Heathrow Extension 40th
This weekend (16 December) its the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Piccadilly Line’s extension to Heathrow. Previously it had opened between Hounslow West and Hatton Cross on 19 July 1975, heralding the first new tube since the Victoria Line. Prior to the Heathrow line’s opening, one had to…
The Arnos Park Viaduct Mystery
Arnos Park Viaduct on the Piccadilly Line is the biggest brick viaduct ever built for London’s underground under the LPTB. 3 million bricks were used in its construction and the viaduct was built in the early 1930s, with the railway upon it to Southgate, Oakwood and Cockfosters opening in 1933.…
Tube stations that began life as a terminus #2
When one asks which tube stations are true underground termini, the answer would be Brixton/Walthamstow (both on the Victoria Line) and Bank/Waterloo (both on Waterloo & City Line). Elephant and Castle (Bakerloo Line) plus Heathrow Terminal Five (Piccadilly Line) will also come to mind. It may surprise one to know…
Tube stations that began life as a terminus
When one asks which tube stations are true underground termini, Brixton, Walthamstow (both Victoria Line) and Bank, Waterloo (both Waterloo & City Line), Elephant and Castle (Bakerloo Line) plus Heathrow Terminal Five (Piccadilly Line) will most likely also come to mind. There were loads more underground tube station termini at…
King’s Cross old tunnel
The ‘Widened Lines’ (or what is left of them) are rail tunnels between St Pancras and Farringdon now used by Thameslink. The tunnels were a joint venture between the Great Northern and Metropolitan Railways and completed in 1866. Historically the lines also linked to King’s Cross mainline station as well…
The Bayswater tram
George Francis Train was an American who introduced tramways (streetcars) in the States. In 1860 he came over to England to introduce his tramways which had been running in the USA for three decades. Train opened his first line at Birkenhead in 1860, followed by three short lines in London…
South Kensington Subway #3
Pavement Lights The subway’s pavement lights can be seen here in Thurloe Street near the station entrance. It seems there were originally six sets of pavement lights in the subway – including two small lights in the turn from the main tunnel to the steps leading into the station. They…
South Kensington Subway #2
The Subway’s Route The subway at the South Kensington station end where it joins the station’s ticket hall. This isn’t the original entrance but rather it was from a footbridge below which directly linked to the platforms. There seems no records of when these alterations were effected but it appears…
South Kensington Subway
The South Kensington subway is the most heavily used foot tunnel in the UK, carrying many millions of people, and it links the tube station at South Kensington with London’s famous museums along Exhibition Road. These are the Natural History Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Science Museum.…
The Metropolitan Railway's first full run in 1862
Common knowledge: Q – When was the first full trial run on London’s Metropolitan Railway? A – 24 May 1862 Many sources use this date as being the date of the first full, official, run along the entire Metropolitan Railway. Sadly the answer is completely wrong! During recent research on…