BEDFORD BRANCH
OUTDOOR
| London Overground’s New Cross Gate
Depot – Tuesday 12 July 2011
 On Tuesday 12 July 2011 a party from LCGB Bedford visited London Overground's
depot at New Cross Gate on LOROL’s East London Line.
Our guide for the visit was LOROL's site manager Dave Grey - a time-served
Underground man who cut his teeth at Northumberland Park Depot. Dave was most informative throughout our visit and explained at length the operations that the immaculate depot performed to keep the East London Lines operating. Bombardier supplies not only the units but the staff to maintain them. The East London Line is run as an independent operation where all trains are set up for 650V dc third-rail electrification only. But they contain all the internal equipment to run on 25kV ac as well – only a pantograph would need to be added. The Depot also does contract work on the ac/dc trains that run on the Richmond/Clapham Junction to Stratford line. Their home Depot is at Willesden. Visiting the control room we saw how a very comprehensive overview was kept on all stations and trains. LOROL staff share the room with Network Rail people who operate all signalling both on the depot and out on the line.  In the whole depot
there were only three units under maintenance and another as a 'hot'
spare: even that was in use for driver training!Six extra units were currently being delivered. These will bring the complement up to 32 four-car units, being needed for the forthcoming Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction extension. When open, (target late 2012) the East London Line will employ 120 drivers and will help to complete London’s “Outer Circle”. Altogether a fascinating tour enjoyed by all, bringing us up to date with today’s operations on a comparatively new railway, which already has proved a great success by providing another vital link across London with simple changes. We look forward to the next stage of the line opening and thank Dave and his staff for welcoming us throughout our visit. Bill Davies - LCGB Bedford Chairman |
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Our members can join other Branches’ visits. Here is a view from a recent St Albans Branch visit to St Albans South Signal Box. |
We organise occasional visits etc. to places
of interest. |
47828 at Brush, Loughborough by Brian Cross |
