The LNER Encyclopedia

The G.N. Electrification train was a very common sight in and around the London area and further out into Hertfordshire during the years 1973/74/75/76 and was usually worked by a Brush type 2 (class 31) loco. The electrification train usually originated from Kings Cross Goods yard virtually every day (sometimes it maybe outstabled at a location?) and would then make it's way to a predetermined location where the train was going to work for that particular day. The early work for the electrification train was that of the digging of the holes for which the masts were to be slotted into, next came the pouring of the concrete into these holes for the bases for the steel masts to stand in afterwhich came the erection of the steel masts themselves and then finally the wiring up of the OHL (overhead line equipment/wires).

The first section of the main line out of Kings Cross that i can recall seeing that had the steel masts erected and OHL wired up was the fast & slow lines between Oakleigh Park station and just to the south of New Barnet station which i think would have been around 1973. I think i recall that the electrification train use to be stabled on a number of occasions in the up two road sidings at New Barnet as well during the 1970s.

A free (quarterly) newspaper entitled 'Live Wire' was handed out to all passenger's at all stations a long the route of the intended electrification project between Kings Cross and Royston including the Hertford branch keeping the passenger's up to date with the electrification work then in progress. The overall electrification scheme was given the title 'operation Live Wire' by British Rail Eastern region.

Those electrification trains were by and large a bit boring for the train crews because once you and your driver and guard had arrived at where the train was working on the day it was a case of (for the Secondman) making a can of locoman's tea. This was done by filling the can up with cold water and bringing it to the boil on the locos own cooker next you put x2 tea bags in and stirred it up adding the milk easy. Next you got out your cheese sandwiches poured a nice mug of tea for your driver and yourself sat down and put you legs and boots up on the front of the loco (the loco was always a Brush type 2/class 31 nice and comfortable they were) only for some b*****d to bang on the cabside wanting you to move the train up another 20 yards!. But it wasn't all that bad on a nice summers day you had the locos doors open and if you was in a pleasant location you could just lay back and watch the trains rushing by on the fast lines for a 'spotter' what a great way of passing the time and getting payed for it.

Well, Micky, increased single-manning and some kind of academic ambition had driven me off the railway by then - temporarily. But during the '60s I spent many a long Sunday - time&3/4 - in just the way you describe but on ballast trains, before we had this 'ere mechanised 'deep-ballasting' for electric running. I can remember a '1500' (47) being commandeered for such a job - even more comfortable.

Micky wrote:The first section of the main line out of Kings Cross that i can recall seeing that had the steel masts erected and OHL wired up was the fast & slow lines between Oakleigh Park station and just to the south of New Barnet station which i think would have been around 1973. I think i recall that the electrification train use to be stabled on a number of occasions in the up two road sidings at New Barnet as well during the 1970s.

Correct, Michael - the first ever foundations for the Kings Cross Suburban Electrification Scheme were dug on the upside at New Barnet with yours truly in attendance, a new and very nervous inspector! That would have been early 1973, I think. Odd thing is, in all the years we were digging, can never recall finding anything remotely interesting. Not a cast iron sign, not an old bottle. Did find a bucket of old detonators when we were demolishing the platform buildings at Hornsey, though. We decided the safest way to dispose of them was to run a Class 08 we had for shunting wagons over them, and the driver obliged us in Ferme Park. CDI Nye and Inspector May happened to arrive while this was going on and didn't really know what to say. 'Only do that sort of thing on VE or VJ night, boy!'
Do you remember the rather splendid Southern bogie brakes we had allocated for the scheme? They rode like a coach with verandahs but had the usual poky pillbox bit for the guard. Evidently on Shap, they also sported deckchairs. At the start of the scheme we were told that we would be getting those Clayton Type 1 diesels surplus from Scotland as well but, of course, that never happened.

Signalling Inspector's Mr.Nye and Mr.May well that was what they were known as to a humble Telegraph lad but the Signalmen referred to them as 'Noggy' Nye and Johnny May as the 'Undertaker' (well old Pedler Palmer & Harry Fitzgerald did at Garden City!). So you was on that job hq1hitchin on the 'first dig' between New Barnet & Oakleigh Park thats a bit of history there. That was the only real way of getting rid of old detonators put e'm on the rail head and let a loco go over them. I must say hyperion for comfort i personally preferred the Brush type 2 or Class 31 as it became you could really get comfortable on those locos and the Spanner boiler was a doddle to work for the trains steam heating. My old mucker manna another ex-Kings Cross Secondman will probably have his own opinion as well.

Next you got out your cheese sandwiches poured a nice mug of tea for your driver and yourself sat down and put you legs and boots up on the front of the loco (the loco was always a Brush type 2/class 31 nice and comfortable they were) only for some b*****d to bang on the cabside wanting you to move the train up another 20 yards!.

I hate to think how many times I had to wake the train crew up to do a move like this.
When it was typical Sat night weather as well, it didn't half depress all the guys out on the ground to see the feet up and the steaming mugs.
When we used to get 47s / 56s or other older diesels that produced a lot of exhaust fumes.
When working in tunnels they were given the option if possible take the engine outside the tunnel or turn it off. The thought process lasted about 10 seconds "We lose the heater" Ok We take it outside.
Now if you had asked them to uncouple / recouple anywhere else, no chance.

I guess you are right there Bryan it couldn't have been any fun on a Saturday night block working outside in the cess in a down pour at 2:am i guess everyone outside was cheesed off to say the least.

I think those brake vans that you mentioned hq1hitchin on the electrification train were ex-Southern Railway Queen Mary brake vans?. Yes i think they were smooth runners those things they looked like they were.

Yes, the 'Spanners' were easy Mick, I remember being late away because of one of those bloody 'Stones' gadgets once.

I remember Johnny May and I believe, unless I'm mixing him up, he still comes to the Hatfield dos or is still to be come across somewhere in retiree haunts, which dos I've sadly neglected this last year or so, hq1Hitchin.

hq2PottersBar.

Yes i believe Johnny May is still around blimey he looked about 65 back in 1970!.

Micky wrote:Yes i believe Johnny May is still around blimey he looked about 65 back in 1970!.

Sorry - Johnny May died moons years ago and the only DIs you are likely to meet at Hatfield dos now are Ted Nye and Tim Hatton. The Hatfield re-unions, for those who haven't heard of them, are held twice a year and are open to any retired member of staff who worked at any time on the old Kings X Division. Genuinely for all grades, too - everyone from Divisional Managers to carriage cleaners most welcome. Buffet lunch included and all for a fiver.

Ok hq1hitchin Ted Nye & Tim Hatton are still alive. Ted Nye turned up a WGC one day and read what i had wrote in the book that a TC had failed 'on' on the down main line at no.24 signal. Ted turned to me and said "I know what you mean BUT does anyone else?." Harry Fitzgerald thought that comment was highly amusing (for the next 2hrs!).

Talking of reunions this coming Friday 27th August there is a Kings Cross driver's and Secondman's drink up at the social club opposite Hatfield railway station starting about 12-noon onwards. I was told by an ex Kings Cross Secondman from the 1970s that this event takes place every year on the LAST FRIDAY IN AUGUST.