Oh all right .... Christchurch, Hants and Christchurch NZ. Or Hamilton, Scotland and Hamilton NZ (which latter is notoriously easy to get lost in anyway).
Back when FRM 1 first went into service, a friend and I travelled up from south London to north London to travel on FRM 1. It was a very good and memorable day.
The Acton area was also known as Soapsud Island because of the large number of laundries there. I learned this trivia from a tube driver's announcement.
Actonian here, the last one burnt down in the 80s it was rather entertaining to watch it was on the corner of mill hill road, got replaced by private flats which are still there. more fun facts the first Waitrose store was on Acton high street pretty much opposite the police station, roughly. also most of The Who came from Acton, some of Pink Floyd went to school there, Mandela house from only fools and horses was one of the blocks on the now sadly clensed and gentrified south acton estate, Monty Python and the BBC in general did a lot of filming round there, the climbing the uxbridge road python skit was done at Churchfield road.
Thanks, I didn't know those facts! I lived in Churchfield Road for a good few months 10 years ago. I'm no longer in the UK, but still have friends living in Acton and I always visit the area when I come to London.
I am from rural Ireland but my classmate was born & raised in Acton until moved over in her teens. I was taking my first trip to London & there was book in our library about London that had a tube map. Even the poor girl from there forgot which Acton was the one near her, she had to go home & ask her dad. It was her first time discovering there is so many Acton’s. It was Acton East I think
@@GreatSageSunWukong as she was a teenager at the time she moved to Ireland, she was probably taken to the station by her parents, and probably didn't need to pay much attention as to which Acton it was, and maybe not interested in how it looked. Think how kids often don't even look out of the window on a regular car journey - "are we nearly there yet?"
@@CaseyJonesNumber1 I'm probably older then her then, when I was a kid you got chucked out the house from about age 7 to play, so you had to navigate yourself and pay attention.
@@GreatSageSunWukongWell, sams3015 only mentions a tube map in the library book, nothing about pictures. And looking only at the names without any other means of distinction, I could totally see a teenager become confused.
I rode on the South Acton train as a 8yo when I lived at Osterley. It was novel in that you could see through the cab windows, so I, and my school friends would take the 2 minute journey several times on a Saturday afternoon !
I spent a day at the London Transport Museum depot at Acton Town last month and it was fabulous. Frankly when it comes to quite big things like aircraft, trains, busses, tanks etc. (I also visited IWM Duxford for the BoB Airshow) I'm really impressed at how the UK manages to keep enough of them (and even get some working) to preserve its history. I suppose people who grow up these see this as 'normal' but I can assure them it's not. The school groups taken on day tours though them have no idea how fortunate they are living is a city with such incredible museums and galleries.
I just saw this episode this morning, and a few days ago I saw your video about Swindon. These nicely bookend my late Father’s career as a railwayman. He did his apprenticeship at the Swindon works, earning a silver medal and £3 in 1933 for his 1st place finish in the City & Guilds exams for railway coach and wagon building. He spent most of his career at the Acton works as a draughtsman. I have vague childhood memories of him going off the work in his home guard uniform. Jago, I thank you very much for these two episodes, which have special significance for me. I enjoy all your videos, but this one and the recent one about Swindon are particularly moving for me. A very honourable mention also goes to your video about Sudbury Town Station, where many journeys started and ended. Thank you very much.
That last bit about appreciating history is so true! In addition to ‘stopping to smell the roses’ I think we should also try to ‘pause and ponder the pediments’ more often ❤ Great episode as usual!
As always, a great video Mr. Hazzard! I'm surprised that you did not mention the (very welcome) presence of FRM 1, the one and only rear-engined Routemaster whose rear end puts in a brief appearance @4:07! As it is out upon the streets, I guess that it was giving rides?
Acton Town is very useful interchange, hence the modern lifts they put in a decade or so ago. As a kid I got to go to the Acton Town depot open day, with my late father. I was twelve, but we had to lie and say I was fifteen. My late mother lent me some more adult clothes; we were always a similar size. When she died, I raided her wardrobe and took what I knew suited me and gave anything I didn't want away. The depot was fascinated, but I discovered that I hated tea with milk in, having at that time not picked up a tea habit. I now have one, but it has to be good quality teas, like Earl Grey and Lapsang, well brewed and sugar, absolutely no milk. 😁 Acton Town was also the station that my late father took my brothers and I to, when we went on some of our trips to Gunnersbury Park. That park is now a shadow of its former self. He had rowed at college in Cambridge, so sometimes we'd go on the boating lake. I also remember there used to be an American car dealership in the area. I always thought the cars were ridiculously large, but like that depot fascinating. I don't know if you know the channel Railcam UK; they currently have a live feed of Epping on the Central Line. My own house is actually across from the Piccadilly Line and its roof can be seen from the trains. The Piccadilly Line along with the Bakerloo conjure up many childhood memories. I wonder who is using that South Acton platform?
As someone who went to one of those open days I like to think of Acton Town as the "History Station" due to the presence of the depot next door. Its nice to think too its got a history of its own as well. Quite a nice station, I find its design is such that even when busy it never feels truly crowded.
Years ago I tried to get into the museum annex at Acton, not knowing that it's only open several times a year. I walked up to the open gate which closed as I approached. I waved my hat and left but not before using the men's room in the building just outside the gate which was unlocked. A few years later friends arranged for us to visit the annex. I was amazed at all the stuff they had. Boxing trophies for the Metropolitan liine championship in 1905, just for one example.
Alan A. Jackson's "London's Local Railways" tells us that the shuttle sometimes bore destinations "South Acton All Stations" at one end and " Town Non Stop" at the other (it may have been the other way round, my copy is two floors away).
Alas not on TfL networks, but often, around Newcastle, pass the TW Metro depot at Gosforth where they're updating for the new Stadler built Class 555 "Metro" & the TMD at Heaton (where Northern, TPX & some LNER units are based) would be fascinating. Mind you, without being rose-tinted, probably not as interesting as they were in the late-1980s and early-1990s because of the changes in rolling stock etc. I can't think what the big GWR one is outside Reading is called - but that used to look quite nice passing when travelling Bristol to Paddington (GWR colours really very smart). St Philiips Marsh, Bristol, always looked very "work-like" when going past toward Bath.
I have been to the Museum Depot a few times, as Jago says, its a very interesting place to go. For people interested in all things London Transport, it's a must. There's Old train car units from my childhood and of course, the beautiful red 1938 tube stock train is there too!
Perhaps we should collect up all the Acton names around the world. In May we found the old station of Acton Vale in Quebec. Great movie this one, plenty of Acton!
@@thesteelrodent1796 so I have a count, in the most likely countries: - USA 16 including your Mass location Canada we have 4 NZ just 1 Australia I make 4 UK (discounting the London location or locations) 11, including one in Wales and one in Northern Ireland (none in Scotland)
Another nice slice of underground history, and as previously I was struck by how acquisitive the private railway companies were in their early years of operation. NB, pleased to note the featured whistle at about 3 minutes in, punctuating the pause between two bits of voiceover . . .
"Whenever I hear J.P Thomas, it seems to be regarding some big proposal that didn't get done." Doesn't this, technically, make Thomas a very useless engineer?
Acton Baby - album track listing: 1) zoo station 2) even better than the rail thing 3) one under 4) until the end of the line 5) who's going to ride your wild tubes 6) so cruel - missed it 7) your fly 8) mysterious trains 9) tryin' to throw your arms around a pole 10) ultraviolet (light my carriage) 11) aggrobat 12) bus is blindless
London Transport (pronounced 'Lana Chainspaw') staff nicknamed the station 'Action Town' on account of the busy goings-on at the works depot. In much the same way as they nicknamed Oxford Circus 'Oxford Workhouse'.
Was on a LNER train from London to Glasgow then suddenly the noise of the train became very familiar. I then looked out the window to the exact scene in the Scottish Boarders of your end film in all your videos 😂
An excellent summary of the fortunes of Mill Hill Park. Acton Town was one of the stations I was based at when LT train crew. If I could have a pound for every time I worked a train through or picked up or was relieved there, I'd have had a few more pints along the way.
7 in total East acton north acton West acton Central line North acton South acton North London line Acton town district/piccadilly lines Acton main line Elizabeth line
5:30 - A rare example of a ‘CDL’ (Canal Defence Light) tank. Note the dummy main gun on the turret and the vertical slit next to it for the light to shine through.
South Harrow to Acton Town (originally on a '59 or '62) to change to the District Line (Will it be a red or white one??) for Chiswick Park, to go see my Nan. That was my main 70's and 80's LT memory. Passing Acton Depot was a highlight. Those three stations, plus Rayners Lane and H-o-t-H, are so special to me. The North Acton Tea Run was known by locals (including my mum) as the Ginny Train. No idea why. I'll let you know, if she can remember.
Having lived in Ealing for 10 years now I’ve changed trains here countless times. I don’t think I’ve ever actually started or ended a journey here though. (That said I have cycled past many times) anyway, I digress. This station really needs modernisation, it still feels like a punch point with services often getting held outside the station even though there’s seemingly a huge amount of redundant capacity. Decent investment in this station would really improve journeys on the District & Piccadilly lines!
[Sidenote:] 4:06 FRM1, the sole rear-engined AEC Routemaster ever built, and obviously part of the LT Museum collection, seen here operating route 284, probably on rail replacement services?
Growing up near Hounslow, I loved it when the District Line ran with the Piccadilly through to Hounslow West, 4 tracks all the way. The Pic always won the race.
I know that the old London Transport Passenger Board wrote off that branchline, but with Transport for London looking to expand London Overground and Old Oak Common station about to open to high speed InterCity trains, I wonder if TfL might look into restoring that line and making it do something a bit more useful at the other end (like going to South Acton, Acton Central and then moving over to a new Central Line station at Old Oak Common Lane, between East Acton and North Acton, and then onto Old Oak Common itself. That could actually give a few TfL lines and indirect connection to HS2.
Coincidentally I was at Acton Town yesterday for a tour around museum depot’s art and poster store and even more coincidentally I stood and took a photo in the exact same spot as Jago @6:45. Great tour and a wonderful looking station
You're getting closer to Turnham Green Jago. You know it makes sense. If you are able to come and film at some point next weekend your West London fan club would be delighted to take you out for tea or a pint in the Tabard.
Depot is an excellent place. I suppose it's still possible to order a private view of the depot. It was an amazing experience when I did it a long time ago.
🚩If all goes to plan I’ll be at the Acton museum depot for the open weekend on Saturday September 23 around 1pm. I’ll be the very tall guy in a Montreal metro t-shirt. Glad to meet other of Jago’s fans (do we have a name?). Maybe the man himself? So looking forward to come back to London 4 long years later. See you then! Cheers!
There was and episode of the excellent Secrets of the London Underground presented by our very good friends Mr Tim Dunn and the divine Siddy Holloway, dealing with Acton Town, South Acton and the Acton Depot in more detail, as with all episodes well worth a view. I can also recommend a visit to the depot's open weekends, we went a few years back
Stanley had Heaps of opportunities though.Thanks for some more Sunday morning entertainment, to add to BTCC, Silverstone classic and the Dutch Grand Prix, good job SWMBO is at tennis then.😉🤣
I went to Acton Town quite a bit during my mid 1980s LUL apprenticeship ! That's where they had the training school. Might still be there for all I know, maybe not . Haven't been there for a few decades !
For my part “should never be confused” should be “has already been confused, the day I flew down from Edinburgh last October, and had lost all battery power in my phone, but thankfully a nice man who worked at the station saw my confused state and was able to set me right, so I could go to my hotel near North Acton, near where HS2 is/was being worked on, apparently.”
Jago always reveals little shortcomings in TFL maintenance like the BR on the sign at 3:00 (not to worry - I use the appalling NYC subways). And the non-TFL sign HOUN W SHOE RE RS at 1:40. British thinking? - "We've been here for decades. Everyone knows what we are. No need for all the letters."
last year we went to Acton town to visit the museum but found it only opens on 'open days' :( . Back in the 60's the museum was somewhere else (possibly Balham) and was wonderful to a young lad at the time. Glad Hounslow gets another mention :).
As someone who haas been to Acton Town (for the museum) and North Acton (to change Central line trains), I had to pause the video to look at the current tube map to put all the Acton stations in their proper place (which you can't really do with a diagramatic map, but there you go). Just noted another pun: Acton Stations!
The Sherman Duplex wasn't entirely successful, with a number getting swamped in the waves and sinking when they were launched incorrectly or too far from shore. But enough made it through. Can't imagine being a German gunner on the beach. You endure fire from cruisers and battleships, think you've made it through, and then a tank drives up out of the ocean and starts blasting your pillbox with a 75mm gun.
talking of the German bunkers enduring fore from British cruisers, I red that one of out ships, scored a slam dunk direct hit on one of the bunkers from 6 and a half miles out, laving an enormous crater near the beach
Anyone else get the feeling that Hobart's Funnies might have provided inspiration for some of the gizmos delivered by Thunderbird 2 in the old TV series?