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Railfanning London‘s Railways

Visitors to London who are also transport enthusiasts (‘railfans’) sometimes ask for advice as to the ‘best’ things to see on London’s railway network. This page is part of a guide which aims to answer that question.

If this is the first time you have reached these pages then it is best to go to the Opening Page which sets the scene, explains the difference between the small and the large profile trains, offers advice on the best type of ticket to buy and photography tips.

Alternatively, it is possible to view everything on one page

Victoria Line

Victoria line trains use a GoA 2 (Grade of Automation level 2) semi-automatic train control system (STO) whereby the trains travel automatically from station to station but a human train driver is always present at the front of the train, with duties that include door closing and initiating station departure.

Apart from the depot - where the public are not permitted - this line is entirely below ground.

Click map to see larger version in a new window!

This was London's first automated underground line and is now the first automated line ('urban metro') ever to be upgraded with a new fleet of trains and a new (different) automation system - whilst still in full passenger service.

The original automated train control system permitted the next train to be slowly entering a station whilst the train in front was still leaving. However, despite being perfectly safe, it was found that this design feature often upset passengers who thought otherwise, and therefore the train control system was modified to prevent it from happening.

All of the line's original 1967 tube stock trains - plus the 1972 Mk1 trains which were added to the fleet in the 1990's - have now been withdrawn and replaced by the 2009 tube stock trains. One unusual feature about the new trains is that they do not have heaters - anyone who has ever travelled on the Victoria line will know that these are only needed during winter months on trains entering service (at Seven Sisters station) from the depot; at all other times this line needs its trains cooling, not heating.

The platform at Finsbury Park (above - left) is taller than usual because it was originally built for what nowadays is known as the Northern City line (Finsbury Park - Moorgate) which uses large profile trains. In 1964 the Northern City line service was cut back to Drayton Park as part of the Victoria line project with the platform seen here being reserved for Victoria line trains and the adjacent platform being reassigned to the Piccadilly line (which had its platforms next to these). This was done so that there could be an easy same level interchange between the Victoria and Piccadilly line trains with one pair of side-by-side platforms being dedicated to northbound trains and the other pair of platforms to southbound trains.

At the same time a new pair of deep level tube train platforms were built at Highbury & Islington so that the Victoria and Northern City line trains could benefit from the same type of same-level cross passage interchange based upon direction of travel. In an unusual act of forward thinking (for transport planning in London) the new Northern City line tunnels and platform were built for large profile trains.

In those days the Northern City line service was part of London Transport and used small profile tube trains. It was reassigned to British Rail in the 1970s so that their Great Northern Electrics trains could use this route instead of going to three other London terminus stations - Kings Cross, Broad Street and Moorgate subsurface via the City Widened lines which are alongside the Metropolitan & Circle lines between Farringdon and Moorgate.