Old Timer
Established Member
Found these slides earlier. They all relate to scenes from the Midland Suburban Electrification scheme.
Photo 1
A rail mounted Poclain excavator at work near Hendon. This was used to excavate the hole for the OHL foundation.
Photo 2
Setting up the "core former" near Mill Hill Broadway. Once the hole was dug a polystyrene "core former" was placed in the hole to create the foundation hole for the OHL mast
Photo 3
Pouring the concrete from the "Foundation Train". The concrete was taken to site in rail mounted concrete mixers, which were filled with freshly made concrete from a batching plant in Bedford, and then poured into the hole. If the train was delayed or work was cancelled the concrete had to be discharged to the lineside before it set. Note the absence of safety gear.
Photo 4
The "Grouting Train" at work near Mill Hill Broadway. Once the OHL mast was placed into the hole and the correct "rake" was set, the mast was grouted into position. Once the grout had set, the wooden wedges that set the mast in position were removed and the foundation was "capped" around the base and finished off with a bitumastic paint to seal it.
Photo 5
The Foundation Train at work on the Up Goods line just south of West Hampstead Midland very early one winter Sunday morning. The class 501 EMU passing over is on the first Richmond to Broad St service.
Photo 6
Having arrived on site on the Down Goods just south of Cricklewood Jct station, the Driver on the rear portion waits whilst the train is split.
Each foundation train was worked with a locomotive front and rear so that it could split into two portions and work separately. Sometimes separated by miles. Special authority had to be given in those days to expressly authorise this type working which was only permitted for the Electrification Division trains.
Photo 7
The batching plant at Bedford Kings Place Depot. Concrete was mixed here and loaded fresh to the foundation trains which then ran to site with the concrete mixer units turning to prevent the concrete going off. All the trains were on site when this photograph was taken. This plant operated overnight so that each set of trains was ready to depart from about 0730 each morning.
Photo 8
45046 "The Royal Fusileer" sits on the Up Goods (now the Up Fast) at Finchley Road Jct. early one Sunday morning with the foundation train. Note the fully elevated concrete mixer unit at the rear of the train as the last of the concrete is poured.
Photo 9
The reconstruction of the new North London Line overbridge which crosses the Midland to the south of West Hampstead Midland. During this time, the NLL was operated as a single line whilst the bridge was renewed on each line in turn. In the rear can be seen a Poclain unit excvating foundations for the OHL masts.
Photo 10
Westoning Bank in September 1979. An unidentified 45 working a sheffield to St Pancras service storms past an OHL wiring train working on the installation of the RC system on the Up Slow line just south of Flitwick.
Photo 1
A rail mounted Poclain excavator at work near Hendon. This was used to excavate the hole for the OHL foundation.
Photo 2
Setting up the "core former" near Mill Hill Broadway. Once the hole was dug a polystyrene "core former" was placed in the hole to create the foundation hole for the OHL mast
Photo 3
Pouring the concrete from the "Foundation Train". The concrete was taken to site in rail mounted concrete mixers, which were filled with freshly made concrete from a batching plant in Bedford, and then poured into the hole. If the train was delayed or work was cancelled the concrete had to be discharged to the lineside before it set. Note the absence of safety gear.
Photo 4
The "Grouting Train" at work near Mill Hill Broadway. Once the OHL mast was placed into the hole and the correct "rake" was set, the mast was grouted into position. Once the grout had set, the wooden wedges that set the mast in position were removed and the foundation was "capped" around the base and finished off with a bitumastic paint to seal it.
Photo 5
The Foundation Train at work on the Up Goods line just south of West Hampstead Midland very early one winter Sunday morning. The class 501 EMU passing over is on the first Richmond to Broad St service.
Photo 6
Having arrived on site on the Down Goods just south of Cricklewood Jct station, the Driver on the rear portion waits whilst the train is split.
Each foundation train was worked with a locomotive front and rear so that it could split into two portions and work separately. Sometimes separated by miles. Special authority had to be given in those days to expressly authorise this type working which was only permitted for the Electrification Division trains.
Photo 7
The batching plant at Bedford Kings Place Depot. Concrete was mixed here and loaded fresh to the foundation trains which then ran to site with the concrete mixer units turning to prevent the concrete going off. All the trains were on site when this photograph was taken. This plant operated overnight so that each set of trains was ready to depart from about 0730 each morning.
Photo 8
45046 "The Royal Fusileer" sits on the Up Goods (now the Up Fast) at Finchley Road Jct. early one Sunday morning with the foundation train. Note the fully elevated concrete mixer unit at the rear of the train as the last of the concrete is poured.
Photo 9
The reconstruction of the new North London Line overbridge which crosses the Midland to the south of West Hampstead Midland. During this time, the NLL was operated as a single line whilst the bridge was renewed on each line in turn. In the rear can be seen a Poclain unit excvating foundations for the OHL masts.
Photo 10
Westoning Bank in September 1979. An unidentified 45 working a sheffield to St Pancras service storms past an OHL wiring train working on the installation of the RC system on the Up Slow line just south of Flitwick.
Last edited: