Electrical Control Rooms

[PeteK]

There does not seem to be too much on ECRs in the forums (that I can find), so hope someone on this one can help. Recently I stumbled on a picture (maybe a couple) of Romford ECR from, I suspect, sometime in the 80s. I do not know if it was in any of these forums or from another internet search and it is not part of the 20 pictures on the Signalling Photos archive. It shows the original large operators desk from the 6.25kV days with an operator and his assistant. Towards the back of the room a couple of gents are sitting at a desk with some old computer equipment so maybe testing with the new SCADA system. I would like to get hold of picture if anybody knows of it. I started my career in Romford, though not as ECRO or assistant, but in supervisory (before it was known as SCADA) equipment maintenance.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

There does not seem to be too much on ECRs in the forums (that I can find), so hope someone on this one can help. Recently I stumbled on a picture (maybe a couple) of Romford ECR from, I suspect, sometime in the 80s. I do not know if it was in any of these forums or from another internet search and it is not part of the 20 pictures on the Signalling Photos archive. It shows the original large operators desk from the 6.25kV days with an operator and his assistant. Towards the back of the room a couple of gents are sitting at a desk with some old computer equipment so maybe testing with the new SCADA system. I would like to get hold of picture if anybody knows of it. I started my career in Romford, though not as ECRO or assistant, but in supervisory (before it was known as SCADA) equipment maintenance.

I'd quite like to see that picture too! I'd be surprised if you found a picture of the ECR online, I've never found any picture evidence outside of the Signalling Photos album. I made a note that within Edition 75 Issue 26 (July 1993) of the Great Eastern Journal was a copy of a picture from 27/9/1960 of Romford ECR with a reference code BR CR110 if that could possibly mean anything to anyone. I don't remember really anything that was in the photo other than the notion that printed too small to be able to gain much insight from it.

There's really not a lot of information about ECRs out there. But strangely I've found a lot more about DC ECRs than AC rooms. I even have this picture from Romford's predecessor Chadwell Heath which only operated for scarcely 11 years. Was this operator's desk similar to the one you were talking about at Romford? Fairly sure the "Common Equipment" system was used at Chadwell Heath.

 

[PeteK]

Thanks for this. Even though not relevant to my original query it is certainly of interest. I have all the GER Society journals and am slowly working through them from the earliest ones so hope to find other interesting articles relevant to electrification. The desk here from Chadwell Heath is not like Romford (apart from the copious amount of wood in its construction). The mimic was (of necessity) larger and further away from the desk. This is the only evidence of the Chadwell Heath ECR that I have come across. I worked at Chadwell Heath from 1973 to 1975 working in the test section which was based in the old control room after everything had been ripped out, so somewhere in this picture could have been my desk!

Another query I have been meaning to post relates to the picture on my profile. Again I cannot remember where I found it but am trying to recall where it might be. This style of substation (using Fuller Electric or ASEA switchgear) was used for the whole of the GE 25kV area, though there was some differences between the early Colchester to Clacton ones and those installed on the rest of the area. I am fairly sure that this style was only used on the GE 25kV area. Having worked in all the 25kV substations except Bishop Stortford I should able to recall where it is. It has four cable entries (though there may be more hidden further along). Looking at the location of the running lines and the pylon in the distance it could be Rye House FS. If so there would be a total of eight cable entry bushes (six track feeders and two incoming feeders from the power station plus a bus section). Does anyone have any further info on this? Attached is the full size picture file of the substation.

Also attached for interest is a poor quality picture the GE 6.25kV OCBs (precious little info on these beasts either) and one of Shenfield FS. This one, of better quality, shows the 25kV substation to the right with the external cable bushes and the 6.25kV substation to the left. The 25/6.25kV transformer(s) are located between the substations. I cannot remember whether there was one or two transformers but fact that there are six 25kV cable bushes would indicate two (two track feeders, two incoming feeders and two transformer feeders) though the picture seems to show only one.

 

[thecrofter]

Just going through my old photos from the end of West Coast Route Mods days and came across these taken in November 2009 of the mimic panels at Willesden ECR, after its closure. Not great quality but hopefully someone will find them of interest.

 

[PeteK]

Thank you - like Romford a "proper" ECR. I wish I'd thought to take pictures of Romford during my time there.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Thank you very much these are fascinating. I like that Harlesden TSL was on its own little cabinet, I imagine it was late addition related to the Railnet terminal.

This must have been a good 8 or so years after it closed. I presume it's demolished now, whereabouts was the building?

There's a couple of substations there that I haven't heard of before: Kilburn (is this just a large signalling supply point?) and "Wood--d Close". Was that "Woodward"? I can't find any street near the NLL between Camden and Hampstead that has a fitting name. What is (or was) its purpose? It doesn't look like it had the ability to switch the supply from the eastern side of Camden neutral sections

Also interesting that York Way TSC has a neutral section and was the boundary with Romford at this time. I believe these days, the track supplies for the western direction do not connect to the OLE at York Way but are cabled to the western side of Camden Rd neutral sections. So while York Way is still the boundary between Romford and Rugby, from the driver's perspective it's at Camden neutral section.

It looks like Old Oak Common No. 1 fed the OLE at North Pole depot which is interesting. I would have expected anything past the neutral section on the North Pole reception sidings to be controlled by (at that time) Slough or North Pole locally.

Also this suggests Willesden at least originally controlled all the way to Weedon and Church Brampton, was it partially reduced at some point to Leighton Buzzard?

Finally, it'd be great to see if there's a more close up view or clearer shot of the DC panel to the right.

 

[thecrofter]

The attached extract from the Euston area feeding diagram (Normal feeding) from circa 2008 might throw some light on some of your questions above. Wood---d Close is Woodyard Close TSL. The Violet supply is Acton Lane Feeder - F2. Orange (for North Pole Depot) is from Old Oak Common No.1 Feeder Station - F3. Kilburn is indeed the Signalling Supply Point (SSP).

As far as I'm aware, the building that was Willesden ECR is still standing. Google Maps still shows it just to the east of Willesden Junction Station. The two transformers visible in the other building are/were part of the 11 kV Euston DC Ring supply feeding the Carriage Sheds in turn fed from Stonebridge Park DC sub. At the time of decommssioning in 2009, the property left vacant was slated to be used as office accomdation for BTP but whether that happened I couldn't say, although probably not!

I don't have any more (or better) photos I'm afraid.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

I see they had marked SI at Mitre Bridge which seems to suggest they were looking ahead to when a neutral section would be put there (apparently fed 2011) to split up the two Acton Lane supplies.
Interesting that Primrose Hill TSL was not present in 2008 (although naming one of the Camden neutral sections after Primrose Hill perhaps suggests the neutral section was further dn the line). Saterlite imagery confirms it appeared in 2011ish.

I've not heard of Woodyard Close before that I suppose explains what this is where NLL passes over MML in the Kentish Tn area. It looks like it was substantially altered/replaced in 2017ish and doesn't really look like it contains any isolation transformers anymore (was role replaced by Primrose Hill?). There's not any chance is there that an interconnection has been made here with the MML system (via Kentish Town SATS)?

The Violet supply is Acton Lane Feeder - F2. Orange (for North Pole Depot) is from Old Oak Common No.1 Feeder Station - F3.

Ah it just occurred to me that, at this time, there would have been no connection between North Pole depot and the GWML so it was very much possibly they could run off of separate supplies, OOC No.1 for North Pole Int. and Hayes for the GWML, and as we now know OOC No.1 could be connected to the GWML via OOC No.2.

I think what I find most interesting is that while there is a lot of attestation around about INTERCONNECTOR IC1 between OOC No. ! and Acton Lane, but the normal grid supply for OOC No. 1 (F3) must also come from Willesden 132kV as grid side documentation often mentions 3x 132/25kV transformers are present at "BR Willesden" (along side the 2x 132/11kV for Watford DC).

This surely means there was and still is another 25kV cable going between pretty much the same places (UKPN Willesden 25kV to OOC No.1 FS) but is instead controlled by UKPN. Curiously, on all grid side documentation they say it goes to "North Pole BR" not OOC. Is this another substation internal to the depot? Or maybe a newer site installed to replace OOC FSs after the latter were decommissioned by GWEP (and then wiped from the face of the earth by HS2)?

There is also this very much substation looking equipment at the entrance to North Pole depot.

Not sure how this fits in to the story as there are definitely two bigger sized transformers, and I don't think this is OOC FSs as I'm pretty sure that site was situated on the other side of the area between Old Oak Common Ln and the Central Line.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Perhaps of interest, maybe to @PeteK , telecoms schematic of Pitsea ECR (1961-198?) from the ECR article of the BTC 1960 electrification conference papers.

 

[Ashley Hill]

There is a very good video by BTF on YouTube that shows a brief glimpse of Crewe ECO.

There is also another good BTF film called Railway Electrification At Industrial Frequency which is not on YouTube.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

I've always been fond of the very analogue animation at the start of that video.

Brief look at the inside of Willesden in that one too. Surprised about how airy and spacious they seem. The outside shot of Rugby identifies it as the building attached to what is at the moment the Colas Rail depot whatever it was back then.

For Willesden, apparently LNWR had built an early version of it in the 1920s for the whole north london dc system. I suppose that was totally done away with.

 

[Elecman]

I've always been fond of the very analogue animation at the start of that video.

Brief look at the inside of Willesden in that one too. Surprised about how airy and spacious they seem. The outside shot of Rugby identifies it as the building attached to what is at the moment the Colas Rail depot whatever it was back then.

For Willesden, apparently LNWR had built an early version of it in the 1920s for the whole north london dc system. I suppose that was totally done away with.

The Rugby Colas depot was originally a DED

 

[matchmaker]

Cathcart ECR

Cathcart

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Cathcart ECR

Cathcart

Any chance of a screenshot, I don't think any of us can view this unless we apply to enter the group its from (not that the denied screen tells us what group To join!)

 

[zwk500]

The Rugby Colas depot was originally a DED

What does DED stand for in this context, thanks?

 

[GraphitProjekt]

What does DED stand for in this context, thanks?

Did some googling and I think it's "Rugby District Electric Depot", built to support loco changes and possibly and EMU service at Rugby for a short while when wires had only reached that far. I think from the north so trains to London would be switching to diesel at Rugby from November 1964 until November 1965 when Euston was finished, similarly Rugby-Coventry was electrified by December 1966 so there would have been another year of loco changes there.

The terminology of "District Depot", is intriguing but I think it might have something to do with internal subdivisions on London Midland region.

In any case, it's orginaly purpose was rather short lived so it seems it has been de-electrified for a long time

 

[Elecman]

There is a YouTube video that I can’t remember the name of showing the ECR and the depot interior with loco and EMU present in the depot

 

[45Fox]

There is a YouTube video that I can’t remember the name of showing the ECR and the depot interior with loco and EMU present in the depot

Would that be 'Second Nature', a BTF film on YouTube?
Filmed in the Rugby area, with some good shots at the ECR, DED, as well as inside Rugby Power Signal Box.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

And here it is. A great watch, and the only images of the inside of Rugby ECR I've ever seen. Although I assume it became a lot more computerised even before it moved into the ROC. Also mentioned is that the boundaries of control. Reading between the lines I think they're saying the boundary with Willesden was Church Brampton and Weedon, and with Crewe at Rickerscote and Rugeley.

Interesting to see the function of the control room switchboard operator, and also that they seem to be fine repairing the catenary of one track while the the next door line stays energised and open to traffic - seems awfully risky.

The DED and ECR seemed to be very much integrated with the same management and walkways between the areas. I guess this shows part of the fully integrated functionality of BR considering overhead line workshop activities also seemed to be going ahead in the DED. Is there still an OLE maintenance depot at Rugby?

 

[Elecman]

Would that be 'Second Nature', a BTF film on YouTube?
Filmed in the Rugby area, with some good shots at the ECR, DED, as well as inside Rugby Power Signal Box.

Yes thats the one

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jul 2026 ==

And here it is. A great watch, and the only images of the inside of Rugby ECR I've ever seen. Although I assume it became a lot more computerised even before it moved into the ROC. Also mentioned is that the boundaries of control. Reading between the lines I think they're saying the boundary with Willesden was Church Brampton and Weedon, and with Crewe at Rickerscote and Rugeley.

Interesting to see the function of the control room switchboard operator, and also that they seem to be fine repairing the catenary of one track while the the next door line stays energised and open to traffic - seems awfully risky.

The DED and ECR seemed to be very much integrated with the same management and walkways between the areas. I guess this shows part of the fully integrated functionality of BR considering overhead line workshop activities also seemed to be going ahead in the DED. Is there still an OLE maintenance depot at Rugby?

Rugby ECR is still in its original location. It has never transferred to the ROC

 

[GraphitProjekt]

I see, not very many ECRs seem to have gone over ROCs. Maybe only Romford at this point. Derby and Didcot started out life in in an ROC of course. York still doesn't seem to have moved over yet as I found this contract posted online about moving the ECR, the work for which is said to be completed by Decemeber.

 

[Trackman]

And here it is. A great watch, and the only images of the inside of Rugby ECR I've ever seen. Although I assume it became a lot more computerised even before it moved into the ROC. Also mentioned is that the boundaries of control. Reading between the lines I think they're saying the boundary with Willesden was Church Brampton and Weedon, and with Crewe at Rickerscote and Rugeley.

Never seen this, thank you for posting!

 

[zwk500]

I see, not very many ECRs seem to have gone over ROCs. Maybe only Romford at this point. Derby and Didcot started out life in in an ROC of course. York still doesn't seem to have moved over yet as I found this contract posted online about moving the ECR, the work for which is said to be completed by Decemeber.

At least in Didcot's case, I'm fairy sure it's not a separate ECR as such, the ECO desks are on the same operating floor as the signallers in TVSC.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

At least in Didcot's case, I'm fairy sure it's not a separate ECR as such, the ECO desks are on the same operating floor as the signallers in TVSC.

I think this is also true for Derby ROC and Sandhills IECC. Maybe this was also the case for York IECC when they had signallers there. I get the impression that for Romford, and Rugby/Manchester/York roc they are actually in different rooms. In any case I imagine people just phone each other up rather than shouting across the room. Maybe Sandhills is small enough that they could have an actual conversation.

 

[Elecman]

I think this is also true for Derby ROC and Sandhills IECC. Maybe this was also the case for York IECC when they had signallers there. I get the impression that for Romford, and Rugby/Manchester/York roc they are actually in different rooms. In any case I imagine people just phone each other up rather than shouting across the room. Maybe Sandhills is small enough that they could have an actual conversation.

There is no ECR at Manchester that is covered from Crewe ECR presently located in the DB Cargo electric depot and will not afaik be relocating to Manchester ROC.

Sandhills ECR is located within Sandhills IECC in the same room as the Signallers

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Sometime ago I was chatting to a signaller at Manchester ROC who seemed to suggest there was some black space in the building earmarked for Crewe ECR but they had refused to move over.

 

[bramling]

Sometime ago I was chatting to a signaller at Manchester ROC who seemed to suggest there was some black space in the building earmarked for Crewe ECR but they had refused to move over.

I’d imagine electrical control holds more sway than some other roles due to its very highly specialised nature.

IIRC there was some resistance when LU’s electrical control moved from Leicester Square to the LUCC at Palestra. The move happened, but IIRC there were some concessions.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

I had wondered where London Underground power control was located, I'd heard mentions of Coburg Street as well as this mysterious building at the north end of Cromwell Curve.
But in the end, the right answer was "Long Acre" which I had seen mentioned as LPTB's electrical control room during the war. So that control room lasted an exceptionally long time - when did it move over to LUCC?

 

[bramling]

I had wondered where London Underground power control was located, I'd heard mentions of Coburg Street as well as this mysterious building at the north end of Cromwell Curve.View attachment 208603
But in the end, the right answer was "Long Acre" which I had seen mentioned as LPTB's electrical control room during the war. So that control room lasted an exceptionally long time - when did it move over to LUCC?

I think it move over when LUCC came into being, someone else will no doubt be able to say when that was.

It’s a matter of debate whether LU’s old room was known as “Long Acre” or “Leicester Square”. Both were used, although I’d say the latter was more common. Certainly control staff when talking about power issues would be heard saying “I’ve spoken to Leicester Square”. There’s also a substation in the same complex which is known by that name, though confusingly when referring to the building as a whole people would probably say Long Acre!

As an aside, LU also refers to “power control room” rather than electrical control room.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

In searching around this topic I found this document floating around in reference to the redevelopment of Lille Bridge depot from at the earliest May 2011 that mentions "139 Long Acre power control centre or Palestra" sort of implying "whichever is correct when you read this".

I also found out (from another thread)that the Long Acre site also once housed traffic control for all LUL lines from municipalisation in the 1930s until that started to get broken off from the 1960s. People also seemed to be using the names Transad House and Cranbourne Chambers.

Similarly, people were saying that the LMS owned part of the district line east of Bromley-by-Bow had it's own grid connection and electrical control room at Dagenham at least historically.

And finally, I found this getty image of Wood Green substation in 1932 showing the pre-ECR ways of doing things with localised direct control of nearby substations