Uploaded November 2019 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A very unusual sight - the five car 1962 Tube Stock Rail Adhesion train which is normally used in west London passes through Gants Hill station - which is to the east of London.
Rail adhesion trains (RAT) lay a special gel type substance on the tracks so as to help combat issues related to leaves on the line.
It is unusual to see these trains travelling underground, not least because there are no trees underground - and hence no leaves falling on the tracks during autumn.
The story behind this short film is that when I stepped off the down escalator I looked at the 'next train' display and saw that the first train was a 'special'. I decided that whilst it could just be an ordinary train that was not carrying passengers I should be ready in case it was something else - such as a service train hauled by battery locomotives - or this! Fortunately I managed to get my camcorder out of my pocket with seconds to spare.
A very unusual sight - the five car 1962 Tube Stock Rail Adhesion train which is normally used in west London passes through Gants Hill station - which is to the east of London.
Rail adhesion trains (RAT) lay a special gel type substance on the tracks so as to help combat issues related to leaves on the line.
It is unusual to see these trains travelling underground, not least because there are no trees underground - and hence no leaves falling on the tracks during autumn.
The story behind this short film is that when I stepped off the down escalator I looked at the 'next train' display and saw that the first train was a 'special'. I decided that whilst it could just be an ordinary train that was not carrying passengers I should be ready in case it was something else - such as a service train hauled by battery locomotives - or this! Fortunately I managed to get my camcorder out of my pocket with seconds to spare.
