Forum Topic

Steam train on Brentford Southall railway

Heard what I thought sounded like a train whistle several times yesterday coming from direction of the Brentford to Southall railway line. Walking the dog his morning, caught a glimpse of steam train, through the trees, behind Elthorne Park. Is the train running for some special occasion?. Will go and have a look later.

Chris Edwards ● 4182d22 Comments

It would, as I think someone has posted, make a wonderful 'shuttle service' line from Southall station to the Sky complex where I was amazed to learn that 10,000 people now work.

Nigel Brooks ● 4178d

On Saturday, we had the Vintage Fair & Afternoon Teas at The Fox Pub in Hanwell and the whole day we could hear the steam train whistle and it really added to our 'olde worlde' theme.  So, thanks to someone.....

Jools Lewis ● 4178d

Wonderful stuff!I wish I'd known about it last weekend.I hope that line always stays open as of course it also includes Windmill Bridge, a unique structure where a canal, road, and railway all intersect at the same point, which is a registered National Monument.

Dave Hawley ● 4178d

Not sure if these were here earlier, but some pictures of the steam railcar now at Trumpers Crossing http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/t/trumpers_crossing_halt/index.shtmland Southallhttp://www.disused-stations.org.uk/s/southall/index.shtml

Chris Edwards ● 4179d

The GWR Steam Railcar is the only one of it's type in steam with certification to run on Network rail.It has been painstakingly restored over quite some time.This one, No93, actually worked the Brentford Branch regularly. So it was really apt to run again over the remaining part of the line.A shame the bridge at the A4 has gone as a railcar service linking Brentfordto Boston Manor, Elthorne and Hanwell and Southall would be really usefuland as a Steam attraction at weekends would be great for tourism and recreational attractions to an area which could do with something a bit more uplifiting.

Anthony Waller ● 4179d

Leslie, guess that Nick will get around to more local stations in time. I did actually send him pic's of Trumpers Crossing back in 2005, and he only got the Brentford line stuff up earlier this year. Incidentally I knew Nick from his pirate radio activities many years ago. The fields near Three Bridges are on high ground, and an aerial slung between the trees put out a good radio signal.

Chris Edwards ● 4179d

I am hoping that they will eventually cover all the other local area stations, Park Royal (and the goods station), Park Royal West, Old Oak Lane, Brentham all GWR

Leslie Bailey ● 4180d

I was about to give some links to Nick Catford's most interesting Disused stations site. A few pic's of mine on the Brentford line. Also have a look at the fascinating SubBrit site.

Chris Edwards ● 4180d

Fascinating Leslie, thank you very much for the link.

Nigel Brooks ● 4180d

Here's some links to the stations etc on the Disused stations websiteIt is always worth going to bottom of the page on most as the "Click here" for more photos link can take you to older photographs too.Trumpers Crossing Halthttp://www.disused-stations.org.uk/t/trumpers_crossing_halt/index.shtmlBrentford Town Goodshttp://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/brentford/index50.shtmlBrentford "GWR" stationhttp://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/brentford/index.shtmlBrentford Dockshttp://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/brentford_dock/index.shtml

Leslie Bailey ● 4180d

Once in a while when the wind is in the right direction and the ambient weather conditions allow, I hear the distant and faint sounds of a steam engine and the clattering of buffers banging together - so evocative of steam engines of old - nostalgic sounds.

Gerry Tan ● 4180d

Philip.....and when the freight trains proceeded to Brentford Docks..(via Brentford Town Station) they crossed the Great West Road at this point beside the Firestone Factory. The bridge was demolished in the 1970's or a bit later.There were also goods branch lines to the rear of the Firestones and also the McFarlene Lang biscuit factory.Nigel mentioned the daily train from the West London Waste depot (to the West Country?). There is additionally once a week a long "aggregate/gravel train.  So the line from Southall to sidings/ current terminus near to PC World is active..and would be ideal for a future shuttle from SKY TV (where 10,000 plus work) to Southall/Heathrow.

Jim Lawes ● 4180d

Good old WikipediaWhen the passenger service commenced, trains ran between the dedicated platform at Southall and a station on what is now the A315 London Road in Brentford, with no intermediate stops. A second station was built at the dock for excursions connecting with the ferry across the Thames to Kew Gardens, but there is no record of this station ever being used.[3]Railmotors began operating the service on 2 May 1904, and on 1 July that year a halt at Trumpers Crossing, a mile and a half down the line from Southall, was opened.[4]The service was withdrawn on 22 March 1915 as a wartime economy measure, and was reinstated on weekdays on 12 April 1920 following local pressure.[3] Trumpers Crossing Halte closed permanently on 1 February 1926.Passenger numbers declined during the interwar period as road transport became more and more popular, and the service was finally withdrawn for good on 4 May 1942The full entry is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brentford_Branch_Line

Nigel Brooks ● 4180d

It's used daily to move stuff from the Waste Transfer Station.

Nigel Brooks ● 4180d

I gather that passenger services once ran from Southall to Brentford. Just curious but where was the station and when did services stop - before Beeching I would guess.And, with all the development (flats) going on in the area will it ever reopen?

Philip Coe ● 4180d

Does anyone know when it will be running again ?

Jack Ryan ● 4181d

That high level vantage point is so overgrown now, it would have been my first choice.Thanks all for comments, I had to stay in yesterday, but could hear the whistle every time it went past, even from Raymond Avenue, eventually put music on the stereo just to stop me hearing it!

Leslie Bailey ● 4181d

Thank you Leslie for the video, I did see the steam carriage briefly as it passed Trumpers Crossing. Guess that best vantage point would have been the high field opposite end of Trumpers way.

Chris Edwards ● 4181d

Thanks LeslieI hadn't seen a steam carriage on that line before either. Took me back to my youth watching the 'puffers' on their way to Brentford.

Nigel Brooks ● 4182d

Thanks for posting the YT video, Leslie. Lovely job. I wondered what all the 'steam whistles' were about, this weekend - can be heard frequently and clearly in (south) Hanwell. And I don't think that I've ever seen a 'steam carriage' before in my life. Cheers . . .

Andy Horridge ● 4182d

Here is a video I made today of the Steam Railmotor around Trumpers Way http://youtu.be/IfLPPYyhF1A

Leslie Bailey ● 4182d

Chris if you look on the ChiswickW4 forum there is a thread with photos. It's a 100 year old steam railcar doing runs.

Nigel Brooks ● 4182d