Last Day of ELL

As an ELL T/Op on the last day, my only real gripes were with people who insisted on standing in front of the huge OPO mirror on the n/bound at Surrey Quays. Er ..... hello!!! Those standing around the cab doors whilst changing ends at Whitechapel were a little over-eager at times and one even asked for a ride 'as it's the last day'. Some enthusiasts seemed to forget about the 4 minute turnaround at either end (a bit longer at the Gate) to enter into lengthy one-way conversations based on 'all our yesterdays' as if the day were some kind of steam preservation event, which I suppose was understandable. Flash photography out of the tunnel at Wapping was a pain but no worse than the huge wet-weather pyrotechnics we often used to get from the Southeastern trains leaving New Cross on the north. All in all, it was certainly a different day and I'll miss (most of) the colleagues I've been working with over the years as we all go our separate ways.

One T/Op blasted the whistle and sternly requested enthusiats that were blocking the mirror, to 'MOVE IT'.

I'm not saying where. Nor will I repeat what was actually said.

Awww! What are you going to do hogspanker now the ELL is closed? Transfer to the Met?

I gotta say, I do agree with what ChrisW said earlier in the thread.

Additionally, on the last day of the ELL, and on the recent '38ts tour, I noticed what I can only describe as an unpleasant clique of enthusiasts. These people appeared to be (as a general rule), fairly miserable looking, "large" folk who didn't appear to give a flying whatsit about anyone else other themselves. I noticed, both on the '38ts and the ELL yesterday that these were the people who were constantly using the flash on their cameras on every occasion, not being at all courteous or caring that other people might want to take a photo from their position, and on the 38ts were the ones venturing well past the platform ends at Whitechapel and persistently ignoring the warnings from over the tannoy, from station staff and even from a Train Op to get back onto the platform. I've even seen one or two using extremely bad language in front of small children and their parents, completely inexcusable in my opinion.

In general, I can say that I've found enthusiasts to be a really friendly bunch - I met people yesterday who I've only seen as names on here and there was a really good overall vibe. But the people I mentioned above just seem intent on ruining the experience for others. It's no wonder that TFL may be put off from running future events if people like that are out and about.

(Oh, and I also got told off for using flash. Once. Took the picture on my second camera without even thinking about it then thought "oh heck!" and promptly switched it off... On my EOS, you have to manually switch the flash on, it's not automatic... I wasn't using the EOS that time!)

Someone, and I forget who, I was talking to was saying that New Cross Depot will be demolished and "landscaped" - despite the only access being via a barrow crossing (and so useless as a public space).
Personally I would have left it standing as part of the heritage of the line.

I had a most enjoyable day.

Riding about from mid afternoon ..break for a spot of lunch with a few collegues including some from here ...

Riding about again including last through northbound, last southbound ..and the dash across the platforms at Canada Water for last southbound of all to New Cross Gate, to include the unusual passenger working over the points approaching Surrey Quays.

We had almost been convinced to stay on until Surrey Quays, but I'm pleased someone shouted out "the doors are opening" on the other train and off we all flew to it !

Most of the staff were all smiles and the anouncements friendly.

Whitechapel, was a bit over zeallous, if they had opened platform 6 much better pictures could have been taken and they wouldn't have had to "wield the big stick"! I did see the odd flash used, but nothing disproportionate. My thoughts on that are in the other thread !

I must say, on the 1938 run I did go beyond the barrier, I am track trained of course, but it is hardly unsafe, not like a platform ramp to the track, and got a very nice picture as a result ta very much !

Good to meet a few more people from here and see so many people happy to be dumped at New Cross Gate well into the early hours !!!

Just like to say i did have permission from a manager and a DMT to cab it.

EDIT: typo

I didn't hear any detonators on the public last trains (although I wasn't at New Cross), nor for the "Special" northbound service from New Cross Gate after the last public southbound service.

The driver said at the start of the last trip "as this is such a historic event for you guys I will let two of you ride in the cab alternating up to whitechapel as long as there is no flash photography"

IIRC it was 32 with 1 going to Mordern, not sure bout the rest

IIRC it was 32 with 1 going to Mordern, not sure bout the rest

Pretty much ....... plus roughly half a dozen each to Upminster, Barking and North Greenwich (I think) and the rest to the likes of Acton Town, Elephant, Loughton, Ricky, Neasden and Seven Sisters. At least it was depot of choice for 99% of the drivers. Managers and station staff had to take pot luck.

I wonder if Uncle Ken even considered the geographic challenge for family men and women on the ELL when he decided to offload the line?

Will the connection between Aldgate East and Whitechapel be lifted, since "Underground" stock will not operate on the ELL once it's renovated?

According to the TFL website, there aren't any work planned for that area before June 2008. I know the eastbound points have been secured, and the signal EN46(?) has been collared to prevent use. So there is no real need to remove the tracks, but we shall see