Two-car train?

[Deleted]

This pic is taken from Google Earth.



It shows the MHE tracks just north of Finchley Central. The lower track is NB to MHE. The centre one is the NB reversing siding with a six-car train reversing.

It's the upper one that interests me. It seems to have a two-car set of older stock heading SB from MHE. What is this, and when did LU start running two-car trains? Presumably it's not a MHE shuttle, as it's heading for the SB platform at FC and, as discussed in another thread, that is not a good place to terminate a MHE shuttle.

This isn't a quiz, as I don't know the answer. I'm just interested in something that seems unusual. But maybe it's entirely normal.

[Phil]

1. That's a siding

2. there were no 2-car sets when Google Earth was done.

So - presumably some sort of track-recording train or similar.

[Ben]

Weedkiller, I recon. If you look at the areas where the doors would be theres a faint yellow tinge

[Deleted]

Sorry, Phil, but the two-car train isn't on a siding. Here's the Google Earth shot zoomed out a bit. You can clearly see that the middle track (with six-car set) is a siding ending in a sand drag, while the upper track (with two-car set) is SB from MHE into the SB platform at FC.



Well, it's not that clear at this reduced size, but it is at full screen!

[mrjrt]

I concur, the two car is on the sb.

[Phil]

OOPs!!

I was confusing the layout with an earlier trackplan and at that zoom mixed the reversing siding with the S/B

[mrjrt]

Veering off topic slightly, was the track plan you were confused by the double tracked one to MHE before they bodged the bridges? I'm basing that solely on the alignment of the siding track, as it looks like a perfect alignment for double track over the bridge and beyond.

[Deleted]

Here's a view of the trackwork at the north end of the platforms.



The siding lines up nicely with the Barnet NB platform. Before electrification, FC had two side platforms, so presumably the siding was then the NB track to Edgware and when LT added the extra NB platform it got turned into a reversing siding.

LT intended to rebuild the Ballards Lane overbridge, complete with station buildings in E Finchley style, and put in a fourth platform line on the other side of the SB platform, but this was never done.

Totally off the LU track, the thing that amazes me is that the old BR goods shed is still there: it's the rectangular building at the top of the photo. The real estate value must be considerable, and it's surprising that BR did not sell it off when the goods trains ceased.

[mowat]

benedict said:

Weedkiller, I recon. If you look at the areas where the doors would be theres a faint yellow tinge

I to think that it is the two car 1938 stock weedkilling train.