Question on a First GBRF Routing

[kentuckytony]

I am buying a cab ride DVD about a train going from Hornsey Depot to Cricklewood sidings.
The route described is very circuitous - almost a loop - crossing the Thames twice. Basically via Finsbury Park, the NLL, the WLL, passing Elephant and Castle, Blackfriars, Kings Cross Thameslink, St. Pancras International, Kentish Town and on the Cricklewood.

A couple of questions (being a distant member):
1) Is this the only worthwhile route available?
2) Is this the shortest route available?
3) It says it is aboard a class 319 - what involvement would GBRF have with that class?
4) Is this possibly a passenger class empty train movement?
5) Any other ideas what this working might be?

I would appreciate any and all background info.
Thanks in advance.

 

[FLHH East Anglia]

just as an aside it's no longer First GBRf.

but i presume the dvd is a few months old so i should think they were still running the show

 

[daza7789]

these are ECS moves of FCC 319 units between Hornsey and Cricklewood depots. they are opperated by GBRF drivers as it is easyer to teach GBRF drivers the traction and keep there traction knowledge up to date, than it would be to teach FCC drivers the route and keep the knowledge up to date.

The route you discribe is the route they take, due to the fact that it is the only avalible route that is wired/3rd railed throughout. There is a shorter route that was in use during the NLL blockade when camden rd/ kings X incline was shut. This route was via harringey park jn, upper holloway, carlton rd jn, and then onto the MML to cricklewood, however this route is not electrified so 319s have to be put between barrier wagons and dragged with a loco.

Runs each way most days, 4 paths IIRC, 2 each way however only 1 each way normally runs
5E78/5E19 Cricklewood to Hornsey
5M77/5M19 Hornsey to Cricklewood.

 

[kentuckytony]

Thanks, Daza7789, for the detailed reply.
I can always count on this forum and a few others for good information.

 

[westcoaster]

There is the shorter route via Carlton road as described, which requires units to be dragged, there is also a slightly longer route they can take, instead of turning right just before Loughborough junction, they can continue up to tulse hill- leigham spurs- Balham - clapham junc and onto the wll - nll and onto hornsey.
Sometimes the moves can and are extended to Bedford.

Is the DVD in daylight or at night as the moves are nearly always done at night.

 

[kentuckytony]

I haven't got the DVD yet - but I would be upset if this cab ride is filmed at night!
I assume it is during the day.

=== I will give more detail after it arrives and I watch it. ===