Looking for lines with jointed track...

[heart-of-wessex]

Hello all,

Thought this would be suited in here as it is a query about non CWR track in the London area. Mod's, feel free to move if appropriate.

If there is anyone who travels a lot in any part of London, or just happens to know, I'd like some help please .
Basically, someone that is not from the UK is interested in some railway joint sounds (you know, clackety-clack) from the UK as, like me, he likes the characteristic sounds.

I just happen to have a few in my collection, and have decided to make it into a YouTube sound video so that other's can listen too. To add a bit more variety, I just need a few more different sounds. I am in the London area on Tuesday, so if anyone knows of any good spots to record rail joint sounds, or even somewhere easily accessible/audible on the train over a few set's of points, I'd like to hear them

I do aim to go to East Croydon and Sutton as, from what I remember, there is a good spot at East Croydon for non stop 442's passing through P3, and there is/was one at Sutton that I noted once when seeing a Class 319 leave towards Mitcham.

Any heavy/high pitch flange squeal sounds will also be ideal, and flat wheel sounds (which of course is on any type of unit if you get the right one).

I don't know if there is many places left where I can get a continuous rail joint sound on board a train anymore? There used to be one on the approach to Wimbledon on the Up Slow but I *think* that's now CWR and is a lot quieter now. Can't recall hearing it last time.


Any ideas welcome

 

[1e10]

Once you do put these sounds up I would love to be linked

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Yeah I'll put a post in the videos section when up, and also on here too

 

[EM2]

For flange squeal, the south end of platform B at St Pancras is a belter!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Be aware, the most intensely used bit of jointed track - the miles and a bit long section on the down line between Ewell West and Epsom with a 15 minute interval off peak service - was replaced with CWR over three weekends during August.

So don't try this one any more!

 

[bramling]

Hello all,

Thought this would be suited in here as it is a query about non CWR track in the London area. Mod's, feel free to move if appropriate.

If there is anyone who travels a lot in any part of London, or just happens to know, I'd like some help please .
Basically, someone that is not from the UK is interested in some railway joint sounds (you know, clackety-clack) from the UK as, like me, he likes the characteristic sounds.

I just happen to have a few in my collection, and have decided to make it into a YouTube sound video so that other's can listen too. To add a bit more variety, I just need a few more different sounds. I am in the London area on Tuesday, so if anyone knows of any good spots to record rail joint sounds, or even somewhere easily accessible/audible on the train over a few set's of points, I'd like to hear them

I do aim to go to East Croydon and Sutton as, from what I remember, there is a good spot at East Croydon for non stop 442's passing through P3, and there is/was one at Sutton that I noted once when seeing a Class 319 leave towards Mitcham.

Any heavy/high pitch flange squeal sounds will also be ideal, and flat wheel sounds (which of course is on any type of unit if you get the right one).

I don't know if there is many places left where I can get a continuous rail joint sound on board a train anymore? There used to be one on the approach to Wimbledon on the Up Slow but I *think* that's now CWR and is a lot quieter now. Can't recall hearing it last time.


Any ideas welcome

Very few sections left in the London area now, even those few sections remaining into the 2000s many have now gone.

There are a few sections on the SWT inner suburban network. The last couple of miles of the Chessington South branch springs to mind, possibly a few odd sections on the lines to Guildford via both Cobham and Epsom. Ascot to Aldershot used to have some, but I think this has probably gone now.

Other possibilities are Maidenhead to Marlow, maybe the odd bit on the Tattenham Corner and Caterham branches, really can't think of much else in London now.

Outside the London area, Grantham to Skegness used to have some long sections (much now gone I suspect?), also the East Suffolk Line (?? now). As of last year some sections on the Barton-on-Humber branch, Morecambe to Heysham Port and also Ormskirk to Preston. One of the best surviving sections is Settle Junction to Carnforth, from memory this is about 24 miles and I'd say this is over 90% jointed rail both directions, and with a line speed of 60 mph produces some lively and noisy running. Exeter to Barnstaple also used to be largely jointed, but things may have changed there.

 

[Passenger John]

I have a feeling that when we went to Hampton Court a couple of week ago that the branch there may have had jointed track, seem to remember saying to my wife, this is like a line Beeching forgot.

 

[starrymarkb]

Lot of Jointed between Andover and Salisbury...

Most of the Devon Branches have CWR now - I think the Pacers might have accelerated that with this level of ride

 

[SWT_USER]

The New North main line between Old Oak Common and South Ruislip is still jointed track I think, one train a day Monday to Friday runs out from Paddington out towards Beaconsfield.

 

[Trog]

There is still some jointed track on the St Albans Abbey Branch, if that is any use.

 

[Surreyman]

Very few sections left in the London area now, even those few sections remaining into the 2000s many have now gone.

There are a few sections on the SWT inner suburban network. The last couple of miles of the Chessington South branch springs to mind, possibly a few odd sections on the lines to Guildford via both Cobham and Epsom. Ascot to Aldershot used to have some, but I think this has probably gone now.

Other possibilities are Maidenhead to Marlow, maybe the odd bit on the Tattenham Corner and Caterham branches, really can't think of much else in London now.

Outside the London area, Grantham to Skegness used to have some long sections (much now gone I suspect?), also the East Suffolk Line (?? now). As of last year some sections on the Barton-on-Humber branch, Morecambe to Heysham Port and also Ormskirk to Preston. One of the best surviving sections is Settle Junction to Carnforth, from memory this is about 24 miles and I'd say this is over 90% jointed rail both directions, and with a line speed of 60 mph produces some lively and noisy running. Exeter to Barnstaple also used to be largely jointed, but things may have changed there.

Shalford on the North Downs line still has jointed track, the rail bridge over the river Wey just west of Shalford makes some interesting noises when a train passes over.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Thanks for the suggestions so far

The trip on Tuesday is time limited, arrive on the coach at 11:15, depart 18:00, so will have to be within the zones. Tattenham might be worth a look, haven't been down that branch since 2005 on a Connex 455!!

As for St Pancras, can't quite remember that on the Thameslink tunnel, quite surprising since I've done it countless times on 319 leaps! I assume it's better to hear it on a 319?

Any stations will be ideal too, even if it's just one bit of jointed track or a junction at the end, with a few coaches going over it would make a good recording. I've got a good one at Farringdon already on my phone, sound's quite heavy with a S8 stock going over the joint, even better with a C stock.
Just thought of another too, I'll try and get a '92 stock going round the curves through the vault's of Bank, that's a squealer!

I'll probably end up making a second sound collection in the future once I have collected a few more, so I'll remember the other suggestions for a second part.
I've already got a recording between Salisbury and Andover, and will be in the first sound video. Love that section of track, shame I never did the HST diversion's over that bit of track. Thank's for the suggestion though

 

[fgwrich]

Lot of Jointed between Andover and Salisbury...

Most of the Devon Branches have CWR now - I think the Pacers might have accelerated that with this level of ride

I remember that video! Can't remember what the full reason was for the 142s 'full shopping trolley' behaviour though! But most if not all of the Exmouth branch is now CWR, Barnstaple's had a fair amount replaced with steel sleepers and CWR too, as has the Gunnislake branch at least as far as Bere Alston too.

As for Andover (Greatly) to Salisbury, Not for much longer I gather as there are plans afoot for it's replacement. HSTs certainly are better riding than the 159s at full line speed over that stretch too!

 

[tsr]

The New North main line between Old Oak Common and South Ruislip is still jointed track I think, one train a day Monday to Friday runs out from Paddington out towards Beaconsfield.

Parts of it are, yes, but I was informed by a Chiltern member of staff recently that this would not be for much longer. How true that is, I really do not know.

Here are the timings at Paddington of the relevant Chiltern trains, which run to/from a couple of the Ruislip stations now... http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...2/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=CH

 

[pbaran]

Is the line between Grove Park and Bromley North still jointed? It definitely was when I was living in Bromley in 2008.

 

[anthony263]

That chiltern service leaves Paddington weekdays at 11:36 and serves South & West Ruislip.
I have used it once or twice and I thought I had heard the typical sound of traveling over jointed track shortly after old oak common.

I believe the branch around Old Oak Common is likely to be severed during the contrustion of HS2

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Ah yes, Bromley North, forgot about that. Doubt I can do the 1136, 20 minutes to Paddington from Victoria Coach Station and yet to get Travelcards, providing traffic is ok from Heathrow Airport to London and reach there on time

 

[wimbledonpete]

Any stations will be ideal too, even if it's just one bit of jointed track or a junction at the end, with a few coaches going over it would make a good recording.

Down slow between Wimbledon and Raynes Park might be good - there are four points in rapid succession where it goes over a couple of ladder crossings and then the Epsom junction at Raynes Park is good. There's a path by the railway at Wimbledon for the crossings and if you stand on the up platform at Raynes Park you should be able to get some good sound - wait for the trains that don't stop at there and you get eight coaches clattering across the junction at a good speed.

Good luck!

 

[315804]

I remember the line on the Overground out of Euston to Watford Junction having some jointed track - I'm not sure if they ever replaced it, I last went on it in 2010, so I'm not sure if they've renewed that 3rd rail track by now...

Aside from that, the Underground has loads (Piccadilly and District lines out of Hammersmith, westbound)

 

[D365]

I believe the branch around Old Oak Common is likely to be severed during the construction of HS2

Maybe during construction work, but as I hear HS2 is now supposed to continue in tunnel from OOC, it will parallel NNML underground and leave the line intact.

 

[W230]

Not sure if it's already been mentioned, the TL core is jointed track - at least through the Snow Hill/Clerkenwell tunnels and out of Blackfriars anyway.

Sounds like you've already been through it enough when getting your flange squeal at St. Pancras LL anyway.

 

[Chris125]

Maybe during construction work, but as I hear HS2 is now supposed to continue in tunnel from OOC, it will parallel NNML underground and leave the line intact.

It will leave the NNML intact however the realignment of the relief lines northwards to fit in the new Crossrail/GWML station at OOC is expected to require the removal of the junction there, access to South Ruislip via NNML being via the Greenford Loop instead.

Chris

 

[Bald Rick]

Not sure if it's already been mentioned, the TL core is jointed track - at least through the Snow Hill/Clerkenwell tunnels and out of Blackfriars anyway.

I'm afraid it isn't, although there are so many insulated block joints it might look like it is.

 

[D365]

I'm afraid it isn't, although there are so many insulated block joints it might look like it is.

Isn't that the newely-developed noise-insulating stuff that was installed relatively recently through the core, as detailed in a railway engineering magazine feature.

 

[W230]

I'm afraid it isn't, although there are so many insulated block joints it might look like it is.

I was surprised that it was but after seeing what I thought were joins I decided it couldn't be CWR. It sounds (a bit like) jointed driving through it anyway!

 

[Bald Rick]

Isn't that the newely-developed noise-insulating stuff that was installed relatively recently through the core, as detailed in a railway engineering magazine feature.

Nope, that is a proprietary track system by Pandrol called 'Vanguard'. Basically the rails are supported by being clamped in the web (middle) of the rail with a resilient pad insert. The foot of the rail is not in contact with the slab underneath. This is used throughout St Pancras and the tunnel around the curve to keep the vibration down, and especially to keep the noise down for the (swishy expensive) hotel rooms and apartments above.

Insulated Block joints are the joints that separate the rail electrically for track circuits. It is similar to a plain track joint, except it has insulation material between the rails and around the 'fishplates' and is tight, ie no expansion. Because the core has very close signal spacing, and bi-di, there are loads of them.

 

[RPM]

That chiltern service leaves Paddington weekdays at 11:36 and serves South & West Ruislip.
I have used it once or twice and I thought I had heard the typical sound of traveling over jointed track shortly after old oak common.

The bit between Greenford and Northolt Junction is particularly noisy if you want the full jointed track effect!

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Never got to do as much as I wanted to however I return there again on the 21st, on the coach again with limited time of just around 4 hours.

I noted some on the LU tracks parallel to the TL when riding the S8 stock, is this 'jointed track' sound the same effect that is used on the TL lines? Didn't record as I didn't expect it!

Tried the Bank squeals through the tight curves around the vaults of the Bank of England on the Central Line, didn't sound as loud as I thought it would be. I seem to recall this being rather loud, but it doesn't seem to be :?

Got a couple on the Jubilee and some brilliant Eurostar track sounds

 

[cjp]

Ah yes, Bromley North, forgot about that. Doubt I can do the 1136, 20 minutes to Paddington from Victoria Coach Station and yet to get Travelcards, providing traffic is ok from Heathrow Airport to London and reach there on time

Get off at Heathrow Central, buy your travel card and get a Heathrow Connect into Paddington paying for the journey from Heathrow to Hayes & Harlington which is not covered by a travel card.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

I've thought of doing that before, but it's cheaper to go to Victoria Coach Station than to Heathrow Airport.

NX charge a premium for the privilege of a direct service from Trowbridge, for example:

Trowbridge to Victoria on route 403 - £5 funfare single
Trowbridge to Heathrow Airport on route 403 - £30.50 no funfare's for this destination