Non LU Trains on the Met

I'm sure I've seen the W&S run through Harrow when I was in the cabin - that was due to a failed train in the peak at Neasden Junction.

We had such an occasion last Friday with a failure at Neasden Junction. The train stuck there was indeed a Wrexham and Shropshire. It was not granted permission to enter our railway as it had no tripcocks fitted and (so one of my colleagues told me) it is not gauged for running through our platforms or passing an A Stock.

Occasionally Chiltern request to divert trains via "our side." The only stock passed to run during traffic hours are classes 165/166/168 plus the Water Jetting train (former class 117) as they are tripcock fitted. They are diverted to/from Aylesbury via Princes Risborough - so each diversion is made through the driver changing ends twice. A longer process obviously, but if they are shut down on the normal route, it is still quicker than having trains stuck.

The Class 67s and the coaching stock is not passed to run beside our trains, and even if it was, it is not tripcock fitted.

The Class 66s used during engineering works are allowed onto our metals, but only within an engineering possession.

LUL own the tracks from just south of Harrow to just north of Amersham. The Richmond branch is Network Rail, as it the Bakerloo to Harrow Weald.

The Wimbledon branch of the District (from halfway between Putney Bridge & East Putney to Wimbledon) is owned by LU but is signalled & maintained to NR standards. Signalling is operated by NR staff and traction current is supplied by NR, thus NR rules apply.

Simple answer is yes - infact it has happened at least once before, with a Chiltern (probably British Rail then) train taking the route via the local lines at Watford South Junction to Harrow, and then having to reverse via Neasden depot.

Every time a re-issue of the "Line of Route" regulations is due, we always request that research is done into whether the regular Chiltern stock can be passed for the local lines and to/from Neasden depot. Nobody has, as yet, stuck their neck out to give such authority. I have been on for at least 2 signal failures which would have benefitted from at least part of that route being available.

Trains have passed over the routes without incident, but of course for it to happen as a "planned" event, we need the necessary documentation.

We have in the past discussed which diesel locos had tripcocks fitted when new. Including from memory Classes 15 [for running on the Northern Line] and 24. I cannot recall whether any of Classes 16, 25, 31 and 20 were so equipped, for running over the Central and City Wdened Lines. Of relevance here was whether any 20s (EE Type 1) were based at Bow, Devons Road or Stratford and so equipped for running over the ELL via Liverpool Street. I am too lazy to check!

On numerous occasions I have piloted a class 37 when the A60's were being refurbished. We used to meet them at Amersham, pilot them into and around Neasden Depot with a refurb, then pilot them back to Great Missenden with a non-refurb. These locos were not fitted with tripcocks.

Class 24 diesels were regular visitors to Watford Met in the 1960's In the West of Watford book by F.W. Goudie & Douglas Stuckey there is a photo of D5059 running round a goods train in the station yard in November 1966.

Xerces Fobe

...and perhaps a couple of Class 66's will be so fitted, ready for the leaf fall this year?

The route north in those days was a lot easier, Aylesbury, Claydon LNE Jcn, Bletchley Flyover and then either West Coast to Crewe or onwards to Bedford and Midland to Derby.

How busy are the Met lines between Harrow on the Hill to Amersham?

According to East-West Rail Consortium
www.eastwestrail.org.uk/reports/
They want to send 1tph
Milton Keynes to London Marylebone via Bletchley, Winslow, Aylesbury and High Wycombe (88 min)

Could they realistically run this via Amersham as fast non stop between HotH to Amersham?

Errr, why would they run it via Amersham, if they want it to go via High Wycombe?

i can comfirm this as i was the traction inspector with mainline freight who rode with the train with my acton driver and trainman. i rode on most of the moves .interesting work. keith jackson.