Secrets Of The London Underground.

[yorksrob]

It was nice to see all of the tilework in such good condition at British Museum !

In the next episode, I couldn't hel but notice that the mock-up carriage/classroom was done out in Network SouthEast moquette

 

[Mikey C]

It was nice to see all of the tilework in such good condition at British Museum !

In the next episode, I couldn't hel but notice that the mock-up carriage/classroom was done out in Network SouthEast moquette

Luckily the Museum itself isn't responsible for looking after the disused station, or a curator might have stolen the tiles

 

[yorksrob]

Luckily the Museum itself isn't responsible for looking after the disused station, or a curator might have stolen the tiles

Ooh, very topical

 

[John Luxton]

I was watching Episode 8 of series 3 on UKTV Play last night and Tim briefly mentioned Redbridge station.

I thought there might just be some refence to the "Department S" Episode from 1970s "Last Train to Redbridge". However, that connection was not made. Probably a bit before Tim's time!

Those of a certain age will probably remember "Department S" with the lead character played Jason King by Peter Wyngarde.

One episode captured my imagination and it is the only episode I can actually remember and that is "Last Train to Redbridge".

Passengers on tube train are murdered. During the investigations King finds himself in a disused part of the London Underground complete with 1940s posters.

I was only 10 years old at the time but it made me wonder if disused bits of the London Underground really did exist.

Not long after that my parents bought me a copy of "Britain's Railways at War" by OS Nock.

This book had information on the disused Down Street Station and its conversion to REC HQ during WWII reavaling that disused parts of the London Underground did exist and were not just from TV fiction.

 

[REVUpminster]

I was watching Episode 8 of series 3 on UKTV Play last night and Tim briefly mentioned Redbridge station.

I thought there might just be some refence to the "Department S" Episode from 1970s "Last Train to Redbridge". However, that connection was not made. Probably a bit before Tim's time!

Those of a certain age will probably remember "Department S" with the lead character played Jason King by Peter Wyngarde.

One episode captured my imagination and it is the only episode I can actually remember and that is "Last Train to Redbridge".

Passengers on tube train are murdered. During the investigations King finds himself in a disused part of the London Underground complete with 1940s posters.

I was only 10 years old at the time but it made me wonder if disused bits of the London Underground really did exist.

Not long after that my parents bought me a copy of "Britain's Railways at War" by OS Nock.

This book had information on the disused Down Street Station and its conversion to REC HQ during WWII reavaling that disused parts of the London Underground did exist and were not just from TV fiction.

All the English versions seem to be taken down. The uniforms were authentic. Filming was White City depot and the cutting nearby I think. Redbridge was only chosen by the writer because it sounded better to the Americans. Great music theme by Edwin Astley. The best episode has to be Six Days.

 

[bluegoblin7]

Hardly surprising that one of many programmes filmed on the Underground - and a relatively niche one at that - doesn’t get a shout out. You could make a series itself just on film and television programme filmed or set on the Tube.

It’s also not particularly surprising that something that had minimal, if any, filming done at the named location is featured. Most of the underground scenes, including the train, was at Aldwych or on the branch. What is on the Central line is, for the most part, of Wanstead.

 

[REVUpminster]

Hardly surprising that one of many programmes filmed on the Underground - and a relatively niche one at that - doesn’t get a shout out. You could make a series itself just on film and television programme filmed or set on the Tube.

It’s also not particularly surprising that something that had minimal, if any, filming done at the named location is featured. Most of the underground scenes, including the train, was at Aldwych or on the branch. What is on the Central line is, for the most part, of Wanstead.

I wouldn't say Department S was a niche programme although 35mm film television production studio based from 1955 -1971/2 was coming to end to be replaced with more location based series such as The Sweeny and The Professionals using 16mm film.

 

[Lost property]

Just watched the programme about Holborn and, apart from how the station is used for development trials, the bit about the signallers box for such a short route was another reason the programme is both entertaining and informative.

That said, it must have been mind numbingly boring to have been a signaller in there for a shift and the same for a driver operating the route.

 

[Basil Jet]

That said, it must have been mind numbingly boring to have been a signaller in there for a shift and the same for a driver operating the route.

I would have thought from a driver's point of view, the Aldwych shuttle would be a lot more interesting than the Victoria Line, because you're stretching your legs every few minutes.

 

[bluegoblin7]

Just watched the programme about Holborn and, apart from how the station is used for development trials, the bit about the signallers box for such a short route was another reason the programme is both entertaining and informative.

That said, it must have been mind numbingly boring to have been a signaller in there for a shift and the same for a driver operating the route.

Holborn (Picc) was a very busy cabin and controlled much more than just the branch; indeed once a train was ‘locked in’ there was no further requirement for the signal operator to do anything until it was time to come off. It is a shame (but not entirely surprising) that the impression to the contrary is given.

 

[Lost property]

Holborn (Picc) was a very busy cabin and controlled much more than just the branch; indeed once a train was ‘locked in’ there was no further requirement for the signal operator to do anything until it was time to come off. It is a shame (but not entirely surprising) that the impression to the contrary is given.

Thanks for that.

I am bemused because you appear to contradict yourself in my underlined above plus, given the detailed accuracy the programme is notable for, how would the misleading impression be given.

As I recall, the programme showed the inside of the small box and the manual levers plus, sorry if this is the wrong term, the route diagram which was clearly very short.

 

[bluegoblin7]

I don’t.

Holborn (Picc) controlled more than just the Aldwych branch. Once trains were signalled on and off the branch there was nothing for the signal operator to do with regards to the branch; they would still operate the rest of the cabin. It is misleading for the programme to suggest that it was there only to control the branch - Aldwych and Holborn platform 5 towards Aldwych had no signals after the line was singled. The cabin did control movements on and off the branch (to/from Holborn platform 5) and other movements on the main Piccadilly route.

 

[REVUpminster]

Surely cabins like Holborn, Liverpool St, and Marble Arch would have a King Lever when point movements were not required.

 

[Flying Scott]

The fourth series of the popular documentary Secrets of the London Underground was commissioned earlier in the year and the first episode is due to be televised on Tuesday 2nd July 2024 at 20:00 on the Yesterday channel.

 

[Cowley]

The fourth series of the popular documentary Secrets of the London Underground was commissioned earlier in the year and the first episode is due to be televised on Tuesday 2nd July 2024 at 20:00 on the Yesterday channel.

Thanks for that. Will give it a watch.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Met Tim the other day. Nice chap.

 

[75A]

The fourth series of the popular documentary Secrets of the London Underground was commissioned earlier in the year and the first episode is due to be televised on Tuesday 2nd July 2024 at 20:00 on the Yesterday channel.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll set it up to record the series when I'm back home on Monday.
I think Siddy & Tim are very good presenters and I like seeing Bluegoblin7 appear from time to time as well.

 

[pitdiver]

Never met Tim or Siddy during my time at the Museum but worked a lot with Chris Nix on "Junior Citizen"

 

[barringtoncem]

New series being shown tonight on Yesterday at 20.00 starting with Earl's Court Station

 

[Thirteen]

New series being shown tonight on Yesterday at 20.00 starting with Earl's Court Station

It's already up on UKTV/U Play if anyone doesn't want to wait.

Tim's enthusiasm is what got me into this series, I binged all three series while I was off sick for a few days a few months ago.

 

[exsignalman]

I can't make any suggestions about London as it is years since I have been there and my LU knowledge is very sketchy, but I really enjoyed what I saw.

Could there be scope for something like "Secrets of Britain's Railways"?

There must be many abandoned bits which are not accessible.

For instance where I live on Merseyside we have the Merseyrail system which is underground in the Birkenhead and Liverpool area. T

here is definitely an abandoned pedestrian subway from Shore Road, Birkenhead built to provide access to the docks down to Hamilton Square Station - normal access is via lifts. (Similar subway on Liverpool side exists but is still in use).

After watching a couple of episodes SOTLU I started thinking about the old Mersey Railway River Cabin signal box which was located under the River Mersey. There is a contemporary engraving which has been published a few times.

The box was abandoned when the Mersey Railway was converted from steam to electric and the signalling system automated in 1903.

Out of curiosity I posted a message on a local railway Facebook page and someone who works for Merseyrail had been down there and was able to provide a couple of phone photos the brackets which supported the box.

There must be many other nooks and crannies above and below ground all around the UK worth exploring. I must say I am hungry for more and I dare say many others are too!

John

Another bit that I find interesting is when the 'link' line (Merseyrail Northern Line) was being constructed in the 1970s a lot of the actual tunnel formation south of Liverpool Central had to be reworked/lowered etc & in doing so the contractors as they lowered the trackbed actually intercepted & indeed emerged right through & into the top of the disused Edge Hill to Park Lane (Wapping) tunnel.
This was not by accident but part of the plan, as there were further future long term aspirations to eventually also link up to & use a large part of the Wapping tunnel to provide a link from the Merseyrail Northern Line to the Merseyrail 'City' Line at Edge hill, & as such Liverpool Central South Junction was configured in such a way as to provide a future 'burrowing' junction so that it could eventually be done if & when funds became available.
At Liverpool Central South Junction, the initial headings were started to facilitate this & these concrete lined headings are still there to this day.
There were also other & more different plans to build a totally new tunnel under the city to provide a new station to serve the university area of the city, & this tunnel if built would have not used the Wapping tunnel but instead broke into & linked up with the Waterloo tunnel instead to link up with the Merseyrail City Line at Edge Hill.

In this scheme to use the Waterloo tunnel & university link, the Wapping tunnel would have not been used to carry track, but instead would have been used as a draught relief/ventilation shaft & emergency access.

Urban explorers who have ventured into the disused Wapping tunnel have come across the point (just to the west of Great George Street) where the 1970s Merseyrail Northern Line intercepts the disused Wapping tunnel & on their photos (& videos) it can be clearly seen how the arched crown of the tunnel roof suddenly changes in height & shape dramatically, as the tunnel roof suddenly becomes much lower because it is now crossed by what is in effect a modern double track reenforced concrete bridge at a height of about 12ft up from the Wapping tunnel trackbed.

Although all secured, totally bricked up & sealed from the disused Wapping tunnel it is possible to hear the trains pass by above on the active Merseyrail Northern Line.

youtube.com/watch?v=ZRGDoMIgicg&t=1266s

liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/disused-rail-tunnel-could-reopen-28331473

An old timer on BR once told me that there's at least 4 to 5 miles of disused railway tunnels beneath Liverpool & Birkenhead, I haven't bothered to work it yard by yard but I reckon that he was very likely right.

Wapping tunnel.
Victoria/Waterloo tunnel
Dingle tunnel (LOR) (now partially collapsed)
Walton On The Hill tunnels
Kirkdale No1 tunnel (fast line bore)
Kirkdale No2 tunnel (fast line bore)
Canada Dock tunnel
Monks Ferry tunnel (Birkenhead)

 

[Ashley Hill]

youtube.com/watch?v=ZRGDoMIgicg&t=1266s

This did not take me to a link about Wapping tunnel.

 

[exsignalman]

This did not take me to a link about Wapping tunnel.

It worked ok for me, I don't know why it didn't for you Ashley.
Incidentally the video is still there & available on You Tube right now, it is 42 minutes 41 seconds in duration.
It was done by a history buff/film maker & urban explorer who's username is 'Martin Zero'.
He has many videos on YT, if you wanted to watch the one featuring Wapping tunnel just go on You Tube & look for Martin Zero, or type .. The Wapping Railway Tunnel Liverpool ... (that's the title of his video).
I understand that this particular video (uploaded two years ago) was apparently done on an official visit with a Network Rail representative & the bit in the video featuring the section where the active Northern Line goes over it on the 1970s concrete bridge begins at around the 26:16 time stamp.

Hope that this helps.

 

[Ashley Hill]

The link took me to something about Harvard University. When the link didn’t work I watched Martins video by searching Wapping tunnel on YouTube. It’s very good. There’s another chap on YouTube who wades through the flooded section as well.

 

[exsignalman]

The link took me to something about Harvard University. When the link didn’t work I watched Martins video by searching Wapping tunnel on YouTube. It’s very good. There’s another chap on YouTube who wades through the flooded section as well.

Rather him than me, I don't fancy catching leptospirosis (I must be getting soft in my old age).
Land Rover did an official photo shoot/promotional video down there a few years ago & showed a Range Rover driving in the Wapping tunnel & in particular through the flooded section.
NR must have let Jaguar Land Rover hire the location for the day, it makes sense as the Jaguar Land Rover factory is only about 8 miles away in Halewood.

There's nothing today on NR's website regarding photoshoots etc in Wapping tunnel, but apparently (according to NR's website) the nearby Waterloo & Victoria tunnels are available to hire for commercial filming/photoshoots etc.

filming.networkrail.co.uk/filming-locations/victoria-waterloo-tunnels/

 

[Thirteen]

Enjoyed the first episode, loved the hidden in plain sight abandoned passage which I'll have to look out for when I'm next passing through Earl's Court.

One thing I really want to know is...where can i get that yellow jumper that Tim wore?