The 'last' to do something on the railway

[railnerd]

Hi.
Heres an interesting topic. Does anyone know anyone, or is someone, to do a last on the rail network.
Meaning last to drive a train, close a station for the last time, take a journey on a closed line etc.

My other half was the very last signaller at both Spalding and Littleworth signalboxes.
I also know two people 2 do the very last journey on the Wisbech branch in 2001.

Any more?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I was a passenger on the last ever public train out of Holborn Viaduct, but there was a staff only management special about 5 minutes behind us...

Does anyone remember the rake of 1938 stock on the Bakerloo that was repainted into the original colour scheme with cream window surrounds for the last year or two of service? I was on that for it's final scheduled passenger run all the way from Elephant to Queens, but I believe it did run after that on a substitute basis a few times and it was one of those later re-instated for a short spell on the Northern Line and the DMs are in service even now on the IoW...

 

[Argosy]

Hi.
Heres an interesting topic. Does anyone know anyone, or is someone, to do a last on the rail network.
Meaning last to drive a train, close a station for the last time, take a journey on a closed line etc.

My other half was the very last signaller at both Spalding and Littleworth signalboxes.
I also know two people 2 do the very last journey on the Wisbech branch in 2001.

Any more?

A few times. The last ever service from Stranraer to England and return (2009). The last ever Stranraer Boat Train 19/11/2011 everyone was issued with a certificate and there was a ceremony and some 200 people attended and we'll be doing the last ever Glasgow via Paisley service to Stranraer on the 12/12/15.

 

[martinsh]

I know someone who was the last person to board a class 506 EMU in normal service. He got on the last Hadfield - Piccadilly service at Ashburys. [ I was on the train for the whole journey ]

 

[455driver]

What an excellent idea for a thread!

My son was the last person to leave Cornwall on an SWT service, he was stood in the back cab with his back against the gangway door so he was just behind the guard.

 

[Diplodicus]

Last train from Hawkhust to Paddock Wood and also last train from Westerham to Dunton Green!

Seems like yesterday!!

 

[tsr]

I rode the last A-Stock train to run in public passenger service with the Tube's Chief Operating Officer onboard. In fact I was standing opposite him.

Now let's get really geeky...

I also believe I may have been the final person to dispatch a train using a functional Off indicator at South Bermondsey. This may, of course, change as and when Network Rail see fit...

 

[railnerd]

Hi.
Having 'boasted' about the Mrs, heres my lasts that leap to mind...

I filmed the Mill Green signaller doing 7-5-5 for the very last time. Both he and next door made it very poignoint.

I was the last member of the public to go in Blotoft SB, with permission from the site manager, as the box was grounded less than an hour later.

 

[Darren R]

I rode the last A-Stock train to run in public passenger service with the Tube's Chief Operating Officer onboard. In fact I was standing opposite him.

I suspect there were quite a few of us from this forum on that one! (I was standing behind the late Bob Crow.)

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I suspect there were quite a few of us from this forum on that one! (I was standing behind the late Bob Crow.)

I was on it as well.... and on the farewell tour.

 

[yorksrob]

I was almost on the last passenger train to Folkestone Harbour. However, they ran another special after us. (I'm not that sad though as I'd rather the route stayed open a little longer than it close so that I happen to be on the last train).

Were there any bona fide passenger trains to Newhaven Marine since the Sussex Slammer in 2005? If not, that was a last for me.

 

[James H]

I was on the last Underground train from Ongar. Was also at Holborn Viaduct when it closed.

 

[Nym]

I rode the last A-Stock train to run in public passenger service with the Tube's Chief Operating Officer onboard. In fact I was standing opposite him.

Now let's get really geeky...

I also believe I may have been the final person to dispatch a train using a functional Off indicator at South Bermondsey. This may, of course, change as and when Network Rail see fit...

Yup, I was on there too...

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Last Holborn Viaduct too (with a very cold wife in tow) - ran as a 4+2 EPB.

Last service A stock and last one into and out of Moorgate !


Now had my last work day on Friday just gone ! (36 years and 22 days !)

 

[455driver]

Now had my last work day on Friday just gone ! (36 years and 22 days !)

Congratulations from me, virtual pints all round!

 

[steamybrian]

I was on the last Underground train from Ongar. Was also at Holborn Viaduct when it closed.

I was also on the last trains from Ongar and Holborn Viaduct.
Also on last train from Coulsdon North.
Also last trains on the following lines Holborn to Aldwych, Whitechapel to Shoreditch, Sanderstead- Elmers End. Addiscombe to Elmers End, West Croydon to Wimbledon via Mitcham. Tunbridge Wells central to T.W.West (penaltimate T.W.West-Eridge)

 

[EbbwJunction1]

When the original route of the Dart Valley Railway between Totnes and Ashburton was severed after Buckfastleigh in 1971, two special trains were run on successive weekends.

I was on one of these, which ran from South Wales to Ashburton. I can't remember whether it was the actual last train, or the last but one train, but I do remember that it was very good.

 

[infobleep]

Was it through railway magazines that you found out about the line closures and last trains?

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Congratulations from me, virtual pints all round!

Thanks for that - have to let the railway go at some point. Hard.

My last working day had a really excellent timetable and options meeting - which (if it works out) - will lead to some threads on here. All good - and my best ever years was as an Operations supervisor / Manager with with drivers and front line staff - though strategy and timetable development is excellent - especially when you consider the impact on both staff and passengers.

Ex Chief Planner now

 

[DarloRich]

Last Holborn Viaduct too (with a very cold wife in tow) - ran as a 4+2 EPB.

Last service A stock and last one into and out of Moorgate !


Now had my last work day on Friday just gone ! (36 years and 22 days !)

congratulations on serving your "sentence" you can go straight now! I hope you enjoy a well earned retirement. I am a mere 31 years behind you service wise!

 

[steamybrian]

Was it through railway magazines that you found out about the line closures and last trains?

Planned line and station closures are published with plenty of advance notice.
The timing of last trains are usually calculated by reading the timetable however occasionally an additional "special last passenger train" is advertised. This happened with Coulsdon North where normally the last down train terminates there and berths overnight. In this instance a special very last train was advertised to run from Coulsdon North to East Croydon ( then ECS to Selhurst Depot).
In two examples I did two last trains with closures on the same day due to the restricted peak hour train services on the first named of each pair.- Aldwych and Ongar Lines. also West Croydon to Wimbledon and Addiscombe lines
In the near future on completion of the Croxley Link line the line between Croxley and Watford (Metropolitan Line) will close so look out for publicity on the timings of last train although be prepared for a late night as it will be after midnight.!!!

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Was it through railway magazines that you found out about the line closures and last trains?

I really can't remember how I found out about this one.

I was fifteen at the time, and I went with my father and mother, so they may have found out about it rather than I. I did, though, take the Railway World magazine at the time, so I may have seen an advert there and asked if we could go (I'd never have been allowed to go on my own!).

 

[tsr]

Were there any bona fide passenger trains to Newhaven Marine since the Sussex Slammer in 2005? If not, that was a last for me.

I'm pretty sure there was something which ran down there within the last couple of years. I think it was a spring or summer Saturday lunchtime and made the timetable go up the wall for a few hours because of a simultaneous points failure on the branch. Can't remember any more info though!

 

[telstarbox]

Last train from Hawkhust to Paddock Wood and also last train from Westerham to Dunton Green!

Seems like yesterday!!

Nice (I'm from Cranbrook originally). How well used were the Hawkhurst trains before the branch was closed?

 

[steamybrian]

Nice (I'm from Cranbrook originally). How well used were the Hawkhurst trains before the branch was closed?

From information I found the passenger numbers on the Hawkhurst branch had been falling for a number of years. There was still a trickle of commuters using the line but generally trains were lightly loaded.
A contract to convey schoolchildren was lost to buses in the last final few years. In the late 1950s/early 1960s there was a rapid decline in manpower required for farming such as hop growing/picking so the transport of labourers( and visitors) reduced.
The line closed when the SE mainline via Paddock Wood was electrified in 1961.

 

[Hornet]

Were there any bona fide passenger trains to Newhaven Marine since the Sussex Slammer in 2005? If not, that was a last for me.

From my photo records there was the following.

10:29 "THE SUNNY SOUTH EXPRESS" EXCURSION FROM
LONDON VICTORIA TO LONDON VICTORIA 10/08/2006

This was a weekday tour (Thursday).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4uZQBNX_tQ

 

[yorksrob]

I'm pretty sure there was something which ran down there within the last couple of years. I think it was a spring or summer Saturday lunchtime and made the timetable go up the wall for a few hours because of a simultaneous points failure on the branch. Can't remember any more info though!

Ah well, it was quite a long time ago!

 

[Diplodicus]

There are some wonderfulful films about the Hawkhurst branch on youtube. Simply search for "Hawkhurst A Lost Highway" and prepare to drown in nostalgia!

 

[NSEFAN]

I think the last CIG, VEP and CEP units to reach Weymouth were on the Southern Belle railtour which I went on. That was a fantastic tour, just a shame I joined at Waterloo and not Bromley South, so missed out on the Eurostar curve.

 

[341o2]

what about other forms of transport? I was on board Britain's last trolleybus to operate on a stage carriage service (as apart from enthusiast tours and a final procession) Bradford 843 from city centre to Duckwoth Lane March 1972 and the last RT route 299 Southgate - Potters Bar (replaced by SMS)

There have been comments made about people turning up on the last day back to 1936 such as the crowds on the Lynton & Barnstaple railway, if only they had patronised the service previously and how many ignore "their" train until "they" decide to close the service