Cab Ride - Victoria to Dorking 

I find it amazing boxes like Dorking even still exist, when they’re surrounded by the all-encompassing T and W ASCs. But it’s much appreciated that they do. I often wonder what’s left inside these buildings in places such as Horsham, long abandoned

@@emmo999 When Horsham Box closed the S&T removed the diagrams and all the block instruments etc so that all that was left was the frame with levers in and out all over the place. That was probably 15 years ago so goodness knows what it’s like in there now! Rats and dust will be prominent!

@@davidwaters4449 Could I ask if you you happen to know what the signal box on the up platform of Holmwood station controls - or used to control? The crossover between up and down lines? (Was it not all controlled from Dorking?)

@@Cinemadamenic Holmwood SB ('CBL') was abolished decades ago but was one of the two boxes in between Dorking 'CBK' and Horsham 'CBP'. The other was Warnham 'WM' which was abolished in 2005 or thereabouts. In my days as a signaller Holmwood was a historical artifact, with the box retaining its frame and kept as a listed building. Holmwood Station (according to its Wikipedia Page) was, on occasions, where trains from Waterloo terminated and started back, so it must have had a crossover prior to the mid-60s, but afaik the only crossover now in existence between Dorking and Horsham is the clipped and padlocked one at Ockley, used only during engineering work. Until it was abolished, Warnham SB worked trains between Dorking and Horsham between 0600 and 2000 after which it was switched out. When I was on the relief, a late turn at Warnham was much to be prized as the last train to be worked (from DKG to HRH) was at about 1830! Warnham also had the distinction of, at the time, of being one of three Sussex boxes with crossing gates, brown levers and a large wheel (the other two being Littlehaven and Plumpton). The posts and gates at WM though were so dilapidated that we were instructed not to open them for road traffic as they might fall off! After some years, the S&T decided to sign them out of use, and I had the pleasure of being the last ever signaller to open those gates to road traffic, fortunately with S&T in attendance, just to see what would happen. Two of them dragged badly on the ground and had to be helped back to the closed position before the gate wheel and rodding was removed. The line from Horsham to just south of Dorking is now controlled by Panel 7 at Three Bridges, until it moves over to the ROC.

@Cinemadamenic I've just recalled another snippet of info about the line between Holmwood and Dorking. We had a problem one day and one of the older platform staff asked if the up train from Horsham had passed Northwood. He had to explain to me that this was the location of a level crossing where the railway crossed what is now the A24. I was astonished, but on driving home that way after my shift going south from Dorking just after going over the skewed road bridge over the line, if you look very carefully there is (or was at the time) a house sign saying 'Northwood'.

Thank you for the nice comments. There will be more to come soon!

I’m glad you enjoyed the ride

Thank you for the comments. Glad you enjoyed the ride

Thanks for the comments. Glad you enjoyed it

It’s been a while since I’ve uploaded! Life has got in the way! Got the return trip to upload next, and then two more passenger runs. After that is still to be sorted

Glad you enjoyed the journey

It saves so much time and is - I think - largely irrelevant

It’s what drivers have to route learn extensively for. So they know where these traps are. In various places you have to be careful not to mistake yellow street lamps for signals

I’ve done bus driving too. A few of my friends have also made the change from buses to trains. There are similarities. But I do find train driving much more mentally intense. Good luck with any job application you make

Ah thanks for that. I’ve always been told it was for “co-acting”. There are some signals prefixed A in the SE division, I’ve been told this designated “automatic”. Is that even right?

Think that’s possibly true of most suburban stations

It is on the list to do as soon as opportunity arises. Thank you for the kind comments

@@emmo999 I'll look forward to it!

Believe it or not, that happened at Wolfsburg station (home of Volkswagen) several times now. We're talkingICE's here, so passing the station at 165mph with passengers waiting at the platform.

You’ll get arrested if you do that.

@@cloverisfan818 I rather doubt that, though fired is clearly an option.

me waiting for the train for an hour: wait….is that my train!!?

@@cloverisfan818no you wouldn’t you would get a big telling off

I’ve previously shown Horsham towards the south coast, but appreciate Dorking to Horsham is missing in my recordings.

@@emmo999 just subscribed

@@emmo999 What about Bognor Regis to London Victoria and vice versa?

No worries, glad you enjoyed the journey

Thank you for the comments. I enjoy making the videos, and it’s nice when people appreciate them

Me thermos heretismous! Warmest greetings! I went from Athens to Kalambaka two years ago. Athens to the Palaeopharsalus Junction was very comfortable - the branch to Kalambaka less so. But Meteora made up for it!

Thank you for the kind comments. Times change with regard to rolling stock and the lineside. That’s why I like recording the history, so in the future there’s something to look back at

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the trip. The return journey has also been uploaded

Such is the rate of development. New housing is constantly appearing in the suburbs to cope with demand

Being Epsom born and bred I can shed light on the approach to Ashtead. After Epsom and the 30s built housing the line crosses Epsom and Ashtead commons. Which are now protected. There has been change s in how the commons are managed being extensively grazed into the 60s but thereafter were left to form oak scrub lands. Not without local concern. When I was a kid the common was still open. 50 year I still ride on the common but now through maturing woodland. When I was baptised 60 years ago Epsom Christchurch had open areas in front and around it. Now it's woodland all around and hidden in the trees from the e cottage where I was born

It is disturbing. Will there be any countryside left in 50 years time outside mountainous areas, apart from some depressing little "country parks"? Why should we need all these new houses?

Fortunately, that can't happen because of the green belt.

The next video I upload is the return trip from Dorking to Victoria

where is the explanation ? Why are they on the fast line ?

@@jonathanphelan6627 The slow line was blocked by a broken down unit.

@@TheGateway37 Did we see it in the video ?

@@jonathanphelan6627 Yes very briefly.

Thanks for the comments 👍🏻

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching. The next video will be the return journey back to Victoria

G’day! Thanks for the kind comments, glad you enjoyed it!

Glad you enjoyed it. More videos are recorded and being prepared for upload

Glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻

Eastfields is clearly a handy station for many!

It’s quite a nice route, in my opinion

Thanks for the comments. Glad you enjoyed it

It’s very different to how it used to be!

Thanks for the comments. Glad you enjoyed

Not going to lie, I do get quite lucky with my filming days!

I didn’t know about this, but a quick Google and looking at the video, the back of the old station building (Epsom Town) is clearly visible! Every day is a school day…!

Approaching Epsom Town on both sides were extensive goods siding and coal yards where the 70,s built houses are. On the right was also Longhurst was mill. Friend of mine worked there before it closed.

No problem

I heartily agree!

I just wish the 3rd rail would be used across the whole Network Rail instead of the overhead lines. I often wonder why they don't do it for major routes Paddington to Cardiff for example it's all overhead lines whereas Waterloo to Reading lines uses a 3rd rail

Laziness from the signallers apparently, not good if you are rushing for a Victoria train on the London bound platform only to get there and see it about to go back to London from the southbound platform

Thanks for the comment. Glad you enjoyed it

Thanks for the comments. There is no box at Balham, all control in that area has been VC for many a year. However between Balham and Streatham Common that changes to TB ROC, which has assumed a load of VC work (signals now being prefixed TVC)

Thank you for the feedback. Glad you enjoyed the ride

I’ll see what I can do

I filmed a cab ride from Horsham to Dorking back in 1994. I was on the platform at Horsham dicking about with my new camcorder and the driver invited me into the cab!

You wouldn’t get that invite nowadays, unless it was all official. I hope you enjoyed the ride that day!

Thanks for the comments. It’s appreciated!

I think you are referring to Eardley Road Carriage sidings. Refer to Joe Brown's excellent London Railway Atlas 5th edition. The Woodland Trust also have a small site there as well.

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the comments

Even if we ignore the cost of the catenary, third rail means no problems with raising tunnel/bridge clearances. The aesthetics are less intrusive too. Historic bridges, such as the Royal Border Bridge at Berwick have been spoiled by overhead equipment and these concerns have halted progress towards the Forth Bridge (and rightly so). As far as I'm aware, it's purely "Elf + Safety" that won't consider any new third rail electrification outside the old Southern Region. If London, one of the busiest railway systems in the world, and Liverpool, which does suffer from a fair bit of trespass, can cope with it, I really don't see the problem. Accidents, usually fatal ones, happen with the overhead system too but, to be perfectly honest, if someone's going to dance on a live rail, it's Darwin Award territory and banning third rail outside the Southern will just force them to find another way to remove themselves from the gene pool. Unless there's a specific operating reason for OHLE, I'd make third rail the standard for all our electrified routes, current and future.

@@2H80vids Thought so, glad 1 other person in the Universe agrees, thank you. 3rd legs have helped keep humans going and yes, there have been some serious accidents there too!

@@2H80vids *Advantages of DC third rail* ⚡ easier and cheaper to install and maintain *Advantages of AC overhead electrification* ⚡ less danger to track workers, pedestrians using foot crossings, passengers in the event of an emergency evacuation, and wild animals. ⚡ fewer substations needed, and much more efficient transmission of power with less loss/leakage, especially over long distances. ⚡ higher power much more suitable for high speed services and heavy freight trains. ⚡ continuous wiring across junctions and level crossings means no risk of locomotives being stranded in a gap. ⚡ can be used at more than 100mph without the risk of the collector shoe losing contact with the conductor rail. There is a good reason (lots of good reasons!) why AC OHLE is the preferred method and why DC third rail can now only be installed in very limited and specific circumstances.

Any particular reason? I wouldn’t have said there was anything special about them?

@@emmo999 Just the names have a certain charm

@@AndreiTupolev Have to agree, especially Pouparts.👍😁 Maybe an idea for a thread: silliest/best/most descriptive junction names? I'm sure there are 𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑦 more, just can't think of any good ones right now.😁

"Iconic" might be stretching things a wee bit far. A Deltic or an HST might qualify but a plastic EMU falls short of iconic for me. 😁

Agreed. They don’t have the same charm as an old slam door!

Oh yes, I love a 4CEP!

Thanks for the comments. The next video I upload is the return journey

Glad you enjoyed the ride

Just because I’m filming doesn’t mean I’m driving 😄 I just like to try and vary the videos I’m producing

After 20 years, I reckon you do 😆

I’ll add it to the list…!

great video to watch while i eat 🤣

Nothing wrong with multitasking!

Could you try and get a cLass 313 pep emu for the video please

Because of the people on the narrow part of the platform

There wouldn't be the capacity or the route knowledge to divert from one terminal to the other. Plus all the maintenance that the extra points would need!

@@Gregdotgreg A friend of mine became a driver for South West, and it was my job to test him on his rules. I guarantee I could pass any check ride on that network that an examiner could throw at me. I may be among the 0.0001% of people in the UK who understand SIMBIDS.

@@donepearce "I may be among the 0.0001% of people in the UK who understand SIMBIDS" But do you understand brrrap skrrrt peng?

@@z00h that must be from some other region. I only know South West.

@@donepearce that's from London, so not that far from you.

The cab entry doors on these are held secure by air when the train is moving. So it’s just the air mechanism doing its bit to keep the cab door shut

I try and get out to wherever I can. Now (hopefully!) life is returning to normal it is easier to get cab rides

@@emmo999 That's encouraging! Looking forward to whatever you can get 🙂

I have a few more already recorded, but when I get chance to get towards the SWR, I will

No, normally they’re on the slow and go up and over the flyover. It’s just because the train was on the down fast

I love looking at a track map. It’s quite an intertwined network in Kent and Sussex

I just like to try and get some variety if I can. Note my videos are not necessarily me driving at the time

@@emmo999 thank you

It’s a GoPro hero 7 black I think. As for the down fast, all services were diverted onto the fasts due to a broken down train on the down slow at Clapham Junction

The 455 seen at Clapham Jn was broken down. All trains were diverted onto the fasts so fitters could work on the broken down unit

It’s definitely one of the rarer moves

There could be a variety of reasons If they’re just generally laid about, short lengths are generally scrap awaiting removal, whereas long continuous welded lengths would have been placed there ready for a track renewal coming up However, sometimes they do put them on viaducts, so that should a derailment occur it does lessen the effects and possibly stop a train going over the side

@@emmo999 Interesting, thank you 🙂

@@emmo999 someone said they are just left there as they are too heavy to move, but the value of all these rails left laying about must be enormous in scrap value

Got nothing to do with them being too heavy. They would get cut up into shorter lengths for removal and then hoisted off by a TRAMM (Track Repair And Maintenance Machine) which has an onboard crane deliberately to hoist scrap off the line)

@@emmo999 that would make more sense, the scrap value must be enormous

Who can say 🤷🏻‍♂️ I guess there’s no need for it

Two different rail operators, why would they need to cross over?

Drivers open and close doors on 377s. Southern do not have traditional guards, they have on board supervisors to assist passengers

They’re not the loudest things in the world to start with

@@emmo999 indeed ,but if you've ever sat on a bogie their very audible, i mean especially second gens. But yeah man good for you!!

I don’t have a list, the only thing I can suggest is to just look through the videos to find ones that take your fancy

@@emmo999 Thanks, Aarre Peltomaa

The more the merrier!

It’s just the way it has developed historically with competing companies building their respective lines

The south is the main user of it in the country. It is extensive all over. Merseyrail also has some, and the Newcastle are used to have some, but it was removed

When the Southern Railway electrified in the 1920s the third rail was cheaper than overhead cables.

Some of the southern railway was originally electrified with 1500v overhead, before later changing to third rail

And SUN is Sunderland, STN is Stonehaven. There is very little choice

Abandoned station at Epsom? Didn’t know there was one

@@emmo999 It was in Upper High Street. Cannot see much from the road but you can from the railway.

@@emmo999 it was the LBSCR terminus and was renamed Epsom Town when the main station was built. You can just see it poking above the shops on Upper High Street

Yes, absolutely. Funny how things change. Presumably there’s a reason the station was laid at the angle it was!

@@emmo999 I forgot, the route of the line between Mitcham, through Mitcham Jcn, to Croydon, was the route of the Surrey Iron Railway built in 1801. The SIR went bust and the trackbed used to build the conventional Wimbledon and Croydon Railway of 1853, worked jointly by LBSCR and LSWR. The LBSCR eventually took over, so Croydon was the "Up" end of the W&CR line despite being further from London than Wimbledon. So the bit of line through Mitcham Jcn is one of the oldest bits of railway route in the World still in use.