London Orbital
This
DVD comprises two fascinating cab rides from the mid-1990’s around
London’s complex rail network. The first is from Hoo Junction to
Temple Mills and the second is from Clapham Junction to Temple Mills.
Both journeys were not possible by passenger train and were therefore
filmed on freight trains - Mainline Freight’s 7L07 infrastructure
service. The views from the locomotive footplates include manual signal
boxes and semaphore signals that have since disappeared, as well as the
sites of some of the capital’s closed stations and freight terminals.
Both of London’s last surviving heritage DMU services are also seen,
as are several of the capital’s ‘freight only’ routes.
The
first journey is on board ‘Crompton’ 33030 and features the original
booked route of the 7L07. This includes the West London Line and also
the North London Line before it was electrified and upgraded. Today, the
route between Hackney Wick and Temple Mills has changed beyond all
recognition following the construction of the 2012 Olympic village at
Stratford. As for Temple Mills Yard, that has since closed and the site
is now a Eurostar depot. The full route of the journey is as follows: HOO
JUNCTION - DARTFORD - SIDCUP – HITHER GREEN - Courthill Loop South
Junction - Courthill Loop North Junction - LEWISHAM - Nunhead Junction
– PECKHAM RYE - Voltaire Road Junction - Factory Junction - Longhedge
Junction - Latchmere Junctions – KENSINGTON OLYMPIA - Mitre Bridge
Junction - Willesden High Level Junction - BRONDESBURY - Gospel Oak
Junction - CAMDEN ROAD - Dalston Junction – HACKNEY WICK - Lea
Junction – Temple Mills East Junction – TEMPLE MILLS YARD.
The
second journey was filmed on 37274 during the six month period when the
7L07 was temporarily diverted away from its booked route over the North
London Line while it was being upgraded. The revised route includes the
‘freight only’ route from Acton Wells Junction to Cricklewood and
the obscure mile-long ‘freight only’ connection between the Midland
Main Line and the Tottenham & Hampstead Line. The full route of this
journey is: CLAPHAM
JUNCTION - Point Pleasant Junction - PUTNEY - BARNES - New Kew Junction
- Kew East Junction - South Acton Junction - Acton Wells Junction -
Acton Canal Wharf Junction - Neasden Junction - Dudding Hill Junction -
Cricklewood Curve Junction - Carlton Road Junction - Junction Road
Junction – UPPER HOLLOWAY - Harringay Park Junction –Tottenham South
Junction - Coppermill Junction - Temple Mills West Junction – TEMPLE
MILLS YARD
"An educational and most enjoyable
production." TRACTION Magazine
