WSMR Route Learner
Due to engineering works taking place on various sections of the Chiltern lines, Wrexham & Shropshire trains were frequently diverted at weekends via the WCML and some wonderfully obscure routes around north west London. This meant that train crew needed to be familiar with all the possible routes to be used and so several crew training runs were undertaken using the Chiltern/WSMR "Bubblecar" 960 014. I was privileged to be invited to travel on one of these workings on Thursday 4th February 2010, starting from Chiltern's Wembley LMD. More photos to be added, as per usual! Many thanks to those at WSMR who granted me this privilege... Just a shame about the weather! All photos taken with permission and under supervision.
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Having passed the junction and the crossovers at Acton Canal Wharf, the bubblecar has come to a halt at the dummy signal, the crew has changed ends and the train about to reverse its direction. The junction has been set for the Acton Branch and the dummy is showing a clear aspect with a "W" in the indicator, for Willesden. This dummy also controls movements over the far crossover, when it shows a different letter in the indicator, possibly "M" for Main, or "C" for Cricklewood. 11:22, Thursday 4th February 2010. I have since discovered that this signal displays "UP" when cleared for the crossover... Digital Image No. GMPI4405.
