On Wed, 20 Oct 2004 00:55:50 +0100, Dave Arquati
wrote:

Clive D. W. Feather wrote:
In article , Dave Arquati

Yes, many District trains skipped various stations, including both
Gloucester Road and South Kensington.

In 1964 there were 8 non-stop trains in the morning peak.

That's interesting. Where did the non-stop trains run from - Richmond,
Hounslow or Ealing Broadway? And I presume they used the current
Piccadilly tracks between Acton Town and Barons Court?

I have the Winter 1962 timetable. The only stations non-stopped
were Stamford Brook and Ravenscourt Park. The non-stoppers were all
Hounslow West services, which means they must have used the slow
tracks in order to call at Chiswick Park. The only Hounslow West
service which did call at all stations was an against-the-peak
service from Hounslow West at 1800.

My own records show I once travelled on this train in both
directions (1659 from Mansion House to Hounslow West, 1800 back) one
of only two occasions I rode surface stock to Hounslow West.

--
Bill Hayles

http://billnot.com

Dave Arquati wrote in message ...
Clive D. W. Feather wrote:
In article , Dave Arquati
writes

Out of interest, why did they decide to have a slow/fast separation
here and how was it used? Did trains skip either/both of these
stations, and if so, was it really worth it?


Yes, many District trains skipped various stations, including both
Gloucester Road and South Kensington.

In 1964 there were 8 non-stop trains in the morning peak. Analysis
showed that non-stopping didn't help: the run wasn't long enough for a
non-stopper to overtake a preceding stopper, and 5 or 6 of those 8
trains would typically be held at the convergence point. A new timetable
introduced late that year eliminated the non-stoppers, and experience
showed this worked; this led to the track simplification.

That's interesting. Where did the non-stop trains run from - Richmond,
Hounslow or Ealing Broadway? And I presume they used the current
Piccadilly tracks between Acton Town and Barons Court?

There were definitely fast Wimbledons at one stage. They used platform
3 at EC, then skipped West Brompton. This allowed them to overtake a
train slowing to stop at West Brompton on the line from EC p4. Whether
it worked in practice is another matter.