CS Gas released at Ealing Broadway

[Admin Team]

Just spotted this on the BBC web site.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4560591.stm
Anyone know anything more?

[solidbond]

All I can tell you is that it came over the train radio to say that Ealing Broadway was closed due to an incident outside the station. Trains were told to detrain at Acton Town (Ealing Common W/B platform is closed for building work) and the trains were to run empty from Acton Town to Ealing Broadway, and back to Ealing Common. About 10 mins later, controller called up a train approaching Ealing Broadway to say that the LFB had asked for the station to be evacuated, and could he change ends quickly and leave early. The service was then suspended to Ealing with trains being diverted to Richmond or Wimbledon. (Surprised they didn't try sending some to South Harrow ;D) It wasn't till I saw that BBC item that I found out what had actually happened!

[Deleted]

For those of us who haven't been there, Ealing Broadway ticket hall, while compact, is open to the elements on both ends. Once the passengers had been evacuated I'm sure a couple of box fans would be all that was needed to remove the gas.

I don't suppose the BTP was lucky enough to find the container?

[Hutch]

Solidbond wrote:-

The service was then suspended to Ealing with trains being diverted to Richmond or Wimbledon. (Surprised they didn't try sending some to South Harrow )

I've seen this raised before, but how practical/feasible would it be to have Northfields used by District services as a reversing point when an emergency closes EB. How many routine journeys would be required to maintain route knowledge or could you use a "Piccadilly Pilot"?

[chris]

Was the gas set off as a practical 'joke'?

[setttt]

Chris said:

Was the gas set off as a practical 'joke'?

I'm not sure, but you can bet your life it was! Probably one of the "hood-rats" from Copley Close or the South Acton Estate

[igelkotten]

TheOneKEA said:

For those of us who haven't been there, Ealing Broadway ticket hall, while compact, is open to the elements on both ends. Once the passengers had been evacuated I'm sure a couple of box fans would be all that was needed to remove the gas.

I don't suppose the BTP was lucky enough to find the container?

Speaking from experience here, as well as my national service as a rescue serices worker: CS/CN type gasses are actually not that easy to get rid of completely.

While they are for all practical purposes a gas, in reality they are composed of extremely fine crystals -an ultralight powder that has the ability to get in everywhere, and then stay there. This was something brought home in a very poignant manner by showering after excercises in tear gas-filled rooms.

In, shall we say transport applications, the problem is that these tiny crystals very easily get sucked in and stuck in various parts of the forced ventilation system of stations and trains, giving you a very nasty surprise when, for example, the heat switches on or the ventilation notches up. Thus, in a station, these crystals might linger for quite a while in various nooks and crannies, making life miserable for the rats.

[Deleted]

In relation to the question about Northfields, it is used by district line trains to reverse more than you would think, as it is an easy way of getting them back to Acton if ealing is closed

[Hutch]

In relation to the question about Northfields, it is used by district line trains to reverse more than you would think, as it is an easy way of getting them back to Acton if ealing is closed

Is this included in the District route knowledge or is the movement under the guidance of a pilot?

[Admin Team]

Hutch said:

Is this included in the District route knowledge or is the movement under the guidance of a pilot?

No, it's not 'outline trained' - it would be done under the direction of a conductor.

On the general theme though, the media got their facts rather wrong - the Standard (well, here's a surprise!) and the Metro referred to it all as being on the 'Tube'.

This is factually wrong, though of course our services were affected. The incident actually took place in the ticket hall which is operated by (I presume) First Group and therefore has nothing to do with 'us' at all!

The strange part about all this is that I've seen no mention of mainline services being affected, which they must have been, other that they did not stop! What about the passengers who would have been using EBDY on their services? What happened to them?

Nothing like telling the whole story.....

[Deleted]

You are correct Dave; the LU platforms are run as a separate LU station with an LU station supervisor for making tea and securing points

The ticket hall and GWR platforms, such as they are, are owned by Notwork Fail and leased to FGWL.

[Colin]

Met said:

In relation to the question about Northfields, it is used by district line trains to reverse more than you would think, as it is an easy way of getting them back to Acton if ealing is closed

The last time I can recall Northfields being used by a D stock was the great power failure of August 2003. We also have up to four sidings at Acton for emergency use which do not require a pilot - whereas a trip to Northfields would require a pilot, so it's really a case of what is easier at the time.
So, Sorry MA, I think i'll have pull you up here and say it's only used as an absoloute, no other way round it, desparate alternative - and is not as routine as you suggest.

[Admin Team]

COLIN said:

The last time I can recall Northfields being used by a D stock was the great power failure of August 2003. We also have up to four sidings at Acton for emergency use which do not require a pilot - whereas a trip to Northfields would require a pilot, so it's really a case of what is easier at the time.
So, Sorry MA, I think i'll have pull you up here and say it's only used as an absoloute, no other way round it, desparate alternative - and is not as routine as you suggest.

*Puts Adjuicators Hat On*

I think I'll put this as a 'score draw'!

Although both Colin and MA are correct there's a reluctance to use either Acton East sidings or Northfields if it can possily be avoided, though Act East probably just colours the result as District drivers *should* be fully familiar with them and not need a pilot.

BUT (question for both Colin and MA!) if there is a train approaching Acton Town W/B local CAN it reverse into Acton East sidings, and then go to Depot? Or if Ealing Common (and beyond) is unavailable must it use Northfields to reverse?

Books out lads!

[Deleted]

Well, can I cheat, use the diagram of Acton Town on your site and say that only 21RD can be used by District drivers seeking to reverse off the w/b local, with a move to depot requiring a wrong-direction shunt via No.66 crossover, reading up to WL99?

Or should I wait? ;D ;D ;
D

[Admin Team]

TheOneKEA said:

Well, can I cheat, use the diagram of Acton Town on your site and say that only 21RD can be used by District drivers seeking to reverse off the w/b local, with a move to depot requiring a wrong-direction shunt via No.66 crossover, reading up to WL99?

Or should I wait? ;D ;D ;
D

Shhuusshh

[rikio]

Just looked at the diagram for Acton town, and I'm a little confused by the masses of lines that come in form the west.

I make 7 lines, and was just wondering if you could confirm their uses? (from top of diagram)

1) 'Eastbound Local' from south ealing, unused 'local' line
2) Bi-directonal depot line
3) 'Easbound Ealing' from ealing common, used by both picc and district
4) 'Eastbound Fast' from south ealing, normal picc line
5) 'Westbound Fast'' to south ealing, normal picc line
6) 'Westbound Ealing' to ealing common
7) 'Westbound Local' to south ealing, normally unused. Used as test track under a possession?

Thanx,
Rikio

[Tom]

The EB Local is used as the test track, and some trains to Northfields are routed down the WB local, but otherwise the uses are as you posted.

[piccadillypilot]

District said:

if there is a train approaching Acton Town W/B local CAN it reverse into Acton East sidings

No, it can only proceed westwards. Unless the station supervisor get his hands dirty to let you shunt back into 21 siding.

[Colin]

District said:

*Puts Adjuicators Hat On*

I think I'll put this as a 'score draw'!

Although both Colin and MA are correct there's a reluctance to use either Acton East sidings or Northfields if it can possily be avoided, though Act East probably just colours the result as District drivers *should* be fully familiar with them and not need a pilot.

BUT (question for both Colin and MA!) if there is a train approaching Acton Town W/B local CAN it reverse into Acton East sidings, and then go to Depot? Or if Ealing Common (and beyond) is unavailable must it use Northfields to reverse?

Books out lads!

OK DAVE fair comment!!

As to your question, you could have a point. I'm unsure of what WL13 (wrong road shunt, East end of Westbound Local) allows.

If it allows movement to 21 road, then we would look for a route 3 to the Eastbound fast, then shunt WL56 for the depot.

If it allows movement to 24 road (chiswick works), then it would have to be northfields.

Though not a excuse, i'm off sick at the moment, otherwise I would prefer to visit the area and see it for real! Line supplement drawings only help so much.

I'm gonna risk it and say reverse at WL13 to 21 road. Then WL51 with '3' to Eastbound fast, finally WL56 to depot.
Now looks forward to early retirement!! ;D ;D

[solidbond]

COLIN said:

OK DAVE fair comment!!

As to your question, you could have a point. I'm unsure of what WL13 (wrong road shunt, East end of Westbound Local) allows.

If it allows movement to 21 road, then we would look for a route 3 to the Eastbound fast, then shunt WL56 for the depot.

If it allows movement to 24 road (chiswick works), then it would have to be northfields.

Though not a excuse, i'm off sick at the moment, otherwise I would prefer to visit the area and see it for real! Line supplement drawings only help so much.

I'm gonna risk it and say reverse at WL13 to 21 road. Then WL51 with '3' to Eastbound fast, finally WL56 to depot.
Now looks forward to early retirement!! ;D ;D

WL13 ONLY allows movement into Acton Works - therefore there is no way to go from the W/B local into Acton East sidings

[Tom]

The site plan I've got at home doesn't even show WL13

[DrJimi]

Wouldn't a "local-to-fast" (facing point?) crossover just west of 40 points add a lot of flexibility? A local could then gain the fast prior to the pfm and thus reverse in 26 siding and back to the EB local. Just out of curiosity, supposing pfm 4 (WB local) were blocked for some reason. Can a local service get to the fast line prior to ACT? (I don't have my charts to hand).

[Harsig]

DrJimi said:

Wouldn't a "local-to-fast" (facing point?) crossover just west of 40 points add a lot of flexibility? A local could then gain the fast prior to the pfm and thus reverse in 26 siding and back to the EB local. Just out of curiosity, supposing pfm 4 (WB local) were blocked for some reason. Can a local service get to the fast line prior to ACT? (I don't have my charts to hand).

Such a crossover used to exist but has long since been removed. I imagine it was one of a number removed to simplify the layout in order to allow operation by programme machine.
A picture of the full diagram as it once was can be seen here.
www.piccadillypilot.co.uk/ATn/1934ActonTnDiagram.jpg

This is a link originally posted by Piccadilly Pilot in the thread
districtdave.proboards39.com/index.cgi?board=History&action=display&thread=1112903856

[DrJimi]

Much appreciated! The old diagram is fascinating and I notice a lot of changes compared to today.

[Colin]

solidbond said:

WL13 ONLY allows movement into Acton Works - therefore there is no way to go from the W/B local into Acton East sidings

Thanks for that Solidbond. I'm gonna get that JCB I used in another thread now!! ;D ;D