When Thameslink Trains Went to Guildford 

If my memory serves me right, Thameslink to Guildford may have started in June 1990 ... and lasted two years until June 1992 when it was cut back to West Croydon, which itself only lasted two years until 1994! But if you have any better recollection of dates, please comment away ... !

A melancholy retrospective, beautifully produced -- well done! Wait until you're 75, as I am now, and things like this will become even more meaningful. Thanks for making this, from Arizona.

Middle aged man reminiscing about a regular train journey from 30 years ago. Who cares? We do because you make us care Geoff. Thanks for another beautiful soulful film.

"Sorry I'm late, there was a points failure" "At Effingham Junction?" "No, at effing Surbiton!"

Immediately guessed it had to be Tim on the keys! We spend days, weeks, months of our lives commuting, and some of it can be beautiful 😅

I feel like we treat commutes as a sort of lost time, that just disappears. So it is so nice getting to see that it isn't just a waste and that we do make memories.

As someone who went to Unit in Guildford and hasn't been back since, a video about the passage of time centering around Guildford hits hard

These "smaller" videos you make occasionally have a real power to them and cut incredibly deep and actually make me feel quite emotional. I recently (A few years now) moved away from London having lived there all my life and find myself thinking and reminiscing about my commutes, to school, to social events, to other things, and how some of those things just don't exist now. But yeah, beautiful video, cheers Geoff ♥

i can't be the only one who immediately checked the video length was in fact 11 minutes 12 seconds 😁. lovely video and lovely message

When I use Guildford station I often stroll to the south end where the multi story car park is, but in my mind's eye the old steam depot is still there as in my spotting days. On one of which I tried to get into the shed by politely asking at the entrance on the adjacent road bridge. The chap who answered my knock asked me what classes of loco I would expect to find there and I proudly reeled off "N's, U's, Ivatt 2MT's, a B4..." upon which he said "Quite right, so you know what's there so no need for you to go and see. Now clear off!"

I was a driver at Selhurst in the early 90's & drove class 319's from Selhurst to Guildford . Used to go as far as Farringdon on return, put the pan up then grub at Farringdon.

My mum was involved in Guildford Borough Council around that time and told of a man living near London Road station who was *incensed* that some trains were now going through without stopping because they *made his teacups rattle*. What memories he must have!

I'm never goof at writing youtube comments but man this hits hard. These past couple of months have been rough for me but I know no matter what things will get better and that despite everything I have been living and will continue to do so. Thanks Geoff, I know everything will work out in the end.

What I thought was going to be a simple history lesson on Thameslink Trains running to Guildford turned out to be a deeply personal contemplation on the passage of time and how we must enjoy the moment however banal the occasion. Well done Geoff, you are so good at baring your soul and making us all think about living in the now. Wonderful stuff.

Important message at the end their Geoff ! Heading into my 50's and I remember commuting to Burgess Hill every day in the mid-90's. The final slam door trains mixed with more modern Thameslink stock. The station master at Burgess Hill who was the spitting image of Hank Marvin. All nostaligia, will always be fondly remembered by me...

I still remember the train trip where I fell in love with the railway. When I was about 4, I was on a HST and was travelling to London and then when we got to London, we took the London Underground and when I went on the underground, I enjoyed it so much that I started watching videos on RU-vid about the Underground. Now I'm 18, and I still have a deep passion for the railways.

When I realized the song playing in the background, I went, "Aha!"

“We only have now.” Said to me years ago by a retired Policeman. Make the very most of each day, be friendly, be nice, it may be your last. A beautiful video Geoff, thank you.

the final chord playing just as the rear train lights disappear was perfect editing

Very poetic, a memorial of lost youth, tinged with nostalgia. A great musical accompaniment too.

The Nostalgia hitting hard like a Thameslink train going to Guildford

Seeing The Network Southeast booklet brings back a lot of memories.

The message at the end was just brilliant about enjoying the summer, enjoying the lighter evenings, go and ride trains, travel to random stations and make your own memories and years to come you have your own nostalgia. Memories I made over the years have been brilliant and looking forward to making some more and there are days that I remember like they were only yesterday. Great video Geoff it was produced brilliantly and love one of your stories from the past.

As a Canadian from a region where a train comes through twice or thrice a week, I'd give my right arm to have memories like this.

There’s a strange ritual in taking the same journey every day, filled with tiny patterns that we barely ever notice, thank you Geoff for giving an ode to the commute

When I heard the piano music, I knew Tim Traveller was going to be involved :) Great video Geoff!

Thanks Geoff. I've just spent a weekend in Edinburgh with my wife, and with a morning to spare, and a visit to my brother near Newhaven in the early afternoon, we decided to walk on the footpath from Haymarket to Newhaven along the track of the former Caledonian line from Dalry Junction to Leith North. A delightful walk but evoking memories from my childhood of riding on this line when it was still in service up to April 1962. Bitter-sweet. London suburban railways are almost all still there. Edinburgh, capital of Scotland, lost them all.

I commuted for 22 years into Canon Street or Victoria and trudged to either Farringdon Road for my first 12 years or Television Centre for the following 10. Returns to Kent early in the morning after a night shift were the only time I got a seat on an almost empty train so I am quite happy that I don't have to do that again and haven't for 16 years.

Long-time readers of Modern Railways will remember when the column by Alan Williams regularly featured the shortcomings of train services from Effingham Junction.

I spent 30 years commuting from Derby to London and back. Sometimes 6 days a week, frequently on a Sunday. My most pleasing memories are of the old HST's, especially those with the old Valenta engines in them. I can say in all honesty that while all around me people would be nodding off I never once slept for even a second. I retired in 2022, but when I look back I can honestly say being a train driver on the Midland Main Line was an honour and a pleasure...

Enjoyed this. Nice change of pace.

I left school 40 years ago. My first job was commuting to London Liverpool Street. Enjoyed it. Good memories. Seems like it happened recently. The station has changed, the trains have changed even the line has changed. Actually the whole world has changed.

Geoff in very philosophical mode in this latest video.

I only moved to London last summer and always had to switch at West Brompton for the District line from the Overground. In September of last year I moved somewhere else and didn't have to use the Overground anymore, instead I would just get on the District at Wimbledon to Earl's Court. Every time I pass through West Brompton I look out the window and look across the platforms and see the Overground and I feel so much nostalgia. Even though it was only last summer, it feels like 10 years ago. So much has changed in just a year. Whenever I ride the Overground from Clapham Junction up towards Willesden Junction all the memories of those commutes come flooding back. Since I only used that route in the summer until I moved in September, all the memories are associated with warmth and clear blue skies. My life was so different back then and was populated by different people and events. All of that comes flooding back whenever I pass through West Brompton without fail.

I grew up in Earlsfield in the 60s. My nostalgia was sitting on top of the air raid shelter at the end of the garden counting the number of carriages of each train as it headed towards Wimbledon or Waterloo. My Mum (and neighbours) had the patience of a saint as I yelled out how many each train had. I loved the 4Subs. My Mum is no longer with us. Thanks for this Geoff.

I’ve just completed 38 years railway service (with another 4 to go) yet it seems like just yesterday that I climbed the steps to the offices at Brighton station to start my career in April 1986!

Yeah... I am always here for Geoff Marshall banger. Epic my man. Big Love.

Ticking away, the moments that make up a dull day, waiting for trains that happen to go your way. Kicking around on a platform now in your hometown, waiting for trains or a bus replacement your way…

There ought to be a Train Changers Club for those people who've spent umpteen hours of their lives waiting for their connection to arrive. I never really experienced this until I went to live in Hungary and ended up getting to know Vámosgyörk station rather well.

That was lovely. And very touching ❤

Magnificent Geoff, how seemingly mundane things in your past can have a huge significance now. What's more, it was accompanied by Tim's wonderful rendition of Take On Me.

Thanks for a soulful and reflective video Geoff. Reminds me of my own 1990s commute from Windsor to Paddington on Network Southeast liveried slam-door class 117s (and often a bubble car 121 on the Windsor branch). Those frosty mornings at Slough listening to HSTs hurtling through waiting for the chug of the local trains on platform 5. Now all replaced by the electric Elizabeth line, which would have made my then onward journey to Liverpool Street oh so much better.

Thanks Geoff, lovely words said. I lost my wife just before the clocks went back, so I now enjoy the nostalgia just looking back a month now and reflecting on how times change in the blink of an eye. Thank You❤

Would love to see more videos like this Geoff. You’ve got me reminiscing. Thinking about London Waterloo the first time I came to London as a 7 year old and how much it’s changed in the 35 years since. Also riding the slammers on the Portsmouth main line and changing onto the old tube stock(all in white London transport livery) on the Northern line to Belsize Park. Good times. Thank you for rekindling those memories 👍🏾

After Thameslink ceased running to Guildford, SWT started running Guildford to West Croydon services and only ran Guildford to Waterloo on peak services. It was also the time when the South Central (initially Connex and later South Central/Southern) ran in their place running 2 morning and 2 evening services. One was to London Bridge which was a class 400 and the other was to Victoria and it was a 319. Eventually the 319 was replaced by a 455 and the 400 was replaced by a 377 and these services continued up until COVID where they stopped.

What a strangely, beautiful, melancholic video. It is an area of the country I have no link to but somehow felt strangely nostalgic for it. And a reminder of the relentless march to our ultimate destination.

Thanks for letting us into your past, and an interesting story of the brief service direct to Guildford.

I adore videos like this and no one does it better than Geoff, I used to work in Watford and lived in Harpenden. The 321 bus was unreliable, so I used to get the Thameslink to St Albans and then the little train over to Watford. Did this for three years. Lovely memories. The memories of the ticking clocks have come flooding back. I now commute between Diss and Liv Street twice a week and it's just not the same. Thanks so much for the memories Geoff

One of the most beautiful videos you have ever made. So lovely

Geoff, you are exceptionally good at making this type of video.

Great Video. Tear in my eyes. Remember back then

What a wonderful, well-produced, gentle video!

Hi Geoff Paul in Orpington I would say one of your finest videos you done very well done 🎉

Great video We cannot stop that clock so enjoy every minute of what we got. 😢😊😊

What a beautiful and very nostalgic video Geoff. Absolutely loved it. I feel this way about the line and stops along the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth line, as that's the line i had to travel along to get to university in Aberystwyth. I feel a nostalgic ride in the making. Thank you Geoff

A beautiful reminiscence. When the first bit of piano started, I thought "this reminds me of a Tim Traveller video". The choice of music and its slower tempo so perfectly matched the mood of this. I'm put in mind of my commute for my first job out of school in the late '90s. Every morning I went to Gravesend station in time to catch the 07.04 that came from Gillingham up to London, but I changed at Dartford for the stopping service to Erith, where I was working. Erith had staggered platforms so the footbridge was at the rear of the train, so I would go right to the end of Platform 1 (now platform 0) to get on the last car. The sound of the 465 crossing the pointwork into the platform was very distinctive and I can still hear it in my mind to this day. It was a cross platform from 2 to 1 at Dartford to another 465 on to Erith. Run by Connex but still in NSE livery. In the evenings, if I bunked off a few minutes early I could get a slightly earlier than usual train that for some reason was formed of a 4 CEP, and I could treat myself to a ride in the compartment section.

That was a quality piece of audiovisual art. Thank you!

Nice sentiment. I've recently started going on mini-random train adventures during my lunch hour on the days when I'm in the office, as have a Zone 1-6 travelcard on the weekly season. Grab a coffee, plug in a podcast and just go for a ride. Helps satisfy my "where does that go?" curiosity, is basically free, as I already have the travelcard, but also means the season isn't purely for A to B commuting, which has definite mental health benefits. Last week was Northern City lines out of Moorgate, as occurred to me I'd never been on that bit before. Also, even at 50, managing to grab that front spot on the DLR still brings joy, even when it's just a jaunt to Lewisham!

Having just turned 60 recently, that last segment really bought a lump to my throat.

Thank you Geoff, as a resident of Bookham during the late 80s and early 90s I often travelled to Guildford on the train and remember how annoying it was to have to change at Effingham Junction just one stop down the line from Bookham because trains didn't run all the way to Guildford. Having recently returned to the area its a great improvement that they do now go all the way without having to change! I don't recall Thameslink services though but thanks for a nostalgic trip down memory lane in a section of the rail network I know very well. ❤

Seeing this video, actually makes me wanna shed a tear. I have fond memories of the Copenhagen S-tog, when i was a schoolboy in the late 2000s/early 2010s. Remembering the old 2nd Generation S-trains, spending many hours of standing on a footbridge that's about 2/3 of a mile west of Albertslund S-train station and watch trains go by. Many hours were spend on Albertslund station itself and the surrounding area. And as you say, yes. We all get older. A little more grey, a little more wrinkly but most importantly, more wiser. I'm only 18 days away from turning 25. remembering the S-trains, like they were in the 2000s makes me feel old, (yes, i know. i shouldn't speak, considering my age... lol), i remember, again, the old 2nd Generation S-trains from the 1960s, and when the current ones were brand new. Sometimes, i can even feel my heart crack from nostalgia. Despite that i'm only (almost) 25, i remember so much of the past 15 - 20 years of the S-trains and of my childhood, that sometimes, i just feel like crying for the sake of nostalgia. Yes, it hurts like mad on the soul, but we all gotta follow time. The Danish railways might not have much left from my childhood, but i can atleast keep them as fond memories, from when times were much simpler. Thanks for making this video, Goeff. Yes, i might've shed a tear or two, but i did it for nostalgia. Cheers on, mate. Greetings from across the Nordic Sea

Wow, we would have been hanging out on Guildford platforms about the same time as each other. Haven’t been to Guildford station in YEARS though, so had no idea the platform had been extended, and I remember that beautiful old signal box well. Great video, thanks for the memories.

Thank you Geoff, that was an uplifting delight to watch.

What a lovely video, thanks Geoff, and thanks Tim.

That was a great video. Always nice to hear people's railway related memories! Its funny how we've had these short lived but fondly remembered services. About 10 years later there was that Anglia Railways service to Basingstoke which came and went within a couple of years.

Thank you from this Guildfordian

Absolutely beautiful video. Truly stunning. Excellent arrangement from Tim too.

What a beautiful video. So personal. So melancholy. It’s moved me to dwell on the ordinary everyday of the past that has gone. Cherish the present because tomorrow it will be history.

Amazing story. Chin up Geoff, you’re a legend.

Great video Geoff! You are good at telling a story 😊

Lovely video Geoff. As someone who now happily lives in Stoneleigh it has resonance for me. Just to part fill in a gap, I moved to Farncombe in September 1995 and the West Croydon to Guildford service was still running then. I remember I deliberately went shopping for my house in Croydon so I could go on this service and little railway adventure. Thanks for stirring up some happy memories.

In October 1990 I travelled on a Thameslink Class 319 train from Luton through to Guildford, via West Croydon. This was on one of those Network SouthEast days.

Great video, loved it. Time seems to go quicker the older you get though.

Used to go train spotting at Effingham , that was when the 4 SUB where running.

Wow! Pure art Geoff. Thanks

What a beautiful nostalgic video. Loved it!

I am sitting here with an utterly stupid grin on my face. Thankyou.

Beautiful - made me get emotional at the end. My earliest memories of railways was seeing 5043 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe' at Coleshill Parkway as a wee lad.

What a beautiful video

A fantastic video that brought back many memories for me of commuting to London from Guildford in the early 1990s. The seemingly glorious summer evenings made up for the discomfort of travelling in hot over crowded trains. I have lived back in New Zealand for 21 years so it is poignant looking back my time in Guildford and environs especially when the clocks here have recently gone back for winter.

your storytelling is amazing. i could feel each emotion and this video brought a tear to my eyes. i’m only 22 and i found my love for trains through your secrets of the underground series and have enjoyed my journeys since and thanks to you geoff, i also currently have and forever will have beautiful memories and nostalgia linked to trains.

I feel nostalgic for a time that i wasn't around for. Im 17 now but the events from the video are 15/16 years before i was even born.

Definitely did, I worked trains from luton to selhurst and was relieved by selhurst drivers. I even stayed in the cab to Guildford one Saturday. It started to fall to pieces when no relief was available at selhurst 😢 De-train and empty on to the depot..

i really enjoyed that Geoff. Thank you. The piano music reminded me of one of my favourite TV series, Hill Street Blues with the station sergeant's memorable line "Let's do it to them before they do it to us"' 11:12

Loved the piano rendition of Stand On Me. It took me a while to figure it out,but got it in the end. Beautiful.

Memories of the past are so important, in the early 70's, as a young teenager I used to travel from Worthing to Sydenham. On a Saturday I would buy a 90p blue card ticket (Child First Class Return). Normally I sat alone in one of those first class compartments that seated six people. When the guard came along to clip my ticket, they frequently were about to tell e that I was in the wrong class..... that is until I took out my cardboard blue ticket showing them that I was indeed in the correct class!

That was a great video on your nostalgia! Time flies, and we do need to make most of the time we have as the years just go! Got a chance to see a mate in South Wales at the end of May. So, I purchased a rail card, got an excellent deal, and travelling all the way by train, which I'm very looking forward to! I've been meaning to see the country by train for years now. Glad I've got round to doing it!

What a lovely story beautifully shot and edited. Thanks Geoff.

It's strange how a train line can evoke such nostalgia! Back in the 90s and early 2000s, I was also a regular Thameslink user. Initially, I used the stretch from Tooting to Blackfriars when I lived in Mitcham. Then I changed jobs and was no longer working in central London, but I still caught the Thameslink from Tooting to Wimbledon. Then I moved to Sutton, when I would catch the Thameslink from West Sutton to Wimbledon. Once again, I changed jobs and was back in central London, when I spent many years going backwards and forwards between West Sutton and either City Thameslink or Farringdon, depending on my mood! I realise that this information is of no use to anyone, but it felt good to put it in writing! 😁 These days, my Thameslink experiences are limited to the occasional social trip up to central London from Redhill. How different it is now, with the sleek 12 carriage trains!

What a beautifully sentimental video. I wonder if in thirty years we’ll be making content about the time Thameslink trains ran to, I dunno… Rainham in Kent as they do now despite it seeming incongruous. Minutes can seem like forever, but forever speeds by us all.

Beautiful storytelling, beautifully edited. Bravo.

Lovely story, thanks Geoff

Beautiful video. I've been to and from, and through, Guildford many times and occasionally through EJ up to London or to wonderful Bookham. Love the A-ha.

Brilliant video. Thanks Geoff.

I grew up in Horsley (one stop after Effingham) - went to school @ Howard of Effingham school. This was an awesome nostalgic video for me too, thanks Geoff

I enjoyed your journey down Memory Lane with the Class 455, but this just took it up another notch! There's not many people that would still have their old Walkman and obviously the wire on those generation of headphones wouldn't last. It struck me about using "Take on Me" and although I'm a fan of A-ha I didn't notice it was that song at the middle of the video... But then you could have ended with "...I'll be gone in a year or two"! Would be fascinated to hear of your travels on the (Ian Allan) NSE Network Days? Living in Dorset we were permitted to travel up on the 22:38 Weymouth - Waterloo SWTPO. It arrived at Waterloo around 03:30 and maybe as the train terminated at it's destination after midnight was why we could commemce of travel the day before? The SWTPO consisted of two Royal Mail coaches (one for sorting mail and the other for stowage) and 5 or 6 Mark 1's. On one occasion I attempted to sleep in the one of the rope luggage racks of a compartment style coach (probably a BSK?).

A delightful video, great production with lovely sound track and of course a great train and life story as always from Geoff (and help from Tim)

In the late 70-ies/early 80-ies I spent some time in Guildford, at the model engineering society at Stoke Park. Used to take the train from London Road station to Waterloo. As I look on the map now this must have gone north at Effingham Junction to Waterloo via Surbiton I think. If memory serves me right it was still slam doors and BR blue/grey in those days. It's a good thing to revisit places like this when you can, they could be gone someday and then all you have are your memories.

I really enjoyed this video, Geoff. What a nicely done story.

lovely change of pace Geoff. Very poetic at times :)