So, Watkins had the GC London Extension built.
His objective as often stated was to the continent.
It generally seems to be assumed that this would be via the Met, Widened Lines and Snow Hill or ELL connections.
But those routes were full surely and hardly quick? No scope for long pax trains to wind through?
It also seems the very antithesis of Watkins’ approach that built the GC Extension and then the alternative route when sharing with the Met on its outer lines proved too difficult (which would have been far easier than sharing to and through central London with multiple companies!). Surely he had something new and rather more incredible in mind to get across London? This was the man who also started a significantly larger Eiffel tower after all.
So, what might have been alternatives drawing on that more ‘megalomanic’ approach?
* extend the widened lines to Myb with tunnels linking to Myb’s approaches?
* an early, mainline version of what became the Bakerloo, running from (nr) Myb/Baker St to CX, noting he was SER chair.
* or the more extreme, mainline tunnel from Myb approaches down to say Marble Arch, along Hyde Park, Grosvenor Pl and up into Victoria? (thus connecting to existing boat trains departure point and infra, and via an intermediate station capturing his priority of 1st class pax from Mayfair etc.). Noting that Victoria was LB&SCR/LCDR but by c1900 weren’t the SER & LCDR cooperating?
The last one is the one I like, very ambitious and leaves a Thameslink style legacy (lots of issues to do it though!). Interesting to consider a mainline station between/at one of, Marble Arch and Hyde Park and what that might have done to keep the GC going, offering Midlands/North direct from a well heeled and influential part of town.
His objective as often stated was to the continent.
It generally seems to be assumed that this would be via the Met, Widened Lines and Snow Hill or ELL connections.
But those routes were full surely and hardly quick? No scope for long pax trains to wind through?
It also seems the very antithesis of Watkins’ approach that built the GC Extension and then the alternative route when sharing with the Met on its outer lines proved too difficult (which would have been far easier than sharing to and through central London with multiple companies!). Surely he had something new and rather more incredible in mind to get across London? This was the man who also started a significantly larger Eiffel tower after all.
So, what might have been alternatives drawing on that more ‘megalomanic’ approach?
* extend the widened lines to Myb with tunnels linking to Myb’s approaches?
* an early, mainline version of what became the Bakerloo, running from (nr) Myb/Baker St to CX, noting he was SER chair.
* or the more extreme, mainline tunnel from Myb approaches down to say Marble Arch, along Hyde Park, Grosvenor Pl and up into Victoria? (thus connecting to existing boat trains departure point and infra, and via an intermediate station capturing his priority of 1st class pax from Mayfair etc.). Noting that Victoria was LB&SCR/LCDR but by c1900 weren’t the SER & LCDR cooperating?
The last one is the one I like, very ambitious and leaves a Thameslink style legacy (lots of issues to do it though!). Interesting to consider a mainline station between/at one of, Marble Arch and Hyde Park and what that might have done to keep the GC going, offering Midlands/North direct from a well heeled and influential part of town.