Steam Underground in London Transport Museum

Steam locomotive, Metropolitan Railway Class A, Number 23 at London Transport Museum


On the final day of my vacation in the UK, I visited the London Transport Museum near Covent Garden Station on the Piccadilly Line of the underground.

One of the most precious exhibits is a steam underground, Class A, number 23. It’s the only existing underground locomotive, built in 1866 by Beyer & Peacock & Co. of Manchester. This manufacturing year is earlier than that of Japan's first steam locomotive, which was also built in the UK in 1871. Number 23 had been operating on the underground lines for nearly 40 years. Then, it was kept as an engineer’s train, because passenger services were electrified in 1905. I give tribute to the people who created the underground railway system in the early years…, but it must have been a terrible experience for drivers and passengers because of the sooty smoke.

Another interesting item was coach number 4728, Q Stock (originally G Stock) electric car for the underground (the bottom photo). It’s built in 1923 by the Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Company as one of 50 manufactured cars. Number 4728 had been operating on the District Line etc. until 1971. I like the design of this electric car very much, for example “hog-backed shape” front windows and black staunch bogies. But, my most favorite one is the unique “topknot of Japanese samurai” style train roof.

London Transport Museum … it’s a treasure house of the early London Underground.

Electric car, Underground Q stock, Number 4728 at London Transport Museum

EMU Class 365, Rapid Commuter Train

EMU British Rail Class 365 near Hatfield Station, East Coast Railway Line


On the fifth day of my vacation in the UK, I visited Hatfield, a northern suburb of London. It’s 32km to the north of Kings Cross Station and takes 22 minutes by a commuter service. Hatfield is famous for its old country house.

From Kings Cross Station, I took a train on the East Coast Railway Line, EMU Class 365, bound for Cambridge. The train operator is First Capital Connect. Class 365 was manufactured in York by ABB from 1995 to 1996. It’s composed of 4 cars (2M2T) with a maximum speed of 160km/hour. The electric system is originally dual voltage, but only 25kV AC overhead is adopted on the East Coast Railway Line.

After leaving Kings Cross, the train stopped at Finsbury Park, which is an interchange station to London Underground. Then, picking up the pace it ran through a suburb of London City. I saw stone built houses at first. But ten minutes later, before my eyes were pasture landscapes. Sheep were browsing under the clear summer sky.

In Hatfield, I visited “Hatfield House”. It’s conveniently situated for visitors, because the entrance is located in front of the railway station. The house was Jacobean style and built in 1611 by Robert Cecil, who was Queen Elizabeth I’s right-hand man. The adjoining garden was also attractive with beautiful roses.

Visit to splendid country house with the beautiful garden, the fine weather and riding a rapid commuter train …today was a pretty good day again for me.
 

Hatfield Station, a northern suburb of London, UK

Class 43, World's Fastest Diesel Locomotive

British Rail Class 43 diesel locomotive with Mark 3 carriages at Bath Spa Station

On the third day of my vacation in the UK, I visited Bath, Somerset in the south west of England. Bath City is famous for its spa in the Roman era and was proclaimed a World Heritage Site in 1987. It’s twinned with Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan, which is also well known for its hot springs.

I took a train from London Paddington Station, operated by First Great Western. It was a push-pull train with high power Class 43 diesel locomotives and Mark 3 carriages. Class 43 locomotives were manufactured in the Crewe Works of British Rail Engine Limited from 1976 to 1982. Its power output is 2,250hp with a maximum speed of 200km/h, the fastest diesel locomotive in the world. The train travels a distance of 180 kilometers in only 1 hour and a half.

After arriving at Bath, I saw the Roman baths with an audio guide in Japanese (another five languages are also available) at no extra charge. It’s a very good service for foreign visitors. The most impressive site was the source of the hot spring. It was giving off steam and bubbling up ... a real “onsen (hot spring in Japanese)”! As you know, Japanese people are fond of bathing. I also wanted to enjoy bathing … but it’s prohibited unfortunately.

Traveling on the world's fastest diesel locomotive and enjoying the Roman baths… I had a great day today.

A bright and clear day in Bath Spa Station, Somerset, the southwest of England

Lovely “Kamaboko” Train in London

C77 Stock No.5723 on Hammersmith & City Line near Paddington Station, London, UK

As you are aware, London has the oldest subway system in the world. The construction was initiated in the middle of the 19th century, and its public service began on 10th January 1863. It was still the “samurai” era in Japan.

The size of the train is smaller than that of Tokyo, because the tunnel is low. Overhead lines with pantographs are not used, but the third-rail system is adopted for electric power collection. Subsequently, the shape of the train is similar to the “kamaboko”, a Japanese fish sausage, which has a hog-backed shape.

The top photo is EMU C77 stock on Hammersmith & City Line near Paddington Station, where we can see the train above ground. This train was manufactured in 1978 by Metro-Cammell, in Birmingham. It’s composed of six short length (about 15 – 16m) cars (3M3T). The electric system is 630V DC. Each car has 4 seats against the sidewalls between each door. This interior design is almost same as that of Tokyo.

I tried to take the underground in rush hour from London Bridge Station, on the Jubilee Line. Like Tokyo, there was a long queue on the platform. However, the passengers didn’t push onto the train, if the cars are full; they just wait for the next train. This commuting condition is much better than that of Tokyo. It would be envied by Tokyoites.

London underground … it’s a lovely "kamaboko" train for me.

Train queue at London Bridge Station, the Jubilee Line, London, UK

EMU Class 332, the Heathrow Express

EMU British Rail Class 332, No.332004 at London Paddington Station

Before going back to Japan, I visited the UK for my vacation. I lived in North Wales in the early ‘90s, but I had not visited the UK for more than ten years.

After my arrival at Heathrow, I saw a big change in airport access to London; the Heathrow Express. A stylish EMU class 332 operates between Heathrow Central and London Paddington stations with a maximum speed of 160km/h. It only takes 15 minutes. A train is composed of 4 or 5 cars including one first class car. All trains were manufactured in 1997-1998 by Siemens and CAF, Spain. The electric system is 25kV AC overhead.

The interior is divided into 3 rooms by door decks. This interior style is similar to those of the EMU JR Hokkaido 721 series in Japan. The 721 series is also an airport access train, which connects Sapporo City and Shin-chitose Airport.

After leaving Heathrow Central station, which is located in the basement, the train pulled out of the tunnel and ran through the western suburbs of London. I was just admiring the view from a window of the train; green forests, factories, storage facilities and stone-built houses. It was bright early summer, the best season in the UK. How 15 minutes had quickly passed, the Heathrow Express approached Paddington, which is downtown London City.

The Heathrow Express, it’s a rapid airport access in London.

 

The interior of a standard class car, EMU British Rail Class 332

More information about EMU JR Hokkaido 721 series (in Japanese): http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/train/tr020_01.html