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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2008 19:39:05 GMT
Many years ago, the Watford-Euston DC part of this network was called the "Harlequin Line" It continued being called this until being renamed part of the "North London Lines" (it was during the era when Network Southeast was giving each of it's lines it's own ident badge) - at which stage the entirety of what was to become the Silverlink Metro (and then London Overground) was given the Harlquin-colour badge. Does anyone know why it was called this? Some reference to Harlesden and Queens Park, maybe (sort of like the Bakerloo line's name)?  |
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metman
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Post by metman on Dec 11, 2008 19:59:11 GMT
I remember the badge well. Never knew it was called the Harlequin Line! The now London Midland service was called the Northampton Line!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2008 20:16:32 GMT
I am sure it was after the Harlequin Shopping Centre at Watford? Didn't last long, though (the line's name, that is!).
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2008 21:34:28 GMT
At the time there was a drive to give lines individual identities. The Midland suburban line between Bedford and St Pancras had been dubbed the 'Bed-Pan' line. Harlequin was a more paletable alternative to the 'Wat-Eus' line! The one that did slip through the net was the Waterloo to Exeter line which became the 'West Of England' line. This was reduced to the acronym W.O.E. Rail by its regular travellers and staff, the appalling reliability of the class 50s used being instigators of many a tale of W.O.E.!
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Post by Tubeboy on Dec 11, 2008 21:34:55 GMT
I am sure it was after the Harlequin Shopping Centre at Watford? Didn't last long, though (the line's name, that is!). I think your right Reg. |
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metman
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Post by metman on Dec 12, 2008 1:01:02 GMT
When was the Harlequin built? 1995?
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Post by Tubeboy on Dec 12, 2008 9:36:30 GMT
According to Wikipedia, June 1992.
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Rich32
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Post by Rich32 on Dec 12, 2008 10:35:24 GMT
IIRC it was from a competiton for local schoolchildren.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2008 18:44:35 GMT
Thanks for the info on this, everyone.  Still, it's interesting that it's "harelquin" identity sort of lived on for a while in the form of the pattern used the North London Lines' ident-badge. PS: The W.O.E. thing made me laugh! ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2009 1:07:46 GMT
I seem to recall reading that the name created by putting parts of the names of some of the main calling points on the line together. I might be wrong about that, though.
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Post by abe on Feb 27, 2009 12:40:00 GMT
I am sure it was after the Harlequin Shopping Centre at Watford? Didn't last long, though (the line's name, that is!). I thought that the name pre-dated the shopping centre, and had heard that it was based on station names (Harrow - Queen's Park). |
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Post by norbitonflyer on Feb 27, 2009 20:34:42 GMT
Does anyone know why it was called this? Some reference to Harlesden and Queens Park, maybe (sort of like the Bakerloo line's name)? I can't find any reference for this other than my own memory, but yes, it was a winning competition entry inspired by the names of those two stations. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2009 13:44:26 GMT
After a lot of "digging" through my archive notes, I have at last rediscovered and found the following:
"The Euston-Watford d.c. line has been named 'The Harlequin Line' following a competition by Network SouthEast and the line and its publicity now has a red and blue harlequin logo. The name is allegedly derived from combinations of Harlesden and Queen's Park (Harle and Queen? - don't go there!!). NSE are producing a quarterly news sheet entitled 'The Harlequin' and issue No.1 dated June 1988 is now available."
It therefore seems that the name didn't come from the Harlequin shopping centre at Watford, as this opened later in 1992. Maybe the name for that came from 'the railway'??
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metman
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Post by metman on Apr 13, 2009 15:15:29 GMT
Well the line it shares its tracks with also got its name in the same way!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2009 12:42:19 GMT
I wonder why the name wasn't kept upon the changeover to Silverlink (and then LO) in the smae way that the Thameslink route, say, has - despite changes in ownership? |
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metman
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Post by metman on Apr 18, 2009 14:40:39 GMT
Maybe it's not as catchy a name as Thameslink? Thameslink really is a great name, especially when compared with First Capital Connect- doesn't roll off the tounge does it?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2009 16:03:10 GMT
Even FCC refer to the 'Thameslink Route' though, so it's still a name in official usage.
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Post by max on Apr 18, 2009 17:40:32 GMT
There must be an enormous graveyard out there of names applied to lines that never caught on. Would make a good trivia contest. For example, where was the 'Lovejoy Line'?
Harlequin is a good name for a bad line. It implies the exotic, excitement, colour. Can anyone think of a worse description for Euston to Watford Junction all stations?
On the other hand, Thameslink has indeed stuck. Very fortunate, because what does the word mean? A link to the Thames? Surely the Windsor Lines or DLR is better qualified to take on that name.
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Post by suncloud on Apr 18, 2009 20:58:23 GMT
Surely a Link across the Thames...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2009 22:53:31 GMT
It would surely have been funnier, if detrimental, to call it the 'WatEus line'...
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Post by Chris M on Apr 18, 2009 22:55:44 GMT
On the other hand, Thameslink has indeed stuck. Very fortunate, because what does the word mean? A link to the Thames? Surely the Windsor Lines or DLR is better qualified to take on that name. Would you expect to find an angry train on a Crossrail? |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2009 18:06:52 GMT
On the other hand, Thameslink has indeed stuck. Very fortunate, because what does the word mean? A link to the Thames? Surely the Windsor Lines or DLR is better qualified to take on that name. To add to the confusion, the suburban lines out of Paddington were ( I think ...) known as the "Thames Traveller" lines as well!  |
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Post by d7666 on Apr 23, 2009 20:48:14 GMT
Origin of Harlequin line was based on station names as suggested above.
It was something like the Harrow - Willesden - Queens Park section but used for the whole line:
''Har''-lequin for ''Har''-row
Har-''le''-quin for Wil-''le''-sden
Harle-''quin'' for ''Queen''s Park
Harle-quin for Harle-sden was a happy coincidence.
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Nick
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Post by d7666 on Apr 23, 2009 20:57:17 GMT
Thameslink is still the official name of the franchise.
First Capital Connect is merely the current operator of the franchise. It happened that the previous incumbent GoVia chose to use the actual name whereas First chose a different brand name (just to be different IMHO - I can't see what on earth would be wrong with First Thameslink - but what do you expect from an outfit based in Aberdeen).
Likewise C2C operate the ''Tilbury Lines'' franchise.
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Nick
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Post by 21146 on Apr 23, 2009 22:36:49 GMT
Thameslink is still the official name of the franchise. First Capital Connect is merely the current operator of the franchise. It happened that the previous incumbent GoVia chose to use the actual name whereas First chose a different brand name (just to be different IMHO - I can't see what on earth would be wrong with First Thameslink - but what do you expect from an outfit based in Aberdeen). Likewise C2C operate the ''Tilbury Lines'' franchise. -- Nick I thought NatEx operated the LTSR? |
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Post by 21146 on Apr 23, 2009 22:37:04 GMT
Thameslink is still the official name of the franchise. First Capital Connect is merely the current operator of the franchise. It happened that the previous incumbent GoVia chose to use the actual name whereas First chose a different brand name (just to be different IMHO - I can't see what on earth would be wrong with First Thameslink - but what do you expect from an outfit based in Aberdeen). Likewise C2C operate the ''Tilbury Lines'' franchise. -- Nick |
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Post by norbitonflyer on Apr 23, 2009 23:11:28 GMT
Likewise C2C operate the ''Tilbury Lines'' franchise. -- Nick I thought NatEx operated the LTSR? C2C is indeed a subsidiary of National Express. One reason FCC may have found themselves stuck with the "Thameslink" moniker is that several stations (I can think of three, one since closed) which include that word in their titles. Incidentally, City Thameslink was originally to have had an ineterchange with the Central Line at St Pauls - the western end of the tube platforms must bne very close to CTL. Why did it not happen, and will it ever? |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2009 18:23:39 GMT
Incidentally, City Thameslink was originally to have had an ineterchange with the Central Line at St Pauls I wonder if that's the reason why this station was originalyl called "St Paul's Thameslink" for a while before being renamed as City Thameslink? |
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metman
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Post by metman on Apr 24, 2009 20:05:13 GMT
Perhaps to prevent confusion that there was actually an interchange with LT.
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Post by astock5000 on Apr 24, 2009 21:58:55 GMT
C2C is indeed a subsidiary of National Express. Then why is it still called C2C? One is now National Express East Anglia, and there is also National Express East Coast, and their bus companies were also renamed - Travel London is now National Express London. So shouldn't C2C be renamed? |
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