Beyond Arnos Grove the Piccadilly Line traverses Arnos Park viaduct (see this article on the viaduct) before venturing onto a lengthy hillside section of line. The land here mainly falls to the west. Before long the line reaches the substantial cutting which forms the southern approach to the Southgate tunnels. The famed tube station can be found sited almost at the far end of these tunnels – the most northerly tube sized tunnels on the entire system.
Southgate station with rush hour arrivals.
Daylight can be seen from the westbound platform at Southgate. Its about two carriages length from the platform ends to the brick lined cutting.
Southgate is the only station on the entire tube that has its own set of tunnels. Nowhere else on the tube are there any tunnels that are so short. As soon as the train enters the tunnel from the north its just a couple of carriages or so before it arrives in Southgate station!
The station platforms at Southgate are basically similar to all the others on the 1930’s extension from Finsbury Park. There is a difference however! Southgate station (and Bounds Green) features a more economical version of the design which was styled at Manor House, Turnpike Lane and Wood Green.
Several of the stations north of Finsbury Park have letter boxes in differing locations. The one at Southgate was clearly for the former train guard’s use as it is towards the rear of the platforms.
Post box for the train guards of old!
The lower hall at Southgate, in much the same style as every other station on the line – with certain exceptions made in order to economise on expense.
Like Bounds Green, Southgate has two escalators with a fixed central staircase. Both had three operational escalators when originally built. The escalators at Southgate are the most northernmost ones to be found on London’s tube system.
Southgate’s escalators. Built in 1991, vintage style panelling was used to give them a historic look. The view looking up towards the centrepiece of the main roof is quite clear and the concentric rings can easily be seen.
The top and bottom end of the escalators sport Waygood Otis symbols as part of the station’s heritage feel.
As the poster image below shows, the reason for this heritage feel to the station’s escalators is because its Grade II* listed. Evidently modern escalators with stainless steel sides and tops would have not worked here even though it has indeed been done at a couple of other listed tube stations.
1991 poster showing the old style new escalators to be built. Repro image created by the author.
The station has the obligatory clock however its one that’s traditional – very much similar to the self-winding clocks seen on much of the tube system. The modern style clock without numerals which is part of Holden’s signature work, is in fact on the wall of the bus station next door.
The windows with clock above the escalator bank.
The passimeter (the ticket office) is unusual because it sports a circular roof – strangely a sort of hat if one likes. If one looks at that – there’s evidently a lot of ‘UFO’ about it! The light domes beneath the canopy look like landing feet or anti-gravity thrusters. Its as if the esoteric was truly a part of Southgate station. The passimeter canopy is essentially a miniature UFO hovering over the ticket hall! This detail no doubt complements the circular interior and the one solitary support that holds up the entire roof.
The ticket office’s passimeter and roof support.
Heritage information and TfL award plaque (2008).