - Willesden Junction (Overground) The whole journey takes about 45-55 minutes depending on a connection. Based on Elizabeth line journey times, a train from West Ealing to Willesden Junction would take under 10 minutes!! There’s so much under utilised railway infrastructure around west London. Such a waste.

[@AzureOtsu]

6:13 small correction, the correct name of these trains are the Class 165 Networker Turbos or Thames Turbos. Turbostars refers to bombardier's family of diesel multiple units

[@nickbarber2080]

At one point the presence of triangular junctions at both ends meant the line was often used to turn trains around.

[@johnm2012]

It wasn't so much that the junctions are triangular (thereby offering the possibility of a "three point turn") than that it connected two lines out of the same terminus in a big loop. A train could be driven from Paddington to Paddington via Castlebar Park and end up facing in the opposite direction. The loop is now broken because the New North Main Line was severed in the Old Oak Common area by Elizabeth line works.

[@General_Confusion]

Never ever ever confess to anything, make them prove your sordid unforgivable guilt.

[@hanwellianben]

6:00 mistake! The Greenford to Paddington service ran all day up to Dec 31st 2018 to prepare for the Elizabeth Line. I think it was 2018, but it could have been 2019.

[@davelewarne6818]

Just a minor correction. The class 165 units currently employed on the service are not turbostars. They are Networker Turbos bodywise being diesel versions of the 465/466 units but are essentially uodated 158s mechanically The turbostars were the 168/170 family of units which were AdTranz designs using the networker blueprints acquired from the sell off of BREL on privatisation. AdTranz (as ABB) was one of the builders of the 465 and following further mergers became Bombardier and still operate the plant in Derby

[@mickeydodds1]

The Great Central was the last mainline to be built in England, built around 1900, which is awfully late by UK rail standards. In retrospect, it was the last hurrah of rail in the UK before petrol engines road vehicles started to show the hand, so to speak.

[@leshughes1208]

HS1 and HS2 say hello.

[@pickle2636]

the 165 is the networker turbo, whereas the turbostar is the 168 and its variants. 165 is BR, 168 is Bombardier

[@piearm1271]

Trumpers halt, we should petition for it to be reinstated as a venue for the Vesta box curry, sprout and stout enthusiasts depiction of William Shakespeare’s the Tempest. Rage wind, blow, crack thy cheeks and thunder out thy rage and fury. What a spectacle it could be and doubtless attract tourists.

[@tingewickmax]

Just to expand and put the joint GWR/GCR joint lines into perspective en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Western_and_Great_Central_Joint_Railway The GWR's resulting more direct line to Birmingham is now approached from Marylebone, as part of the Chiltern franchise exclusively.

[@apolloc.vermouth5672]

Those onboard toilets were very handy when you'd had a slow, tea-drinking afternoon at work. Ahem...

[@neilbain8736]

What a quirky little line. I love it.

[@luisstransport]

Great video Jago

[@oliverstemp9132]

I wonder if Chiltern Railways were going to run the 230s, and that why it’s now a bus service.

[@AndrewG1989]

London Overground could of taken over the West Ealing-Greenford branch line and to replace the Class 165 and Class 166 with Class 230 Hybrid-Battery operated trains that Vivarail converted from Ex-London Underground D78 Stock before they went into administration and sadly folded. But instead GWR wants to use the Class 230 Battery-Hybrid trains to be used on the Greenford branch line and is schedule to enter service sometime this year or next year. And they could inherit the redundant Ex-London Northwestern Railway Class 230s that could operate on Windsor & Eton Central branch line.

[@VladimirPutinIsGood]

Good Job 👍