NLL recollections

[Mickey]

August 1989-

Tue 1st 06:00-14:00 Neasden Junction then 14:00-18:00 training Acton Wells
Wed 2nd 06:00-14:00 Neasden Junction then 14:00-18:00 training Acton Wells passed out to work the box
Thu 3rd 06:00-14:00 Neasden Junction then 18:00-22:00 Upper Holloway
Fri 4th 06:00-14:00 Neasden Junction then 14:00-18:00 Acton Canal Wharf training
Sat 5th 22:00-08:00 Camden Road Rest Day

Sun 6th Not required
Mon 7th 22:00-06:00 Gospel Oak
Tue 8th 22:00-06:00 Gospel Oak
Wed 9th 22:00-06:00 Gospel Oak
Thu 10th 22:00-06:00 Gospel Oak Rest Day
Fri 11th 22:00-06:00 Gospel Oak
Sat 12th 22:00-08:00 Gospel Oak

Sun 13th 19:00-06:00 Acton Wells
Mon 14th 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells Rest Day
Tue 15th 10:00-14:00 Acton Canal Wharf training then 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells Rest Day
Wed 16th 10:00-14:00 Acton Canal Wharf training then 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells
Thu 17th 10:00-14:00 Acton Canal Wharf training then 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells
Fri 18th 06:00-18:00 Acton Wells
Sat 19th 14;00-22:00 Camden Road

Sun 20th 08:00-19:00 Gospel Oak
Mon 21st 06:00-14:00 Gospel Oak
Tue 22nd 06:00-14:00 Acton Wells
Wed 23rd 06:00-14:00 Gospel Oak
Thu 24th 06:00-14:00 Gospel Oak
Fri 25th 06:00-14:00 Gospel Oak
Sat 26th 06:00-14:00 Gospel Oak Rest Day

Sun 27th 19:00-06;00 Willesden High Level
Mon 28th 18:00-06:00 Gospel Oak
Tue 29th 22:00-06:00 Gospel Oak
Wed 30th 22:00-06:00 Gospel Oak
Thu 31st 22:00-06:00 Gospel Oak Rest Day

September 1989-

Fri 1st Lieu day
Sat 2nd Lieu day

Sun 3rd Not available
Mon 4th Annual leave
Tues 5th A/L
Wed 6th A/L
Thu 7th A/L
Fri 8th A/L
Sat 9th A/L

Sun 10th Not Available
Mon 11th Lieu day
Tue 12th 06;00-14;00 Kew East then 14:00-18:00 Acton Wells
Wed 13th 06:00-14:00 Kew East then 14:00-18:00 Acton Wells
Thu 14th 06:00-14:00 Kew East
Fri 15th 06:00-14:00 Kew East Rest Day
Sat 16th 06;00-14:00 Camden road then 22:00-08:00 Camden Road Rest Day

Sun 17th 19:00-06:00 Acton Wells
Mon 18th 22:00-06:00 Upper Holloway Rest Day
Tue 19th 18:00-21;00 Camden road then 22:00-06:00 Upper Holloway
Wed 20th 22:00-06:00 Upper Holloway
Thu 21st 14:00-22:00 Gospel Oak
Fri 22nd 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells then 22:00-02:00 Willesden High Level
Sat 23rd 06:00-14:00 Upper Holloway but worked until 02:00 at Willesden High Level so was booked 'spare' and didn't work the 'early turn' at UH.

Sun 24th 08:00-19:00 Willesden High Level
Mon 25th 06:00-14:00 Willesden High Level
Tue 26th 06;00-18:00 Acton Wells
Wed 27th 06:00-18:00 Acton Wells Rest Day
Thu 28th 06:00-14:00 Acton Wells
Fri 29th 06:00-14:00 Acton Wells
Sat 30th 06;00-14:00 Acton Wells

October 1989-

Sun 1st Not Available
Mon 2nd 06:00-14:00 Camden Road
Tue 3rd 06:00-14:00 Camden Road
Wed 4th 06:00-14:00 Camden Road
Thu 5th 06:00-14:00 Camden Road Rest Day
Fri 6th 10:00-14:00 passed out to work Acton Canal Wharf then 14:00-22:00 Camden Road
Sat 7th 06:00-14:00 Camden Road then 14:00-18:00 Upper Holloway

Sun 8th 19:00-06:00 Willesden High Level
Mon 9th 22:00-06:00 Camden Road
Tue 10th 22:00-06:00 Camden Road
Wed 11th 22:00-06:00 Camden Road Rest Day
Thu 12th 22:00-06:00 Camden Road
Fri 13th 22:00-06:00 Camden Road
Sat 14th 22:00-08:00 Camden Road

Sun 15th 19:00-06:00 Camden Road
Mon 16th 14:00-22:00 Camden Road
Tue 17th 06:00-18:00 Camden Road
Wed 18th 06:00-18:00 Camden Road Rest Day
Thu 19th 06:00-18:00 Camden Road
Fri 20th 06:00-18:00 Camden Road
Sat 21st 06:00-18:00 Camden Road

Sun 22nd 08:00-19:00 Camden Road
Mon 23rd 06:00-14:00 Camden Road
Tue 24th 18:00-06:00 Acton Canal Wharf
Wed 25th 18:00-06:00 Acton Canal Wharf Rest Day
Thu 26th 18:00-06:00 Acton Canal Wharf
Fri 27th 18:00-06:00 Acton Canal Wharf
Sat 28th Lieu day

Sun 29th 19:00-06:00 Acton Canal Wharf
Mon 30th 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells Rest Day
Tue 31st 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells

November 1989-

Wed 1st 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells
Thu 2nd 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells
Fri 3rd 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells
Sat 4th 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells

Sun 5th 08:00-19:00 Acton Wells
Mon 6th 06:00-14:00 Acton Wells
Tue 7th 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells
Wed 8th 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells
Thu 9th 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells
Fri 10th 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells
Sat 11th Rest Day off

Sun 12th Not Available
Mon 13th 22:00-06:00 Acton Wells
Tue 14th 22:00-06:00 Acton Wells
Wed 15th 18:00-06:00 Acton Wells
Thu 16th 22:00-06:00 Acton Wells
Fri 17th 22:00-06:00 Acton Wells
Sat 18th Rest Day off

Sun 19th 19:00-06:00 Acton Wells
Mon 20th 14:00-22:00 Willesden Suburban training Rest Day
Tue 21st 06:00-14:00 Upper Holloway then 14:00-18:00 Acton Canal Wharf Rest Day
Wed 22nd 06:00-18:00 Acton Wells
Thu 23rd 06:00-14:00 Acton Wells
Fri 24th 06:00-14:00 Acton Wells
Sat 25th 06:00-14:00 Acton Wells

Sun 26th 08:00-19:00 Acton Canal Wharf
Mon 27th 06:00-14:00 Acton Canal Wharf Rest Day
Tue 28th 06:00-14:00 Camden Road
Wed 29th 06:00-14:00 Camden Road
Thu 30th 06:00-14:00 Camden Road

December 1989-

Fri 1st 06:00-14:00 Camden Road
Sat 2nd 06:00-14:00 Camden Road

Sun 3rd 19:00-06:00 Willesden High Level
Mon 4th 22:00-06:00 Camden Road
Tue 5th 22:00-06:00 Camden Road Rest Day
Wed 6th 22:00-06:00 Camden Road
Thu 7th 18:00-22:00 Gospel Oak then 22:00-06:00 Camden Road
Fri 8th 22:00-06:00 Camden Road
Sat 9th 22:00-06:00 Acton Wells

Sun 10th 19:00-06:00 Camden Road
Mon 11th 14:00-22:00 Camden Road Rest Day
Tue 12th 14:00-22:00 Camden Road
Wed 13th 14:00-22:00 Camden Road
Thu 14th 06:00-18:00 Camden Road
Fri 15th 06:00-18:00 Upper Holloway
Sat 16th 06:00-18:00 Upper Holloway

Sun 17th 08:00-19:00 Camden Road
Mon 18th 06:00-14:00 Camden Road
Tue 19th 06;00-14:00 Kew East Rest Day
Wed 20th 06:00-14:00 Kew East
Thu 21st 06:00-14:00 Kew East
Fri 22nd 06:00-14:00 Kew East
Sat 23rd Lieu day

Sun 24th Christmas Eve Not Available
Mon 25th Christmas Day booked off
Tue 26th Boxing Day booked off
Wed 27th Rest Day off
Thu 28th 22:00-06:00 Camden Road
Fri 29th 22:00-06:00 Camden Road
Sat 30th 22:00-08:00 Camden Road

Sun 31st 19:00-06:00 Camden Road Rest Day

[Mickey]

January 1990-

Mon 1st 14:00-22:00 Camden Road
Tue 2nd 14:00-18:00 Camden Road then 18:00-22:00 Upper Holloway Rest Day
Wed 3rd 14:00-18:00 Camden Road then 18:00-22:00 Upper Holloway
Thu 4th 14:00-18:00 Camden Road then 18:00-22:00 Upper Holloway
Fri 5th 14:00-18:00 Camden Road then 18:00-22:00 Upper Holloway
Sat 6th 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells

Sun 7th 08:00-19:00 Camden Road
Mon 8th 06:00-14:00 Upper Holloway Rest Day
Tue 9th 06:00-14:00 Gospel Oak
Wed 10th 06:00-14:00 Gospel Oak
Thu 11th 06:00-18:00 Gospel Oak
Fri 12th 06:00-14:00 Camden Road
Sat 13th Lieu Day

Sun 14th 19:00-06:00 Acton Canal Wharf
Mon 15th 1800-06:00 Acton Canal Wharf
Tue 16th "Was booked to work 22:00-06:00 training Willesden Suburban but was asked to work 12 hours at Kew East on Wednesday 17th."
Wed 17th 06:00-18:00 Kew East
Thu 18th 14:00-22:00 Acton Canal Wharf
Fri 19th 06:00-14:00 Kew East
Sat 20th 06:000-14:00 Willesden Suburban training Rest Day

Sun 21st 19:00-06:00 Willesden High Level
Mon 22nd 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells
Tue 23rd 10:00-18:00 Acton Canal Wharf
Wed 24th 06:00-14:00 Willesden Suburban training
Thu 25th 06:00-14:00 Acton Wells Rest Day
Fri 26th 06:00-14:00 Acton Wells
Sat 27th 22:00-08:00 Willesden High Level

Sun 28th 19:00-06:00 Willesden High Level
Mon 29th 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells Rest Day
Tue 30th 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells Rest Day
Wed 31st 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells

February 1990-

Thu 1st 06:00-14:00 Gospel Oak
Fri 2nd 06:00-18:00 Acton Canal Wharf
Sat 3rd 22:00-08:00 Upper Holloway

Sun 4th Not Available
Mon 5th Annual leave
Tue 6th A/L
Wed 7th A/L
Thu 8th A/L
Fri 9th A/L
Sat Rest Day Not Available

Sun 11th 19:00-06:00 Willesden High Level
Mon 12th 22:00-06:00 Willesden High Level
Tue 13th 22:00-06:00 Willesden High Level
Wed 14th 22:00-06:00 Willesden High Level
Thu 15th 22:00-06:00 Willesden High Level Rest Day
Fri 16th 22:00-06:00 Willesden High Level
Sat 17th 22:00-08:00 Willesden Suburban training

Sun 18th Not Required
Mon 19th 22:00-06:00 Acton Wells
Tue 20th 22:00-06;00 Acton Wells
Wed 21st 22:00-06:00 Acton Wells
Thu 22nd 22:00-06:00 Acton Wells Rest Day
Fri 23rd 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells
Sat 24th 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells

Sun 25th Not Required
Mon 26th 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells
Tue 27th 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells
Wed 28th 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells

March 1990-

Thu 1st 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells
Fri 2nd 06:00-14:00 Gospel Oak Rest Day
Sat 3rd 06:00-14;00 Gospel Oak Rest Day

Sun 4th 08:00-14:00 Acton Canal Wharf "but went to Gospel Oak from Acton Canal Wharf at 09:45 until 19:00"
Mon 5th 06:00-14;00 Gospel Oak then 22:00-06:00 also at Gospel Oak Rest Day
Tue 6th 14:00-22:00 Willesden High Level
Wed 7th 14:00-22:00 Willesden High Level
Thu 8th 14:00-18:00 Camden Road then 18:00-22:00 at Gospel Oak
Fri 9th 06:00-14:00 Upper Holloway
Sat 10th 06:00-14:00 Upper Holloway

Sun 11th 08:00-19:00 Acton Canal Wharf "Box required to be open for S&T preparation work in relation to Acton Wells re-signalling."
Mon 12th 22:00-06:00 Camden Road
Tue 13th 22:00-06:00 Upper Holloway
Wed 14th 22:00-06:00 Upper Holloway Rest Day
Thu 15th 22:00-06:00 Willesden Suburban training
Fri 16th 14:00-22:00 Camden Road
Sat 17th Annual leave

Sun 18th Not Available
Mon 19th 06:00-14:00 Acton Canal Wharf
Tue 20th 06:00-14:00 Acton Wells
Wed 21st 06:00-14:00 Neasden Junction
Thu 22nd 06:00-14:00 Neasden Junction Rest Day
Fri 23rd 06:00-14:00 Neasden Junction
Sat 24th 06:00-14:00 Willesden Suburban training

Sun 25th 19:00-06:00 Willesden High Level
Mon 26th 22:00-06:00 Gospel Oak
Tue 27th 22:00-06:00 Gospel Oak
Wed 28th 22:00-06:00 Gospel Oak Rest Day
Thu 29th 14:00-18:00 Acton Canal Wharf then 18:00-22:00 Gospel Oak
Fri 30th 06:00-14:00 Gospel Oak
Sat 31st 06:00-14:00 Gospel Oak

[Mickey]

April 1990-

Sun 1st 19:00-06:00 Acton Wells
Mon 2nd 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells
Tue 3rd 14:00-18:00 Gospel Oak then 18:00-22:00 Acton Wells
Wed 4th 14:00-22:00 Gospel Oak Rest Day
Thu 5th 06:00-14:00 Willesden Suburban training
Fri 6th 22:00-06:00 Upper Holloway
Sat 7th Lieu Day

Sun 8th Not Required
Mon 9th 06:00-18:00 Acton Canal Wharf
Tue 10th 06:00-14:00 Willesden Suburban training
Wed 11th 06:00-14:00 Willesden Suburban training Rest Day
Thu 12th 14:00-22:00 Camden Road
Fri 13th 06:00-14:00 Willesden Suburban training
Sat 14th 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells

Sun 15th 08:00-19:00 Upper Holloway
Mon 16th 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells Rest Day
Tue 17th 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells
Wed 18th 14:00-22:00 Willesden Suburban training
Thu 19th 18:00-22:00 Camden Road then 22:00-06:00 Willesden High Level
Fri 20th 14:00-18:00 Acton Canal Wharf then disappeared!.
Sat 21st 14:00-22:00 Gospel Oak

Sun 22nd 08:00-19:00 Acton Wells
Mon 23rd "Attended an enquiry at Euston due to a 'incident' at Acton Wells on 20/03/90 due to faulty telecoms installation work."
Tue 24th 06:00-14:00 Acton Wells
Wed 25th 06:00-14:00 Acton Wells
Thu 26th 06:00-14:00 Acton Wells
Fri 27th 06:00-14:00 Acton Wells
Sat 28th Rest Day Not Available

Sun 29th Not Available
Mon 30th 22:00-06:00 Gospel Oak

May 1990-

Tue 1st 22:00-06:00 Gospel Oak
Wed 2nd 22:00-06:00 Acton Wells
Thu 3rd 22:00-06:00 Willesden High Level
Fri 4th 22:00-06:00 Upper Holloway
Sat 5th 22:00-08:00 Upper Holloway Rest Day

Sun 6th Not Available
Mon 7th Rest Day off
Tue 8th 06:00-14:00 Neasden Junction Rest Day
Wed 9th 06:00-14:00 Neasden Junction
Thu 10th 06:00-14:00 Neasden Junction
Fri 11th 06:00-14:00 Neasden Junction
Sat 12th Lieu Day

Sun 13th Not Available
Mon 14th Annual leave
Tue 15th A/L
Wed 16th A/L
Thu 17th a/l
Fri 18th A/L
Sat 19th A/L

Sun 20th Off
Mon 21st A/L
Tue 22nd A/L
Wed 23rd A/L
Thu 24th A/L
Fri 25th A/L
Sat 26th A/L

Sun 27th Off
Mon 28th 22:00-06;00 Upper Holloway Rest Day
Tue 29th Lieu Day
Wed 30th Lieu Day
Thu 31st Lieu Day

June 1990-

Fri 1st 06;00-14:00 Gospel Oak
Sat 2nd 14:00-22:00 Acton Wells

Sun 3rd Off
Mon 4th 22:00-06:00 Upper Holloway
Tue 5th 22:00-06;00 Upper Holloway Rest Day
Wed 6th 22:00-06:00 Upper Holloway
Thu 7th 22:00-06:00 Upper Holloway
Fri 8th 22:00-06:00 Upper Holloway
Sat 9th 22:00-08:00 Upper Holloway

Sun 10th 19:00-06:00 Upper Holloway
Mon 11th 14:00-22:00 Upper Holloway
Tue 12th 14:00-22:00 Upper Holloway
Wed 13th 14:00-22:00 Upper Holloway Rest Day
Thu 14th 14:00-22:00 Upper Holloway
Fri 15th 14:00-22:00 Upper Holloway
Sat 16th 14:00-22:00 Upper Holloway "Last day as a relief signalmen on the North London line after 3 years of 'being on the relief' between July 1987-June 1990 then I subsequently went back to being a resident signalman which I was previously between 1980-1987 on the North London line and have been for the last 30 years until the present day (2020)."

[Mickey]

After posting 'my orders' when I was 'on the relief' for all of 1989 and the first half of 1990 (before coming off the relief) I noticed that no mention was made of myself working Willesden New Line box on the Euston-Watford DC lines and also no mention was made of my 'one night only' working the Wembley ground frame so I assume those two activities must have taken place during 1988.

[Mickey]

Rewinding the clock back 48 years to where it all began for me on the railways in 1972.

The interior of Welwyn Garden City box in the summer of 1973 with signalman Alan 'peddler' Palmer with his back to the photographer with a scruffy long-haired 16 year old 'box lad' in front of him (only partly seen) which was ME!!.

https://www.ourwelwyngardencity.org.uk/ ... C-SB-1.jpg

[Mickey]

Meanwhile back on the North London line again...

Back in 2002 Railtrack (was it Railtrack?) instigated some 'superficial refurbishment' work on a few boxes around the North London line and one of the boxes that was chosen was Camden Road box which was given a new roof along with some superficial outside white plastic cladding that was added to the box. With regards to the work on the roof in particular that work was programmed to be renewed on a Saturday night/Sunday morning in May of that year. After the last passenger service was run soon after midnight on the Saturday night the roads were blocked and the roofers who from memory had driven down on the Saturday evening from somewhere up north commenced there work on renewing the roof. I was actually given permission to leave the box and go home for several hours while the roof was being renewed and to return at 5:00am before the day turn signalman came on duty.

Apparently when the roof slates were removed from the roof the slates had been originally laid on green felt and covered with a thin layer of tin which the roofers had rolled up and left outside the box for collection as rubbish along with the green felt and old roof slates.

On returning to the box at 5:00am that Sunday morning the box was empty (I recall the box door was left wide open!) and the roofers had gone after completing there work. The interior of the box was covered in a ton of black soot which was everywhere!!. I presume the soot was a left over from the 'steam days' of the previous century.

[Mickey]

I was working a night turn at Gospel Oak box (the 'temporary box' that replaced the old LNWR mechanical box that burnt down in 1985 and which finally closed in late 2011) when one night back around 1988/89 I received a phone call from the Control at around 2:00am telling me to "Keep the door locked cos a report of a bloke carrying a gun has been reported walking along the line towards Gospel Oak station." Ok so your on your own in the early hours of the morning in a fairly lonely and isolated location on a night turn and it was lonely at 'the Oak' after the passenger services had finished on the NLL between midnight & 6:00am and a bloke has been reported with a gun walking along the line towards you!. What action do you take?.

Below Gospel Oak box (1985-2011) probably taken in the early 2000s before an extension was added to the western end around 2007/08 with the lower half of the box covered in graffiti https://tillyweb.biz/gallery/gg/gospel1.jpg

First turn the box interior lights off completely and just hope he doesn't get as far as your location??. I am not sure if the box door could be locked properly as the door always seemed to be slightly ajar and not properly closed at that place?. If the box door could be closed I'm not sure if door had a key??.

On that particular occasion I never saw anyone thank god.

[Mickey]

A very rare happening occurred on two possibly three occasions when I was at Junction Road box on the Tottenham & Hampstead line between Gospel Oak (originally Kentish Town) & Barking back around 1983/84 when on at least two Sundays (possibly three?) spread over several months 'My box' was switched through to Wood grange Park box in east London creating a block section of about 10 miles with about 10 stations in the block section.

The boxes that were 'switched out' between Junction Road & Woodgrange Park were-
Upper Holloway
Harringay Park Junction
South Tottenham
Leytonstone High Road

How the passenger service worked under Absolute block between the two boxes at Junction Road & Woodgrange Park.

The first Down passenger train from Gospel Oak and the first Up passenger train from Barking usually commenced around 9:00am on Sundays back in the 1980s with a 30 minutes service for the rest of the day until late on Sunday evening. By chance the 30 minutes service just about worked alright with such a long block section of 10 miles between both boxes.

Junction Road box in the early 1980s- https://www.roscalen.com/signals/London ... 2/0254.jpg Immediately behind the box was the walkway to & from a gate that opened onto Junction road running between Tufnell Park & Archway and the area the 'other side' of the walkway was a small scrap business and a 24hrs mini cab service.

What usually occurred at Junction Road box was when a Down line passenger train was leaving the Gospel Oak bay platform it was offered onto Junction Road by Gospel Oak which was accepted by Junction Road and train entering section was also given at the same time as well by Gospel Oak and acknowledged by Junction Road. Immediately the same Down line passenger train was offered onto Woodgrange Park which was usually accepted and in turn Woodgrange Park offered on the Up line passenger train as well which was accepted by Junction Road. The Down line signals were then pulled off at Junction Road and 2 minutes later train entering section was given on to Woodgrange Park for the Down line passenger train which in turn gave train entering section for the Up line passenger train which was also acknowledged by Junction Road and at the same time the Up line passenger train was offered onto Gospel Oak and after it was accepted by Gospel Oak the Down line signals were replaced to danger & caution behind the just passed Down line passenger train and train out of section was given back to Gospel Oak and the 'block was cleared' back to Gospel Oak over the Down line and then the Up line signals were then pulled off at Junction Road towards Gospel Oak for the Up line passenger train that had just passed Woodgrange Park box 10 miles away!. After 30 minutes the Up line passenger train would appear on the track diagram at Junction Road and train entering section would be given to Gospel Oak and on passing the box the Up line signals were replaced to danger & caution behind the Up line passenger train and train out of section would be given back to Woodgrange Park which would immediately offer on the next Up line passenger train which was accepted by Junction Road and train out of section would be received by Junction Road from Woodgrange Park for the previous Down line passenger train at the same time by which time the next Down line passenger train would have just left Gospel Oak which would then immediately be offered onto Woodgrange Park and accepted and the Down line signals would be pulled off again!.

The above signalling cycle went on all day and into the evening until at some stage South Tottenham box re-opened and 'shortened the block section' by 5 miles.

The funny thing about the above working was come the Monday morning there was a 'block failure' between Junction Road and maybe Harringay Park Junction (or Upper Holloway if it was open?) which according to the S&T was due to the block indicator standing virtually at 'train on line' all day on the Sunday unless a line clear was given thus draining the batteries on the block instrument!. That was interesting to know.

[Mickey]

December 11th 1981...

That morning brings another heavy fall of snow overnight in London and across the southeast of England that welcomes the new day and another early turn inside Junction Road Junction box on the cross London Gospel Oak-Barking line when news comes through of a train crash at Seer Green on the Marylebone-High Wycombe line. At around 10:00-10:30am that morning 4 bells is received on the Up line block from Upper Holloway which was immediately accepted and offered forward to Gospel Oak which intern was accepted straight away and the Up line signals are pulled off!. Several minutes later 2 bells 'train entering section' is received from Upper Holloway and the block needle is placed to 'train on line' on the block instrument for the approaching train followed by a minute or so later before appearing on the track diagram and out of the raging snow storm outside through the nearby 'bridge ole' comes a dirty blue livered Stratford Brush type 2 (class 31) hauling the Stratford brakedown vans including the huge 75 tons brakedown crane which is 'in steam' along with several tool vans and a messing coach for the brakedown gang that trundles close by me outside the box and passes over the diamond crossing nearby at a stately 10 mph and slowly disappears into the swirling snow storm and the covered way beyond Junction Road box heading up towards Gospel Oak and the North London line as I put back the signals behind it and give 'out' to Upper Holloway.

A sombre feeling pervades the air for the next hour or two...

[Mickey]

A bronze plaque was fixed to the Camden Road panel with the inscription engraved on that read something like-
This signalling panel was an essential part of the North London line re-signalling scheme and was unveiled by David Mitchell MP Minster of Transport in September 1987.

David Mitchell MP was a Minster of Transport in Mrs.Ts 1980s government and allegedly a free yearly can of Brasso was sanctioned by Mrs.T herself to be sent to Camden Road signal box??.

[Mickey]

When the eastern end of Hampstead heath tunnel partly collapsed in 1984 blocking the North London line for all traffic until further notice at Junction Road Junction box on the Tottenham & Hampstead line it was usual during the weekday nights through to Saturday mornings that a driver & guard would show up at the box around 9:30pm in the evening and wait in the box to conduct any freight trains that needed conducting between Junction Road Junction via Carlton Road Junction-West Hampstead-Dudding Hill & Acton Wells Junction and any return trips that needed conducting back to Junction Road?. That working went on for months on end and was quite frankly a bit heavy going having to have a traincrew hanging around in the box all night with you as well.

Later on with Hampstead heath tunnel still being rebuilt after the collapse at it's eastern end and after unfortunately Gospel Oak box burnt down 'One Train Working' was introduced between Junction Road Junction box and the bay platform at Gospel Oak over the Up T&H line. Trains departing from Gospel Oak bay platform would depart eastwards and run along the Up T&H line in the wrong direction as far as Junction Road Junction where they would be crossed over through the Junction Road Junction main to main crossover to return back onto the Down line and travel in the right direction towards Barking. A makeshift piece of wood painted green became the temporary 'single line train staff' and was handed to ALL drivers by the Junction Road signalman entering onto the single line which gave the driver authority to travel over the single line in either direction between Junction Road Junction & Gospel Oak bay platform & the return journey back to Junction Road Junction where the train staff was surrendered by the driver to the Junction Road signalman while on the Camden Road-Gospel Oak side again 'One Train Working' was introduced and another piece of wood painted red this time was used as the temporary 'single line train staff' and was handed to ALL drivers by the signalman at Camden Road box entering onto the single line which gave the driver authority to travel over the single line in either direction between Camden Road & Gospel Oak & the return journey back to Camden Road where the train staff was surrendered by the driver back to the Camden Road signalman with the DOWN North London line being used for the single line between Camden Road & Gospel Oak.

[Mickey]

British Rail local re-signalling project at Upper Holloway & Junction Road Junction signal boxes in November 1985.

The re-signalling project was to decommission two old mechanical signal boxes of Midland Railway heritage and replace them by a new NX signalling panel in a new box at Upper Holloway station. The original proposal was to site a NX panel in Junction Road Junction box but it became apparent that the box wasn't suitable due in part to it being to low to the ground and the local S&T staff boycotting 'going underneath the box' due to the restricted height under the box. The next option was to site the NX panel in the old Upper Holloway box but it was discovered that the box that was built mainly of wood and wooden timbers circa 1890 was in a rotten condition especially at the corners plus there was no flush toilet either with the signalman having to 'switch out' the box each time he wanted to take a PNB (use the toilet) and walk up to the station booking office and back so the last option was a completely new structure to replace the two old boxes.

The current Upper Holloway box which is of a double storey portacabin type structure with the ground floor being the relay room and the upper floor being the operating floor was brought from Wales in the summer of 1985 on two separate low loader road vehicles and 'craned in' onto it's present site. Once the two separate portacabins had been joined together (one on top of the other) the NX panel of the 'mosaic design' was installed and the 'wiring up' phase commenced which lasted for 6-8 weeks during the late summer and autumn of 1985.

By the second half of 1984 the old Upper Holloway box was only open when required this in part came about when the only remaining resident signalman at the box Ernie Tubble finally retired and the box was then covered by relief signalmen on a 'when required' bases which meant when the Ripple Lane to Upper Holloway oil train and the return empties ran which was once a week and occasionally twice a week during the winter months. Junction Road Junction box which was only just along the line (about 450 yards further west) from Upper Holloway box was still continuously open although a 'block switch' was provided for 'switching out the box' if needed to but it was rarely used.

The commissioning weekend was planned for the 10th November 1985 with my last week as a resident signalman at Junction road Junction was with me working a week of 8hrs night turns from the Monday to Saturday night although I was told not to come in on the Saturday night of the actual changeover although I would still be paid for the night shift but I was to return on the Sunday night at the new Upper Holloway box which is what I did. My mate at Junction Road Junction Johnny Merchant (Johnny retired in 2002) had the 'honour' of working the first full shift at the new Upper Holloway panel box when he worked the 12hrs Sunday day turn and I worked the second shift at the box when I worked the same 12hrs Sunday night turn until the Monday morning. With me working that first night turn at the box I had a Ops manager sit with me for the whole shift but after that we were on our own working the box.

The 1985 Upper Holloway 'portacabin' signal box https://tillyweb.biz/gallery/uu/upperholl1.jpg


35 years later in 2020 the box is still signalling the trains through Upper Holloway...

[Mickey]

I was at Western Junction box at Dalston over the weekend when I was a relief signalman during the re-signalling and commissioning of multi-aspect colour light signalling along that stretch of the North London line back in September 1987 along with two new signalling panels one inside Western Junction box and the other inside Camden Road box.

I can't remember to much about that weekend other than working Western Junction box on the Friday night just before the start of the commissioning of the re-signalling work on the lines through Western Junction & Camden Road.

The very last train that was signalled on Absolute block between Western Junction & Camden Road was a freightliner that passed through Western Junction around 00:35hrs on the Saturday morning heading along the no.2 lines going towards Camden Road. Once train out of section was received from Camden Road ALL the roads were blocked under a total possession. Strangely some sort of Passenger service was run during the Saturday morning along that stretch of the North London line for a few hours while the re-signalling work was in progress but it was 'knocked on the head' during the rest of the weekend.

The two panels in Western Junction & Camden Road were of different designs. The Western Junction NX panel was built at York and the Camden Road IFS panel was built at Basingstoke.