The South Western Train that runs on The District Line

Did you know there's a small number of trains a day on the South Western Railway network where they divert and run along the Underground's District Line? They do this so that the route can be used as an emergency diversion, but they schedule a small number of trains to this this way to keep up drivers route knowledge.
So I met up with Dave - professional "Rare Track Basher" - as we rode the early morning train from Basingstoke to Waterloo ... via the District Line!
Here's the train we were first on: www.opentraintimes.com/schedu...
The brilliant Branch Line Society/PSUL website is at: www.branchline.uk/PSULintro.php
If you want to do this yourself, the trains that go over the District line and curve of track, are:
The 0454 Basingstoke - Waterloo (Monday to Saturday)
The 2312 Waterloo - Basingstoke (Monday to Saturday)
The 2311 Shepperton - Waterloo (Monday to Thursday)
And the 0105 Waterloo - Southampton Central (Sundays only)

[@dariengoodwin]

My favourite rare track bash story was from back in the 1970s or 80s when a Swansea bound HST was approaching Neath but got signalled onto the Swansea district line. The driver thought it was just an alternative into Neath and went with it, rather than stop and phone. So the HST proceeded on an increasingly rural line until eventually it came to a halt in the middle of nowhere. The driver sheepishly announced to the bemused passengers "I'm sorry, but we appear to be lost".

[@johndavies9270]

Reverend Awdry would have had a field day with that incident! I believe it's happened before, particularly during the 1926 General Strike, when students and other volunteers tried to keep the trains running.

[@RocketJSykes]

you've got to be speaking bollocks

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Geoff at Basingstoke: “It’s coming home!” Geoff on the train: (Euro Cup Results)

[@fetchstixRHD]

Accurate 😭

[@gamingidoit3668]

@@ashleyjiscool cringe?

[@squarewheelsorguk]

I love that you showed the failed attempt in full, where most anyone (who did this at all) would have said “Well that’s torn it!” and binned the whole attempt.

[@geofftech2]

thanks Richard! somehow it made it more fun with added jeopardy …. (I still want SWR to refund me my night in a Basingstoke hotel tho 😂)

[@Joseph2302]

Why did you go down to Basingstoke to get the train? Could have got it from Clapham Junction instead

[@LemoncloudGT]

@@Joseph2302 it goes up the curve before it goesinto clapham

[@jamesfunnell7075]

I once accidentally did this route very late at night on one of the last trains into Waterloo, was very confused, the alcohol from the party I was at probably didn't help....

[@dodgydruid]

I remember coming back late from an emergency stores dropoff from Waterloo think it was Woking or Basingstoke, I ended up having to walk the line between Clapham and Kensington where I lived as the snidey station master at Clapham refused me to use his phone to call through to Stewarts Lane to arrange a pickup at the bridge crossing the Thames which I often did if coming back late. It was a gale storm too and one of the most frightening times crossing that bridge around 2am... nearly lost me Bardic crossing that bridge that night O.o I was just getting into Kensington when a 33 driver offered me a lift but I was so cold, wet and peeved I said thanks but I was alright, signalman at Olympia saw how bedraggled I was and done me up a strong pint mug of cocoa and said I should make a complaint about the Clapham station master, Olympia's charge hand was about the place too and gave me a long slug out of his "special" flask for cold wet workings.

[@getalife633]

@@dodgydruid that must have been horrible.

[@serg4310]

I have also done this once at night. I was sober and very worried I had taken the wrong train.

[@maxmusic2198]

Just done it now on a 444, same scenario. was so confused when I saw us go past Southfields tube lol

[@ShoummaShams]

Seeing that Basingstoke station immediately reminded me of James Acaster's story on WILTY

[@Ellyerre]

I could recognize those gentrified leaves in the bushes anytime of day.

[@TheOriginal_BigMac]

I remembered that too, after I'd put on my dress

[@Jordanchannel01]

Don't forget the bag on the head to stop you getting punched

[@PianoKwanMan]

@@Ellyerre Is it bad that I recognised the bush and realised it was Basingstoke before the sign came up and Geoff saying it?

[@bfapple]

One of Acaster’s few funny jokes.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

“I like Dave’s map but I thought I’d draw my own one here.” - Geoff Marshall, Night Owl/Lark Combo, 2021. It’s a great T-Shirt Idea.

[@natehill8069]

Reminds me of "have I lost an eyebrow?" which is on many T-shirts

[@SilverGear_]

Say Geoff, there's a bit of a unique happening in Bristol between the 9th and 14th(?) of August where passenger trains between Weston Super Mare and Bristol Parkway are being sent through St Phillips marsh, a bit of track that has likely not seen a passenger train in decades, if ever. Might be worth a look for a track bash perhaps.

[@flightimage845]

Considering I used to work overlooking those tracks, I’m in! Where can I find out the details?

[@ianmurray250]

And Castle Class HSTs are running from Cardiff to Great Malvern.

[@flightimage845]

@@SilverGear_ Many thanks. I’m going to give it a go!

[@tantive4]

Thanks for the gen! I was worried they all went via Westbury

[@coxfordlettings]

@@ianmurray250 same week? Going to have to plan my day carefully, so I can do both.

[@DwellerUK]

Not everything goes to plan, but the great nature of Geoff saved his video 4 days later. What a legend! Excellent video as always.

[@Adrian-pe9ds]

Hi dweller, psssst it’s me cash

[@DwellerUK]

@@Adrian-pe9ds found it

[@Adrian-pe9ds]

@@DwellerUK this is my other account that I watch everyone on lol

[@DevForgeOfficial]

OMG DWELLER IM A HUGE FAN

[@b7rle]

hi dweller im a fan

[@DanLoudShirts]

Used to stare out the window when I had to go in and out of London via Waterloo for work and wonder if anything actually went up and down that track! Now I know!

[@sjf21]

The fact that SWR has the same colors as Southwest Airlines here in the US always makes me laugh. Plus it’s the only National Rail operator I’ve ever been on, so it’s extra special to me! Thanks Geoff!

[@TheNapalmFTW]

I'm an ex pat Brit in the US and I hadn't made the connection until you said this. I can't unsee it.

[@southcalder]

That’s the colour scheme of outer suburban services of the former operator South West Trains. (Red - Inner Suburban, Blue - Outer Suburban/Regional, White - Long Distance) It’s on its way out in favour of a slightly dull grey/white livery. They are all/were the house colours of former franchisee, Stagecoach, and could also be found on trains operated by East Midland Trains (which has also since changed hands).

[@cmartin_ok]

@@southcalder Yes, it's a disgrace. How long have SWR held the franchise but they have still not got all the trains re-painted or wrapped in their own colour scheme

[@Sophiebryson510]

The ex operator’s medium distance services, rather

[@passiveaggressive6175]

Well observed👍🏾

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Geoff making a video at 4:45 a.m: I’m happy to finally see someone who’s bright and early and rather than the gloomy, “Don’t talk to me till I have coffee.” kind. Also, condolences to Dave’s sleep cycle.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I feel so bad for Dave: Sleep-Deprived, Hungry, and in need of a Coffee. I hope he’s feeling better now.

[@brianbell4937]

In the past, when the District Line had engineering work north of East Putney, Southern used to run a shuttle between Wimbledon (District Line platforms 1-4) and East Putney (the platform you passed through) calling at Wimbledon Park and Southfields. I have ridden it with both slam door stock and sliding door stock on different occasions.

[@ianmcclavin]

I've been diverted that way on a Sunday afternoon before now, when there have been engineering works at Earlsfield. It's interesting to note that before 1994, East Putney, Southfields and Wimbledon Park stations were still under BR (as it was then) management, rather than LU, despite only District Line trains calling. There was therefore no roundel signage on the platforms (there still isn't at Wimbledon), and they therefore had the standard BR black on white signs until the late 80's, when they amazingly put Network SouthEast signs up for a few years at those three stations!

[@DavidShepheard]

They actually gave local people a chance to object to the station being transferred to Transport for London. Before TfL took over East Putney, Southfields and Wimbledon Park, it used to be possible to by though tickets to National Rail stations.

[@mbrady2329]

I remember standing on the northbound District Line platform at East Putney circa 1991-92, and finding it very odd that a British Rail (as was) train came around a curve to the opposite side of the southbound platform! Little did I know at the time...

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

@@DavidShepheard Yes, that's right, the ticket offices were stocked with BR tickets. I also recall that Wimbledon Park in the 1960's had green BR totem type station nameboards. If any have survived they wll be a collectors' piece.

[@francispagan9676]

I remember Green BR Southern Region nameboards at East Putney Southfields and Wimbledon Park in the 1950s

[@ianmcclavin]

@@francispagan9676 That would be before the first time I rode the line, but yes, that's consistent with them officially being BR stations, despite them being exclusively served by Underground trains. Something similar occurred at Gunnersbury and Kew Gardens on the Richmond branch, but they also had North London Line (now Tfl Overground) services calling.

[@christophernoble6810]

Often used during engineering possessions. Most unusual track I ever passed over was in South Yorkshire which involved running through an enormous coke works with flames shooting everywhere making it seem like you were in Dante’s Inferno!

[@DesiroDriver]

Sorry guys! Hey I’m a Woking driver, and I can confirm no Woking drivers sign the East Putney route. I’m assuming that early you got a Woking based relief driver, not sure why as that’s not a booked working for us. This was my PASS train from Woking a couple of weeks back and we ran via East Putney. Nice from the back cab.

[@michaelsmaldon]

I used to be a Waterloo guard and I've had the same experience. The end of one of my shifts I had to take an ECS from Waterloo to Wimbledon Park via East Putney and I couldn't pass up the opportunity. Got some great photos from the rear cab.

[@ChoobChoob]

Was it picked up by cover turn?

[@markbowerbank9175]

Occasionally worked in an office that overlooked East Putney station and remember seeing empty trains running over that curve. Never knew you could ride over it on an service train though. Happy memories of the staff & colleagues at General Accident Putney Branch.

[@andrewchivers509]

I lived in Carlton Drive. Happy days, remember that building well

[@1nothingspecial]

The only time I remember going a strange route was on a CrossCountry train when the Reading/Basingstoke line was closed for engineering. We went down to Guildford, back up the Sandhurst/Wokingham line and into Reading from the opposite direction.

[@Danburybeeches]

This is such a great video Geoff! Fascinating level of detail and I'm so glad you were able to go back and ride the route in the end! I'm fascinated by PSUL now! Thanks for the video.

[@warrentimothy2276]

It's very useful this piece of track. If there are late running engineering works around Clapham (Which happens a lot), they can use the Windsor lines and this District line in the early morning only cancelling services through Earlsfield.

[@bugsby4663]

I used to work at Wimbledon Park and in those days SWT used slam door trains. The signals on the station where national rail not LU as that branch used to be NR, This meant the NR trains going to the Wimbledon depot had to stop at Wimbledon Park as there was a signal there. People, thinking it was in passenger service, used to get on as it was a slam door train. Sometimes SWT gave us advance notice so we could tell people not to board, but not always. This was a problem at night as presumably the NR controllers were too busy getting the trains to bed . This led to tipsy people ending up on a NR depot and bringing a train out of those to safely drop off a passenger at Wimbledon is difficult and time consuming.

[@geofftech2]

Brilliant story, ha ha!! Oh how I miss slam door trains …

[@brooklyntrainspotting8464]

Fantastic work Geoff. I really enjoy all your videos that you make. Really loved the content. Keep up the hard work!

[@brooklyntrainspotting8464]

Hey Geoff, I am a massive train geek and fan like you. Could I maybe be in one of your videos. The viewers will be amazed of of which I am amazing with facts. Reply any time.

[@dannypaulread1023]

You cannot shake Dave! Awesome vid as always

[@VexSG]

I love Metro/Light Rail Lines that run alongside the heavy rail!

[@emjackson2289]

Gateshead Stadium to Pelaw is a case in point - I was waiting for a train toward S. Shields at Pelaw v. Early and next to me was Grand Central HST waiting to go to Sunderland Central (the Metro I'd got off was going to Sunderland and Sth. Hylton). Meanwhile there was becoming a traffic jam as DB oil charter was going down to the Jarrow terminal . . . .

[@iandraper8554]

You can do that in Brussels

[@peterdean8009]

Probably the weirdest set-up is at Navigation Road station, south west of Manchester. It's shared by Metrolink (trams) and Northern Rail (heavy rail) but they can't share the same track, so there's 2-way Metrolink working on one track and 2-way Northern Rail working on the other. Is this unique in the UK?

[@Pepelepewwwww]

It happened to me when I was heading into work, was on the train to shepperton but because engineering wasn’t finished on time the train diverted, not calling at Earlsfield but was heading to Wimbledon- yet the train was at plat 5 at Clapham junction so I knew it was going to divert via the district line

[@markwilson4724]

I remember when living in Wimbledon Park that I occasionally saw South West trains use the District Line. Was always very strange to see

[@marcelwiszowaty1751]

Yeah, me too... lived in Wimbledon for a year way back in 1978/79 when at university. Would occasionally spot a Southern Region (as was) slam-door train passing in the other direction between East Putney and Wimbledon Park. I didn't realise at the time that there was an actual passenger working though... might try this one day!

[@TheNapalmFTW]

I get unreasonably happy when I see a new a Geoff video. Cheers mate

[@juliejones4260]

Another great video, keep up the good work Geoff!

[@milohunter5257]

HOLY Smokes, you’re in Basingstoke: MY HOMETOWN! What a good place to start the video 😊👍

[@theme.park.lewis0586]

Same hahah

[@rhysharrison9058]

My hometown too

[@petitkruger2175]

station looks nice too 👍

[@rhysharrison9058]

@@petitkruger2175 yes it quite a nice station but can get very crowded at times and there’s this little old man shouting through the speakers (SWR man) telling people the next train

[@as-tm7np]

blazingsmoke

[@andrewhutchinson36]

I recall travelling over this line on a special train back in 1981. In those days the bridge over the main line was still in place. The view as you travelled over the bridge to join the up Reading line really was quite spectacular.

[@thomasjones8648]

Fantastic video! Love to see Basingstoke my local station in the video!!

[@martynbuzzing3327]

I have to smile at your enthusiasm about traveling over an obscure piece of railway line. Entertaining at the very least..👍

[@mdhazeldine]

I discovered this once when the main line was closed and we had to divert. I had know idea what was going on and had to look it up after. I love the the steep viaduct/embankments in Putney and the old piers left there. Sort of looks like an ancient ruin. I wonder why they went to the trouble of removing that one curve though? They've never built on it.

[@highpath4776]

So you dont have to pay to maintain it.

[@peterarmand6814]

The upside connecting bridge where the old pier remain was the result of Second world war bomb damage and instead of repair line was sadly closed. May come back one day you never Know!

[@adamtoms761]

Just found your channel, Geoff, and just to say I’m really enjoying it. I’ve been well and truly binging! Keep it up 🚊

[@stuartmills.size11photography]

We often use this to move empty stock from Wimbledon Park depot up to Waterloo to go into service and also bring them back at night into the depot, keeps the mainline free for passenger services. Also if there are problems or engineering works on the mainline then this route is used. Sorry your trip didn't work out for you.

[@anthonymoore6009]

When I was a driver at Guildford I signed via East Putney so this is memories. Been at Reading since 1995 so not on my ticket anymore, shame. Thanks for revisiting.

[@Niinsa62]

Weirdly relaxing video. Thank you very much! Early morning train rides are the best!

[@jamescaseymusic]

Love this. Seen that oddity several years and each time puzzled over it.

[@dskadd32]

The look of frustration. Then the look of relief. Well done.

[@wellsm1744]

All these rare bits…it’s my job to cover them on a train…a yellow one

[@a5209283]

Do you work on the flying banana?

[@WaltTFB]

You are Bananaman, and I claim my £5.

[@Nooticus]

Awesome!!

[@StAndrewsCheamURC]

In 30-odd years of commuting into Waterloo I was diverted via East Putney 3 or 4 times inbound, and I think only once outbound. A few years ago there was a derailment on the crossover from NR to LU track at Wimbledon, and it turned out that NR and LU had different ideas as to where exactly the join boundary was and nobody had been maintaining the crossover for a couple of decades. There's a RAIB report on it.

[@catsmad48]

Remember it well ...class 450 desi. The track people now put plates on sleepers to mark the last sleeper in their area for servicing. The next plate for the next crew follows on from that. So now there should be no forgotten areas.

[@GojiMet86]

It is always fun to see mainline trains running on metro/subway tracks, and vice-versa. I live in New York City, where the subway and the mainline trains have different regulations, so they can't run on the other's line. This is the equivalent of the Long Island Railroad running on the Queens Boulevard subway line to get to Penn Station.

[@jackwtat]

If an American railroad or transit administrator found out about this, their head would explode. Light rail/metros/subways sharing tracks with national rail network trains is a huge no-no in the US.

[@Damien_N]

@@jackwtat it’s a really odd fun little quirk of London’s railways, many of the London Underground stations outside of the city centre were built by large railway companies.

[@GojiMet86]

@@jackwtat At the beginning of the 20th century, the LIRR actually did run trains via the Brooklyn Rapid Transit elevated line across the Williamsburg Bridge to the big underground Chambers Street terminal. And some BRT trains ran to the Rockaways via the LIRR. As a matter of fact, the R44 and R46 subway trains were tested on the mainline. But after some time, the mainline trains became too big, and the signal systems became were too different and incompatible. It makes me wonder how the MTA would have handled proposals in the 1970s to have subway trains run on the Metro-North and the LIRR. They proposed one line run on the LIRR from Sunnyside Yard to Forest Hills as a super-express, another line run from Jamaica to Springfield, and have the 2nd Avenue subway run in the Bronx via the Harlem line.

[@petermichaelgreen]

@@Damien_N London is not the only place in the UK with such mixing, though it is the biggest example. The tyne and wear metro runs trains between newcastle and sunderland on tracks shared with mainline rail and afaict has been doing so since 2001. The sheffield supertram runs "tram trains" to rotherham central and rotherham parkgate on tracks shared with mainline rail. The manchester Metrolink doesn't actually share any tracks at present, but there is a section around navigation road where a former double track railway was converted into two single tracks, one for rail and one for metrolink. There is also merseyrail which operates much like a metro system, having only a few overlaps with other national rail lines but was never seperated out administratively from the rest of the national network.

[@RailRide]

@@bostonrailfan2427 Something about differing buff-strength standards between the two, mainline passenger car bodies must withstand something like 800,000 pounds of compression without damage (Sumitomo failed this test in their attemnpt to build bilevel cars for Midwest Amtrak services), while NYC transit's standards are around 200,000. There have been subway excursions ('fantrips') that took vintage D-type cars onto South Brooklyn Railway tracks over the connection where new cars and MOW stock are sometimes delivered to the 'B' division, Said train was bracketed by MOW diesels for the trip over non subway trackage. I found a link to a 1975 film of one such excursion clearly showing the subway cars being towed through freight yards in the Brooklyn waterfront ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6eYg2epnduZi8k ).

[@HooverA3060]

Finally glad you've done a video on this route! If you didn't know, it's called "Point Pleasant Junction". When I first travelled on the SWML, I was confused as to what that bridge was, as well as when on the District Line, why that track was at East Putney. Perhaps one day an early morning journey will allow me to capture a 450 Desiro passing that route or even a 455 on ECS. Fantastic as always Geoff!

[@liamashcroft2893]

Keep up great work Geoff

[@Bloodknok]

Big shout out for the New Beckenham curve, right behind my house. I’ve travelled it three times! Short, but curiously thrilling to travel through

[@susansmith7831]

Ah, now I understand what my train did that time when returning to Edinburgh, and took forever to make its was 'all the way round the houses' to Waverley - along the Edinburgh suburban line. Thanks, I never knew this was a thing!

[@geofftech2]

so yes, it's run to put the Cross County train in place for the morning and they might as well run it in service to see if any passengers get it. comes from Glasgow, leaves around 9 o'clock in the evening i think, definetely go and do it!

[@susansmith7831]

@@geofftech2 thanks! The train I got, can't remember which operator, but it was coming up the west coast mainline. Definitely scheduled, as I remember looking at the scheduled arrival time at Waverley and thinking there must be a mistake cos it didn't normally take that long, and why wasn't it scheduled to stop at Haymarket like it 'always' does.

[@lewisbricknell3194]

Oh my god this is brilliant. I remember when I lived in East Putney, I would very rarely see this train go past but was always so confused when it did. Really cool.

[@Awesome_Transport]

It reminds me a bit of when c2c trains go over the London Overground "GOBLIN" line between Barking and Woodgrange Park, where it then curves off and joins the Shenfield Metro line near Forest Gate and continues to Liverpool Street

[@Tylan_the_gamer]

At first I read shenfield as Sheffield and got really confused

[@highpath4776]

Thats timetabled more than it used to be, now hourly (half hourly?) off peak for shopping at Westfield Stratford mainly.

[@Awesome_Transport]

@B E R R I L Y Yes it is, but it just reminds me of it because it goes down part of the London Overground, a little bit like how this one goes down part of the District line.

[@MrHovis44]

Great video as always.

[@martincull9371]

Before Covid I used to catch this regularly. You@re lucky it was running to time!

[@petermc7098]

Hello There, this is interesting to hear, thank you for sharing this, it's much appreciated. Cheers Peter :)

[@davidcrook5511]

Very interesting and well done for your persistence! Hope your friend Dave got an opportunity to do that stretch of track!

[@colinpantling1030]

You have filled in my thoughts of the disused line at Putney, thanks

[@CPTrains]

Was fascinated about this ever since I was checking some of the SWR Class 707 runs to London Waterloo in order to get into the right side of Waterloo for the transfer to Southeastern. I do like these weird services on weird routes, after doing the Beckenham curve the other weekend.

[@PapercutzUksocial]

The good old District Line :):) ace video Geoff

[@VisualEscapes469]

Made me homesick for Wimbledon, when I come down to see family in October I will have to do this route, I remember doing it over 40 years ago.

[@rhythmace1]

Great! Have been wondering about the connection to NR lines since seeing a freight train trundle through East Putney once, good to finally find out why this link exists!

[@stuarthall6631]

I used to ride the spur from New Beckenham to Beckenham Junction twice every day! I worked in the old South Eastern Divisional offices of B.R. which were opposite the Junction station. There were two "staff trains" each day (one each way) - head code 99 - which ran fast from Lewisham to Beckenham Junction and vice versa. This was in 1974/5. I imagine that these utilized E.C.S. workings.

[@PaulGodfrey]

Done that line on a railtour - it was the highlight of the trip

[@HenrysAdventures]

Top marks for effort on this one! One section of rare track with one train a day I always think of the that Chesham to Watford train at 5ish in the morning which takes the other side of the Croxley Curve. I was at Beckenham Junction once after some tram bashing and noticed the train in the Northern bay's next station stop was New Beckenham so I jump at the chance to tick off that section of track!

[@johnfry1011]

Many years ago the equivalent of that train used to stop at the staff halt in Wimbledon Park Depot, lots of memories going home from Woking after a night shift.

[@meltrain]

I am glad that you managed to do it.

[@davekirwin]

Down my way! All very familiar territory :) Pity about the route knowledge, but yay for finally doing the Putney curve.

[@ajbonmg]

I did that stretch of track hauled by a Deltic in 1981... :) It was 55015 on the Wessex Deltic railtour from Finsbury Park to Bournemouth. The commuters waiting on the platforms for their District Line trains looked quite surprised to see us go past!

[@frenchdave69]

I'm old enough to remember when that stretch of line was owned by BR. They also operated the intermediate stations, which had BR-style platform name boards, not Underground-style ones.

[@Thomas1980]

Wonderful video. Good information. Kind regards from Switzerland

[@James-gc5if]

I caught this dawn train once when heading for a very early Eurostar. SWR also use the District line whenever the main line through Earlsfield is closed for track maintenance.

[@Gavosh1977]

I have (accidentally) done the return leg from Waterloo to Basingstoke a few times, mainly because I worked in London and ended up getting the late train home... I wondered why it took that route, now I know :). Thank you

[@the_fg_owl0290]

9:21 Ive always been a regular commuter at East Putney and always wondered what that track was used for, but now I know, thanks Geoff!

[@ianmurray250]

The whole reason for the railway running trains along routes like this is to refresh driver & guard knowledge over diversionary routes. You can find them all over the country. Sometimes as a part of planned maintenance, drivers are trained on new alternative routes, keep an eye out for those too, if you're interested in this sort of thing.

[@francispagan9676]

Back in the 1950s I was on a Portsmouth-Waterloo fast service _ I think it may have been a relief train. At Wimbledon we were routed onto the District and round the East Putney curve which I had known about but wondered whether it was used regularly - maybe for empty stock transfer or in emergencies. I was fascinated but a mate wasn't too amused, and passing Wandsworth Town he groaned 'still miles to go'. Thanks for awaking old memories!*

[@tonysheppard5457]

The Beckenham spur can be done this weekend... 17 18th July 2021!

[@highpath4776]

Will try to remember. There is another one out of wimbledon - The Haydons Road line towards Streatham that then turns past Tooting Bec Common , into Balham and Clapham Junction. Have seen freights using it after crossing the ladder from Raynes Park to Wimbledon, and ECS, not sure about any diverted passenger trains.

[@andrewsmw]

I’ve just been over the Beckenham Spur on a diverted Hastings-CX train. The excitement of potentially beating Geoff!!

[@proberts8]

I grew up in Twickenham and often wondered what the line coming down between Putney and Wandsworth Town was for. Thanks for explaining it.

[@NickDude555]

I have ridden on that section several times actually. It was the late night service, usually Saturdays after meeting friends in London and on my first ride I thought we were going the wrong way!

[@raylewis395]

In a former era (until the late 1970’s) There used to be special excursion trains to places like Winchester, Exeter, Salisbury, Bournemouth and Portsmouth from East Putney, Southfields and Wimbledon Park. I think they started at Clapham Junction and also picked up passengers at Raynes Park, New Malden and possibly Surbition too. Then they ran non-stop to the destination. They ran a couple of times a month on a Saturday, to a different destination each time. They would leave at 8am-ish and get you back in the early evening. I remember my Dad taking me on one once, in about 1969 to Winchester, I think.

[@ironmantrains]

Reminds me of the London Aylesbury line where Chiltern 165s share tracks with Metropolitan line trains.

[@kman196]

Stood many a time at Southfields wondering what the hell a SWR train was doing there! Now I know! Thanks Geoff, will have to try it myself

[@TravelJackJourneys158]

Great video Geoff I have done the Swansea Avoiding Line when it I did it 2 weeks apart and it went the 2 ways mentioned. I have also done the direct from Wolverhampton to Walsall and today I am doing the Goole to Knottingley

[@timsully8958]

Well, I was looking to visit my friends in Basingstoke so this provides me with a great added excuse 😎 Cheers Geoff. I know there was an historical service that used that flyover but I assumed the down connector was only left to be ever used in emergencies. I guess this is just so that 1)drivers keep in competency (ahem…🙄) and 2) so if they use it in emergency they don’t encounter a nasty shock! 😉 Cheers mate 👍🍻🍀

[@patmoore1875]

Just over 20 years ago I needed to be in the train cab for a signalling survey of the once a week Parliamentary service’ from Stockport to Stalybridge via Denton and Guide Bridge, then running on a Friday afternoon. I turned up at the Up bay platform at Stockport only to be told it was cancelled yet again and there was a taxi available at the main entrance for any intending passengers ! Unfortunately, at that time it was about the only train to traverse the route in daylight, which is why I had to try for this service. I went back a couple of times over a period of about six months only to find the trains were cancelled virtually every time, apparently due to a lack of available drivers with that route knowledge.

[@jamesabbott5242]

Awesome video

[@iandobson6538]

My daily commute from Ashtead to Waterloo took this route a few years ago due to a train derailment just outside Wimbledon. Never realised that mainline trains could run on LU track so quite a surprise. A bit late for work but well worth it!

[@Mudkip0408]

The shots of Basingstoke reminds me of when i was living there 3 years ago, the best part of living there was the short journey to London, now it takes 8 hours

[@pangolin83]

Another interesting bit of track is the fast lines on Chislehurst Junction which allows trains to go between Petts Wood and Bickley. Trains normally use the slow lines to change between the Chatham and SE Main Lines but the fast lines (used by Eurostar in the past) are very rarely used. Funnily enough, the engineering works route that uses the New Beckenham curve also uses this part of track

[@DentalHygieneTipsUk]

Southfields. My old home. This video is very special to me, sometimes I would see those trains going past southfields station whilst waiting for the district line

[@DentalHygieneTipsUk]

9:15 SOUTHFIELDS

[@JointDecisions]

As.a teenager who did the Southfields -> Wimbledon, Wimbledon -> Earlsfield route for school commute for many years. I would see these trains at Southfields frequently and often wonder what or why or how or even if I would be allowed on one..! I now might have to try this for myself one day. Another interesting tid bit is as that same 11 year old doing this commute for the first time in 2003, The south west trains with non automatic doors with the latch and windows with separate compartments and a corridor would arrive at wimbledon. Would love to see one of those again! Great work as always Geoff! Keep it up

[@thomasmcpolin1020]

I've lived near the Edinburgh Suburban Line for 5 years and have only just found out about the once a day Cross Country service which travels along it. My first "rare track to bash". Thanks Geoff

[@geofftech2]

so yes, it's run to put the Cross County train in place for the morning and they might as well run it in service to see if any passengers get it. comes from Glasgow, leaves around 9 o'clock in the evening i think, definetely go and do it!

[@stevesmith7520]

Ah the Manningtree curve! Have traveled over this numerous times when I lived in Harwich. There was (may still exist) a service from Ipswich direct to Harwich International about 9.15pm to link with the overnight ferry to the Hook of Holland...

[@stevehard9779]

Indeed, wasn’t that called ‘the boat train’?

[@danwiddon3854]

I've been under the tracks around Battersea Bus Garage many times in the years I commuted to London and taken the Overground from Clapham Junction to Willesdon and Watford Junction, without ever knowing that the main gauge track crossover North-East of Wimbledon were used by current passenger services. Rare track bashing series, Geoff, yes you absolutely need to!

[@Paulwherrell]

Have done that curve in 1991 when there was an open day at East Wimbledon Depot. I remember it was a preserved 4EPB unit that was running shuttles between Wimbledon and Clapham Jct with a stop at Wimbledon Park for the depot. Since privatisation, there seems to be fewer depot open days than under British Rail.

[@ttrjw]

Love the SFX of someone sweeping the street when Geoff appears at Wimbledon.

[@adrianbromfild8624]

Many years age had a class 50 doing this route as the line was shut up to Clapham and good views of Wimbledon depot were achieved

[@mikeburnitt403]

Both the Driver and the Guard need to sign the route for the train to work over the route, I used to sign that route when based at Strawberry hill, one of only 2 who did, useful when working the 0042 Waterloo to Strawberry Hill which worked that way and was booked a Waterloo crew from Waterloo and Wimbledon.

[@natpriest7033]

Great videos

[@imranzazai7404]

Very beautiful place.

[@shaun__3]

That website linked (branchline) is so good, been on a few of those train journeys on weird sections of track and I thought they weren't used that often, how cool.

[@michaelcobb3347]

As a child in the late 1950s and into the 1960s living just down the road from Southfields station you could, with a polite request to what was then Southern Region staff, be allowed to use the platform for train spotting. There was a large variety of services (both passenger and goods) passing through - many then still steam powered - in addition to the stopping District Line trains. The section from Wimbledon to East Putney was built to mainline standards, hence the dimensions of the tunnel under West Hill. Occasionally in the holiday seasons special services would stop to pick up passengers. The sad demise came from not investing in rebuilding the northern link after its structural deterioration and this cancelled the plans which were in the offing to improve passenger interchange between the mainline and the Underground.

[@amethyst7084]

I had always been curious about that section of track that skirts on the outside of East Putney station, until on one occasion in the 90s, when I was going to Woking, the South West train I was on, was diverted via Wandsworth Town and Putney stations, and proceeded to go via the District Line stations from East Putney to Wimbledon. I think it was due to engineering works. Very interesting experience.

[@TheClintonio]

Seeing Basingstoke station is nostalgic for me.

[@rabidpb]

I'd often travel out of Waterloo late at night on a Kingston loop train which would take that route (skipping Earlsfield.) Great fun watching slightly drunk passengers glance out of the window and suddenly look slightly panicked as the train crawls through East Putney.