Harringay Station from the Tracks, 1944

Comment by StephenBln on October 14, 2015 at 13:58

and if it really is1944, probably an illegal shot, due to wartime restrictions on photography.

Comment by StephenBln on October 14, 2015 at 14:02

I seem to recall that a connecting track from the LNER to the LMS Kentish Town line was built during the war. Perhaps these points and the track behind ..lead to that?

Comment by Peter John Morris on October 16, 2015 at 9:55

The connecting track to the other line would be behind and to the right of the photographer. As far as I know it is still in place. I don't think there was any actual scheduled use for it, but there are photos of it being used fairly recently.

Comment by Richard Woods on October 16, 2015 at 12:19

Just off to the right of this picture is what we in the 50s knew as The Hogsback (my route to Stationers)  from which it was possible (if unwise) to scale the fence and reach the main line (which is I think either the line in front or another behind the platform to the left. Anyway, a big old penny placed in the correct position soon after school turnout time, say 4.05 p.m. would be neatly sliced in two by the Flying Scot, from Kings Cross 4 p.m. and passing Harringay West at a some 60-70 mph at about 4.10 p.m... I say no more.

Comment by Peter John Morris on October 16, 2015 at 12:51

It's a good we didn't actually trespass on to the railways like this dreadful youth of today...

Comment by Richard Woods on October 16, 2015 at 22:57

Ho Ho!

Comment by StephenBln on October 16, 2015 at 23:12

My older brother used to take me on his bike to the alley to the right of the bridge on the Hornsey side. late 50s, early 60s.. we'd wait for the Flying Scotsman too.

Now, I thought the sign next to the King's Cross departures timetable on spotter's platform pronounced that 'trains pass this spot 7 minutes after leaving King's Cross'. When last in Finsbury Park I looked for the platform, but it's now totally overgrown.

Also recall hearing the A4s sounding their 'chimes' when passing Wood Green.

Comment by Hugh on October 17, 2015 at 1:46

Here's the companion picture to the above. (Click on it to enlarge it and check out the boys perched on the bridge).

And for you railway heads, here's the back of the picture with a note that might mean something to you:

Comment by Hugh on October 17, 2015 at 1:56

....and I just googled the guy. He seems to have been quite well known. Here he is referenced in the National Archives. (And since the photos are originals, now I feel I ought to give them to the museum).

Comment by Stephen Holliday on October 17, 2015 at 20:12

The note on the back of the photograph gives the clue, I believe, to what this photo and the one of the goods yard are really about.

The ”Length of F.B.Track laid behind crossing on Up Goods” refers to a length of experimental track. During the 1930s the railway companies were concerned about the initial cost and the maintenance costs of the track as trains were getting heavier and faster. The british railways used what was known as ”bullhead” rail (because of its shape) laid in cast iron ”chairs” bolted to the wooden sleepers. The rail was held into the chair by a wooden block ”key” . These keys tended to become loose and had to be checked regularly and hammered back if necessary – hence the quite common site of a platelayer walking along the track swinging a long-handled hammer.

So tests were made using a rail of a different profile – F.B. or ”flat bottomed” - which sat on a plate on the sleeper and originally secured by bolts. Track made in this way could take heavier loads, cost less initially and needed less maintenance.

If you look at the track that stretches away from the crossing in the foreground and is next to the one by the platform you can see the different rail profile and method of fixing.

Similarly the photo of the goods yard (now Jewsons) is not about the goods yard but is showing a length of F.B track.

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