Metrailway
Member
Not sure why it is faster to run fast on the local from Moor Park but know it was, due to a dead late finishing turn which ran fast down the local. It had the same running time as the fast but would invariably be held between North Harrow and Harrow for time. On occasions when the same turn was switched to the fast for some reason it wouldn't need to be held approaching Harrow.
Line speed for SB trains on the fast at Harrow North is 35mph whilst on the locals if I remember correctly is still 50mph, which probably explains this. For NB trains it's 30mph from Harrow Platform 3 to Harrow North, and 40mph from Platform 1.
I am going back a few years I suppose when it was quite natural for one to 'lose the clock' on an A60. The line speed wasn't always 50 and you could get a fair whack out of an A60 in good nic. It was common place to race the diesels from Finchley Road to Neasden South Junction. Deteriorating maintenance of track and stock slowed things down. I did hear once someone bragging about racing the RAT through Chorleywood on the South at 90 - quite believable given the incline and the fact the RAT didn't stop there even considering the actual RAT car was a swinger.
I have also heard the 90mph story, and there is a recent video online of an A Stock reaching in excess of 70mph between Finchley Road and Neasden, despite the 50mph limit.