‘Behind Closed Doors’ & ‘Underground Photos From the Past’, by Brian Hardy, 1st November 2022
1st November 2022 Meeting
For our November meeting we welcomed back Brian Hardy, former Head Traffic Controller on London Underground for more fascinating insights into the London Underground.
There were two parts to the show. ‘Behind Closed Doors’ (a look at disused parts of the Underground) and ‘Underground Photos from the Past (in black and white and colour)’.
There are many disused stations, tunnels and passages across the network, and we saw a few, Brompton Road, Down Street and York Road on the Piccadilly Line with lift shafts, passages and even an old signal box, and at Finsbury Park the disused Northern City Lines which became part of the Victoria Line. The Northern Line was observed with various loco spurs seen along the line and disused crossings mainly before the upgrading works in the 1920s, along with the never opened station of North End (sometimes known as Bull & Bush).
Wood Lane and British Museum stations on the Central Line, along with the still extant platforms, although mainly behind bricked up walls were seen. Also the east end of the line was seen with the new line via Gants Hill whose tunnels were used by Plessey during the war with a narrow gauge railway running along its length. The Metropolitan Line stations at Lords, Marlborough Road and Swiss Cottage were also shown.
'Underground Photos From the Past' - Piccadilly Line and Metropolitan Line trains pass at Ickenham Station. Image Credit: Brian Hardy.
After the break we saw various mainly b/w photographs of Met electric locos, ex-GWR Pannier Tanks shunting at Watford Tip and various locos shunting the yards at Pinner, Northwood and Eastcote. Many older stocks were seen, a G stock double ended motor car at Acton Town and South Acton, all the different Q stock variations, A, F, COP, R both red and silver and most types of tube stock from early standard onwards.
A great evening which attracted 36 members and visitors which is the best turnout for some time. We look forward to seeing Brian back next year.
Rob Davidson, Branch Secretary