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Northern Line train in between South Ealing and Acton Town?

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Peregrine 4903

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Today I was travelling between on the Piccadilly Line between South Ealing and Acton Town heading eastbound at roughly 12:30 where I saw the strangest sight.

On the local eastbound track I saw what I am certain was a Northern Line Train, stationary but with members of staff in it. It had on its destination board Euston via Bank.

I'm just wondering but what an earth is a Northern Line Train doing in South Ealing, and more importantly, how did it get there?

I know there is a link at Kings Cross St Pancras but I'm sure that links on to the Eastbound platform and I though northern line trains couldn't fit through that link.
 
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bluegoblin7

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Peregrine 4903 said:
I'm just wondering but what an earth is a Northern Line Train doing in South Ealing, and more importantly, how did it get there?

I know there is a link at Kings Cross St Pancras but I'm sure that links on to the Eastbound platform and I though northern line trains couldn't fit through that link.
Click to expand...

Not particularly unusual; a large number of these movements took place in late 2015-early 2016 to carry out a series of brake tests on the test track. Trains move overnight between Golders Green and Northfields, via King's Cross, running as an 'ordinary' engineers' train with late current arrangements. There are speed restrictions in places on the Picc, but the 1995TS is pretty much fully gauge cleared.

A few photos of the transfers from 2015/6.

51545 - Covent Garden by Jack Gordon, on Flickr

51720 - King's Cross St. Pancras by Jack Gordon, on Flickr

51618 - King's Cross St. Pancras by Jack Gordon, on Flickr

51618 - King's Cross St. Pancras by Jack Gordon, on Flickr
 
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Peregrine 4903

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bluegoblin7 said:
Not particularly unusual; a large number of these movements took place in late 2015-early 2016 to carry out a series of brake tests on the test track. Trains move overnight between Golders Green and Northfields, via King's Cross, running as an 'ordinary' engineers' train with late current arrangements. There are speed restrictions in places on the Picc, but the 1995TS is pretty much fully gauge cleared.

A few photos of the transfers from 2015/6.

51618 - King's Cross St. Pancras by Jack Gordon, on Flickr
Click to expand...

Thankyou so much for this, those pictures are fascinating and really cool. Are any other types of tube stock cleared to run on the Piccadilly Line?
 
bluegoblin7

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Not ‘ordinary’ passenger carrying. 67/72TS remain cleared as a hangover from the Victoria line and for access to and from Aldwych. 1960TS Track Recording Train is cleared. 1938TS for heritage trips.

S stock is cleared on some above ground sections, empty. D stock is also cleared on some above ground sections as a Rail Adhesion Train.
 
Mikey C

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Dstock7080 said:
Rolling Stock from across the network routinely visits the Test Track to undertake brake testing in varying conditions, dry wet etc.
Click to expand...

It must be a real pain having to transfer Victoria Line trains by road, seeing that the 2009 stock don't fit through the other Tube tunnels. Good for passengers, but a lot less convenient for LU
 
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100andthirty

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MikeyC. the key feature of the Test Track is that it can wet the rails for the wet brake test. As the passenger parts of the Victoria line are entirely enclosed, the wet test is not essential. In the depot where the line is in the open, speeds are low. The dry test can be done on the line.
 
Mikey C

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100andthirty said:
MikeyC. the key feature of the Test Track is that it can wet the rails for the wet brake test. As the passenger parts of the Victoria line are entirely enclosed, the wet test is not essential. In the depot where the line is in the open, speeds are low. The dry test can be done on the line.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that makes sense
 
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BrianW

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I'm learning a lot- thank you.
I guess the 'standards' regarding clearances, curves, gradients, thus carriage lengths have changed over time and thus from line to line.
Where is the shortest platform? Why- could it not be lengthened to improve capacity?
I long thought it odd to have 7-car trains on the Piccadilly; and was shocked when the then 'new' trains for the Heathrow extension wouldn't fit round the curves (as I heard it as a kid).

ps- Dear Moderator- if this should go on another thread please move it. You have a hard job.
 
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