Twilight of the 313's at Moorgate

[John M Upton]

The Southern 313/2's still retain their Moorgate branch emergency tunnel lighting apparatus behind a long forgotten panel in each cab:

 

[jonathan452]

It must have been 1965 when the DP-FP section closed. I used to bunk off school and go riding around on the Underground. Mellows Hire provided some Bedford SB coaches for the replacement service and I remember seeing the junction works at FP when the Victoria Line was being built, with Picc trains running in enlarged tunnels on bits of wood so it seemed. And the standard Stock on the NCL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZxk08n8Jag

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMvmJPbphW8

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwRRSJ_wtIg - From 18min 09sec

[cheesysmith]

From facebook

https://www.facebook.com/Railmagazine/posts/1592687274157422

[96701]

Brings back more memories. Remember countless occasions of doing the shut down at Moorgate, or 'Plugging Out' as it was often referred to. After the last train left you went to the room at the stops end of 10. You'd then have to wait until the train had arrived at Drayton Park, the longest 8-10 minutes of the whole shift. The Box would ring to confirm the train was 'out', there was a panel at head height looking along the platform. You then inserted two keys, one for the up and one for the down line. Both were given a quarter turn, and a pair of illuminated red lights (two for each line), would go out to indicate the traction current had been discharged. The tunnel lights would come on as the traction live lights went out.

The tunnel lights were controlled by contactors mounted on the platform walls. They were held off by the contactor coil being energised from the conductor rail. The high level lights were fed by three phase contactors in the switchrooms, one phase to every third light.

[phil_sutters]

[Gwiwer]

Of passing interest here is that trains were unable to call at Drayton Park for a time yesterday owing to staff shortage.  That must have been frustrating for anyone needing the station (and it's not the quietest on that line, Essex Road holds that honour) as the 313s still need to stop to change voltage / power systems.  But without the doors being released.