Central line platform much higher than stock

[fsmr]

Working away down in London and staying over at Newbury park this week so we are going into Statford for meals and beers each evening as we all have Oyster cards now
Noticed last night that one of the stations on the Central line
(Wansted maybe) has a platform way above the floor level of the stock so much that you can actually see under the concrete edge
Just interested why as the other stations are all are level This was on the East bound direction, cant remember the other way returning later as it was a haze LOL

Thanks

 

[30907]

May not be relevant, but the Epping branch continued to be used by BR passenger workings for a few years even after Ongar was electrified. Seaside excursions, and early morning staff trains (DMUs in the last years). Not sure when this finished but I'd guess 40-odd years ago. Surprised that any of the platforms remain unaltered though.

 

[transmanche]

Surprised that any of the platforms remain unaltered though.

Such large steps were common at the former LNER stations taken over (but not rebuilt) by LT. (I haven't travelled on any of these routes for a long time, so don't know how many have had the track level raised.)

Wanstead doesn't meet this criteria, as it was a new-build deep-level station for the Central line extension. So it would never have been served by any LNER or BR train.

 

[fsmr]

Such large steps were common at the former LNER stations taken over (but not rebuilt) by LT. (I haven't travelled on any of these routes for a long time, so don't know how many have had the track level raised.)

Wanstead doesn't meet this criteria, as it was a new-build deep-level station for the Central line extension. So it would never have been served by any LNER or BR train.

Going down again tonight although think we might stop off at Wanstead instead and explore there so will check if it was Wanstead or a station after
Must have been at least 9 inch difference

 

[user15681]

I'm pretty sure Hammersmith on the Piccadilly and Ladbroke Grove (or is it Latimer Road? One of the L's) on the H&C/Circle have large steps up from the train to platform, too. At the latter, there are yellow and black painted hazard stripes.

 

[transmanche]

I'm pretty sure Hammersmith on the Piccadilly and Ladbroke Grove (or is it Latimer Road? One of the L's) on the H&C/Circle have large steps up from the train to platform, too.

Well the former is down to the 'compromise' height platforms at stations served by both tube and SSL stock.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Going down again tonight although think we might stop off at Wanstead instead and explore there so will check if it was Wanstead or a station after
Must have been at least 9 inch difference

Was it above or below ground? If above ground, then it was probably Leyton. This was an ex-LNER station, rebuilt by the GER in 1879. If the trackbed hasn't been raised, then yes there will be quite a step-up.

(Leytonstone was completely rebuilt for Central line conversion and Wanstead was a new-build tube station.)

 

[fsmr]

Well the former is down to the 'compromise' height platforms at stations served by both tube and SSL stock.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Was it above or below ground? If above ground, then it was probably Leyton. This was an ex-LNER station, rebuilt by the GER in 1879. If the trackbed hasn't been raised, then yes there will be quite a step-up.

(Leytonstone was completely rebuilt for Central line conversion and Wanstead was a new-build tube station.)

Hi
Yeh not Wanstead as we are there tonight platforms lowere must have been Leyton then

 

[Mojo]

I'm pretty sure Hammersmith on the Piccadilly and Ladbroke Grove (or is it Latimer Road? One of the L's) on the H&C/Circle have large steps up from the train to platform, too. At the latter, there are yellow and black painted hazard stripes.

It's Ladbroke Grove. The C Stocks are (were) level with the platform there, but as the S Stocks are lower down to provide level boarding at most locations, there is obviously a step up because of the height difference between "conventional" Subsurface stock, and the S Stock.

 

[90sWereBetter]

There's some platforms in West London (such as Ealing Common) where there's a big gap between the floor of the Piccadilly line 1973 stock and the top of the platform. I believe this is because the Piccadilly shares the same track with the District line at this point, and consequently the same platforms, built to accommodate sub-surface stock.

 

[edwin_m]

There is a "compromise" height as mentioned above, which is in between the sub-surface and Tube platform heights. It is a step up into sub-surface stock and a step down into Tube stock.

I would expect that in the interests of accessibility as well as reducing hazards, those platforms which have the compromise height and are only ever used by one type of stock will eventually be rebuilt to the relevant height with the other type of stock being banned. Lines that this applied to at one time (and may still today) include the Heathrow line as far as Hounslow and the Stanmore branch. Other sections that still routinely see both types of stock, such as Rayners Lane to Uxbridge and Queens Park to Harrow, may eventually see changes in the service pattern so as to be used by only one type.

 

[fsmr]

Just interested why there should have been such a height difference at that one platform at Leyton when no other line runs through there at that point from what i can see on the map. Out of interest also, was Newbury Park built by the GER as it does have the look of a "normal" Victorian railway station

BTW the Oyster cards a b!!! brilliant idea. Shame none of the rest of the Uk save Birmingham and Manchester have anything like the transport links down here

 

[causton]

Just interested why there should have been such a height difference at that one platform at Leyton when no other line runs through there at that point from what i can see on the map. Out of interest also, was Newbury Park built by the GER as it does have the look of a "normal" Victorian railway station

Yes, it did link to the line to Liverpool Street, some pictures of the old track (including just outside of Newbury Park station) are shown here http://www.abandonedstations.org.uk/Newbury_Park.html

 

[transmanche]

Just interested why there should have been such a height difference at that one platform at Leyton when no other line runs through there at that point from what i can see on the map. Out of interest also, was Newbury Park built by the GER as it does have the look of a "normal" Victorian railway station

Yes, as I mentioned before it's an ex-LNER station. Trains used to operate on a branch line diverging st Stratford and Ongar.

Newbury Park was also built by the GER, it was on a branch line diverging at Ilford to Woodford (the Fairlop loop) where it joined the Ongar branch.

 

[simple simon]

May not be relevant, but the Epping branch continued to be used by BR passenger workings for a few years even after Ongar was electrified. Seaside excursions, and early morning staff trains (DMUs in the last years). Not sure when this finished but I'd guess 40-odd years ago. Surprised that any of the platforms remain unaltered though.

Last BR passenger trains (by then diesel multiple units) ran in early 1970.

However, as you may know, part of the Central line was used as a test bed for multiple automated trains, prior to the Victoria Line using automation.

This started in about 1964, at a time when BR goods trains were (just about) still serving the goods yards. Certainly on the Epping route, possibly also on the Newbury Park route. I dont know whether the trains had been dieselised by then, I suspect that they had been, nevertheless in the Woodford area the goods trains ran along a section of line that was also being used by automated 'self-driving' trains.

If goods trains were still traveing to Newbury Pk then they would have used the full automated route, which was between Woodford and Hainault.

This pdf file may also be of interest... its about the excursion trains which used to run on the Central Line's Epping branch. The concept of excursion trains is almost unknown nowadays but before private motoring there were special trains at holiday times, weekends etc which took people to the seaside and other nice destinations. Such as Loughton to the south coast via the East London Line. The pdf file also includes an absolutely delightful account of a special steam train during the morning rush hour for a group of schoolchildren! ah, if only these trains were still running!

http://www.theydon.org.uk/lhs/Downloads/LHS%20News%20178.pdf

Simon

 

[fsmr]

Thanks everyone for the replies and that PDF link Fascinating I hadn't realised save for metropolitan tanks that BR steam and diesels had shared the tube lines the bit about the DMU not having trip cocks and needing a second man was intriguing. You would have thought double crewing would have been way more cost than fitting them unless it was for technically hard to do. Seems other locos did receive them though
Anyhow back off from Newbury Park to Wanstead for dinner and a few jars again tonight. Off to Stratford for dinner again Thurs night so will look out at Leyton

I do have a crap job being paid to sample the countries pubs:roll:

 

[306024]

Yes some good stuff here. Fitting the DMUs with tripcocks would mean all the other routes they used would have to be gauge cleared instead so that may explain it.

Now more importantly, rather than just look out at Leyton, if you have to sample pubs, try the Leyton Technical in the Old Town Hall. Not tried it myself yet but gets good reviews, just 5 mins from Leyton tube.

 

[fsmr]

Yes some good stuff here. Fitting the DMUs with tripcocks would mean all the other routes they used would have to be gauge cleared instead so that may explain it.

Now more importantly, rather than just look out at Leyton, if you have to sample pubs, try the Leyton Technical in the Old Town Hall. Not tried it myself yet but gets good reviews, just 5 mins from Leyton tube.

Thanks for that
I ended up having a few pints of Exmoor Beast at over 6 % so we didn't explore much more but will bear in mind for the next trip south
Stratford tomorrow. As meeting up with one of my retired. managers who lives out on the GER line and is using the train in to meet up for a chat about old times in the 80s in Dungeness B nuclear power station and ICI cyanide plants Oh how fun life used to be and no we didn't get danger money My line manager told me once if it was dangerous you wouldn't be allowed to work there:roll::roll:

 

[306024]

You should get danger money for drinking over 6% Exmoor Beast

In Stratford, Tap East is a new(ish) pub in Westfield shopping centre, by Stratford International DLR and Southeastern station. Well worth the 10 minute walk from the proper Stratford station. Excellent beer choice including some they brew themselves.

Not sure what any of this has to do with the height of platforms, so I will say that there is quite a drop when you get off the train at the London end of platform 5 (up electric line, not the Central line) at Stratford.

 

[fsmr]

You should get danger money for drinking over 6% Exmoor Beast

In Stratford, Tap East is a new(ish) pub in Westfield shopping centre, by Stratford International DLR and Southeastern station. Well worth the 10 minute walk from the proper Stratford station. Excellent beer choice including some they brew themselves.

Not sure what any of this has to do with the height of platforms, so I will say that there is quite a drop when you get off the train at the London end of platform 5 (up electric line, not the Central line) at Stratford.

Yeh the height may be relevant on the return trip though
Last night this week in EastLondon then it's the bright lights of Leeds and High Wycombe not on the same day of course

Will take more interest now through Leyton thanks again
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Ok It was Leytonstone with the platform much higher than the stock had another look last night but strangely only on the Westbound, the returning East bound platform was level