Holborn and the Aldwych Branch

[AlbertBeale]

North Ealing and (soon to be removed) westbound PICC to District only at Hammersmith. Nothing at Barons Court now.

Well - I guess that at least N Ealing and Acton Town are not possible to disentangle! I didn't realise the ability of an eastbound District to get off the Picc at Barons Court didn't still exist; I presume there are ways of ensuring it never gets to be there in the first place...

 

[Ashley Hill]

I agree it is a shame it’s being stripped/scrapped. Was it operational to the end?

 

[Dstock7080]

I agree it is a shame it’s being stripped/scrapped. Was it operational to the end?

It moved on its own from Aldwych to Ealing Common LTM then later Ruislip depot.

 

[Recessio]

Is the aldwych branch used as a turning/termination point if services need to curtail early?

 

[DanNCL]

Is the aldwych branch used as a turning/termination point if services need to curtail early?

No

 

[Ashley Hill]

It moved on its own from Aldwych to Ealing Common LTM then later Ruislip depot.

Thanks. Driven to its own destruction like a condemned man.

 

[Enthusiast]

Is the aldwych branch used as a turning/termination point if services need to curtail early?

The last time I was at Holborn on platform 5 for the Aldwych shuttle (just prior to closure of the branch) there was a long sand drag between the branch line and the junction with the northbound main line.

 

[Mojo]

The last time I was at Holborn on platform 5 for the Aldwych shuttle (just prior to closure of the branch) there was a long sand drag between the branch line and the junction with the northbound main line.

There’s no sand drag (else how would trains get to / from the branch?)

Is the aldwych branch used as a turning/termination point if services need to curtail early?

It isn’t suitable for this purpose, the only way on to the branch is via a main line shunt just to the east of Holborn station. In recent times this as well has required the points to be blown over by a technical officer and then manually secured.

The only way off the branch is the same way, and trains would have to continue Eastbound, so it isn’t suitable for this purpose.

 

[Enthusiast]

There’s no sand drag (else how would trains get to / from the branch?)

There may not be now, but there always was when I used it in the late 1960s and again in the 90s. There was a single red light on a post in the middle of the track and looking past it you could see trains on the N/B main line. I often wondered how stock movements were carried out and simply assumed the sand had to be dug out.

 

[Mojo]

There may not be now, but there always was when I used it in the late 1960s and again in the 90s. There was a single red light on a post in the middle of the track and looking past it you could see trains on the N/B main line. I often wondered how stock movements were carried out and simply assumed the sand had to be dug out.

Is there a chance you may be thinking of the Aldwych rather than the Holborn end, as the train used to regularly return to Northfields depot. I believe two times a week in the 1960s but latterly this move was done every night?

 

[pdeaves]

Is there a chance you may be thinking of the Aldwych rather than the Holborn end, as the train used to regularly return to Northfields depot. I believe two times a week in the 1960s but latterly this move was done every night?

Or a 'second' track, one connected and one a dead end bay? It's hard to describe but the text on http://www.davros.org/rail/culg/piccadilly.html may help.

 

[YSTrains]

What is going to happen to the line now that the ex Northern line 1972 stock is being scrapped.

 

[swt_passenger]

What is going to happen to the line now that the ex Northern line 1972 stock is being scrapped.

Nothing initially. The proposed rebuild of Holborn Station takes the platform area as circulation space. The tunnels will exist but be isolated. It’s been discussed on and off throughout this thread.

 

[Enthusiast]

Is there a chance you may be thinking of the Aldwych rather than the Holborn end, as the train used to regularly return to Northfields depot. I believe two times a week in the 1960s but latterly this move was done every night?

If that happened then I must be wrong. It was sixty years ago! I always thought it rather odd. Thanks for the correction.

 

[Busaholic]

Is there a chance you may be thinking of the Aldwych rather than the Holborn end, as the train used to regularly return to Northfields depot. I believe two times a week in the 1960s but latterly this move was done every night?

I only had a very brief time at Earl's Court Control Centre in the early 1970s, but it was nightly Mon-Fri then.

 

[Class15]

Nothing initially. The proposed rebuild of Holborn Station takes the platform area as circulation space. The tunnels will exist but be isolated. It’s been discussed on and off throughout this thread.

Has the branch been abandoned operationally?

 

[Mojo]

Has the branch been abandoned operationally?

What exactly do you mean by this? The line is physically still there and traction current is able to be switched on, and off as required. There is a very limited number of people who are allowed to access the track on the branch.

 

[Class15]

What exactly do you mean by this? The line is physically still there and traction current is able to be switched on, and off as required. There is a very limited number of people who are allowed to access the track on the branch.

Thanks!

What I meant was whether the branch was still energised and potentially able to be run on.

 

[1018509]

Ever wondered what happened to it.

 

[yorksrob]

I'd assumed it was still down there !

Any interior shots ?

 

[1018509]

Not my photos so no, sorry. They came from a colleague at Ruislip depot.

 

[357]

Waits for comments saying "what a waste, should have been preserved".....

Thought after parts removal last year they would have scrapped it by now to be honest

 

[birchesgreen]

Well there is already a car of that class preserved, we could do with another one though so we have a breeding pair

 

[i3lu]

Has that MK1 already been scrapped or still dead at Ruislip?

 

[Dstock7080]

Currently still at Ruislip although is being moved to another part of the depot for easier access, as Booths have just been awarded the scrapping contract.

 

[Towers]

Waits for comments saying "what a waste, should have been preserved".....

I don’t think it’s an unfair comment, given the number of television and film appearances it’s made over the years! It’s arguably rather significant!

 

[Ashley Hill]

Did the Holborn expansion ever happen that would have severed the Aldwych branch?

 

[Class15]

Did the Holborn expansion ever happen that would have severed the Aldwych branch?

Not yet I don’t think.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Has anything else visited the branch since the 72 stock was removed?

 

[bramling]

I don’t think it’s an unfair comment, given the number of television and film appearances it’s made over the years! It’s arguably rather significant!

Not unfair at all. 3229 is the last remaining silver Tube train that was operational. For a generation of people this is more poignant than the museum’s 38 stock train. It is rather unfortunate 3229 seems to have got into a state during Covid, but nonetheless that was mainly cosmetic. Fact is it was in good condition, had been under a maintenance regime, and was a runner, with supply of spare parts seemingly not a problem.