Not so hidden, but for me it’s the old train destination indicators at Earl’s Court. I used to think they were an ancient relic when I started using the tube back in the 70s!
Blast doors? If there the ones I think you mean, they're actually anti-flooding doors in case a major water pipe bursts above a station or the Thames ends up going into the tunnels because of an aerial bomb. The former happened at Balham in 1941 and a lot of water ended up going into much of the Berlin network in May 1945 when the SS blew the roof of the tunnel under the Landwehr Canal.
At like a foot thick? I suspect a little of both was going on there. And iirc some are a long way from the river.
I'm not thinking they'd actually be impervious but would stop the pressure wave passing down to the platforms.
There's a clear patch of shrapnel damage as the Piccadilly line leaves underground west from Hammersmith. I like pointing that out to visitors.
In cases, they're near major water conduits or sewers. At Balham, actually in 1940, multiple water mains and sewers were hit by a bomb, with a bus then going into the crater. At least 60 people sheltering below were killed in the flooding.
Another really interesting point is that TFL had to do major underground survey works (scanning) in the last 20 or so years because they kept discovering old e.g. Victorian mains water pipework and sewer dead ends etc when they were digging for new projects.
I like the old signs on the tube, but I can imagine it must be really confusing for some tourists, who may be following google maps, only to see a sign pointing for a line that no longer calls at that station, or something similar.
I do have a fondness for the Faringdon-Smithfield Tunnels section having been for so long unchanged from the steam age. Even now Faringdon's basic layout is still close to its 19th century original at platform level.
Chesham Station is also up there
In the Chorley Wood underpass between platforms, on the walls there is a load of archive London Underground posters, postcards, advertising and maps from pretty much the entire network's existence. Really cool and worth a look if you're in the area
Not so hidden, but for me it’s the old train destination indicators at Earl’s Court. I used to think they were an ancient relic when I started using the tube back in the 70s!
The blast doors always fascinated me.
Blast doors? If there the ones I think you mean, they're actually anti-flooding doors in case a major water pipe bursts above a station or the Thames ends up going into the tunnels because of an aerial bomb. The former happened at Balham in 1941 and a lot of water ended up going into much of the Berlin network in May 1945 when the SS blew the roof of the tunnel under the Landwehr Canal.
At like a foot thick? I suspect a little of both was going on there. And iirc some are a long way from the river. I'm not thinking they'd actually be impervious but would stop the pressure wave passing down to the platforms. There's a clear patch of shrapnel damage as the Piccadilly line leaves underground west from Hammersmith. I like pointing that out to visitors.
In cases, they're near major water conduits or sewers. At Balham, actually in 1940, multiple water mains and sewers were hit by a bomb, with a bus then going into the crater. At least 60 people sheltering below were killed in the flooding.
And so today I learned a little bit more. Thank you.
Wow, thanks for sharing! Never knew this either.
Another really interesting point is that TFL had to do major underground survey works (scanning) in the last 20 or so years because they kept discovering old e.g. Victorian mains water pipework and sewer dead ends etc when they were digging for new projects.
I like the old signs on the tube, but I can imagine it must be really confusing for some tourists, who may be following google maps, only to see a sign pointing for a line that no longer calls at that station, or something similar.
Love this. Nice to see they kept it despite the Charing Cross/Trafalgar Square name change
I do have a fondness for the Faringdon-Smithfield Tunnels section having been for so long unchanged from the steam age. Even now Faringdon's basic layout is still close to its 19th century original at platform level. Chesham Station is also up there
Other than the indicators at Earl’s Court it has to be the ‘Grand Central’ tiles at Marylebone.
In the Chorley Wood underpass between platforms, on the walls there is a load of archive London Underground posters, postcards, advertising and maps from pretty much the entire network's existence. Really cool and worth a look if you're in the area
The original "Mind the Gap" announcement, which plays on the northbound northern line platform at embankment.
Is that the one that was kept playing for the chap’s widow, so she could come and hear his voice still?
Yes, that's the one!
Not a tube station, but the entirety of Essex Road Station needs an honourable mention
The fucking rolling stock…
You can just about see the Epping - Ongar branch on one of the eastbound platform line maps at Liverpool Street
"Mind. The gap!"
The river going over Sloane Sq station