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Post by superteacher on Apr 25, 2011 19:48:07 GMT
Before Old Street was reconstructed with escalators in the 1920's, did the lifts go all the way to street level? If so, what modifications were made, because the escalators did not go to street level.
I'm trying to envisage what the station looked like below ground back then. When coming up the escalators, where were the stairs to the exit? Obviosuly, this was all changed again when the Old Street roundabout was buillt in the late 1960's, when the present arrangement was brought into operation.
Any info would be much appreciated.
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Post by abe on Apr 27, 2011 7:41:48 GMT
As far as I can recall, not being at home with references to hand, Old Street originally had a surface building from which the lifts would have operated (presumably from street level). This was of a similar style to other later C&SLR buildings (i.e., brick, with stone detailing, but no dome). Unusually the station was run jointly with the GN&CR. It was demolished when the Old Street roundabout was built (c.1970?). There is still a building remnant on the north-west side of the roundabout, which I believe is connected with the railway. However, this might not be part of the original station building.
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Post by railtechnician on Apr 27, 2011 11:04:28 GMT
As far as I can recall, not being at home with references to hand, Old Street originally had a surface building from which the lifts would have operated (presumably from street level). This was of a similar style to other later C&SLR buildings (i.e., brick, with stone detailing, but no dome). Unusually the station was run jointly with the GN&CR. It was demolished when the Old Street roundabout was built (c.1970?). There is still a building remnant on the north-west side of the roundabout, which I believe is connected with the railway. However, this might not be part of the original station building. I believe the remnant to which you refer is the tunnel telephone relay room, one of quite a few accessed directly from the street rather than via station or sub-station. I worked there often but the last time would've been during the running tunnel step plate construction for the new Angel station about 20 years ago as I had to test and recommission the Angel - Old Street T/T sections on a nightly basis as the cables and tunnel wires were diverted/extended. |
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Post by trc666 on Apr 27, 2011 11:09:42 GMT
Isn't there still a building on Old Street (eastern side of roundabout leading to Great Eastern Street) that has something to do with the station, possibly an emergency exit?
Underneath the roundabout there are a few shops and also public toilets which are run by Islington Council, but it is all starting to look really run down and could do with some renovation.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2011 12:09:22 GMT
Old street is certainly run down. Went there 2 years ago to have a bit of tube bashing before going to Acton works for the open day. This is compared to 10 years ago when i took my father to moorfields eye hospital there were a lof of stalls etc there then.
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Post by superteacher on Apr 28, 2011 21:34:32 GMT
Thanks for the info so far.
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Post by railtechnician on Apr 29, 2011 1:17:39 GMT
Old street is certainly run down. Went there 2 years ago to have a bit of tube bashing before going to Acton works for the open day. This is compared to 10 years ago when i took my father to moorfields eye hospital there were a lof of stalls etc there then. Interesting, as I last worked at the station about 20 years ago and it was run down then. Such places are prone to it when not regularly patrolled. Charing Cross and Hyde Park Corner spring to mind, both being home to down and outs and beggars from time to time and Old Street has been ths same. |
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Post by superteacher on May 3, 2011 20:27:33 GMT
Another question - the current spiral stairs only go up as far as ticket hall level. Would they have capped the top of the stairs when they did the rebuild in the 1920's? I must have a look up when I'm next using the stairs at Old Street to look for signs of this.
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2011 19:56:10 GMT
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North End
Beneath Newington Causeway
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Post by North End on May 9, 2011 21:21:06 GMT
Yes the layout at Old Street was similar to Moorgate, City Road and Angel, in that the lifts descended to a landing immediately above the platform level, connected by twin passageways to the headwalls of the platforms. The disused parts of Angel survive unchanged since 1992, albeit with the lifts removed and the various passageways having become very derelict. |
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Post by causton on May 23, 2011 0:19:23 GMT
The disused parts of Angel survive unchanged since 1992, albeit with the lifts removed and the various passageways having become very derelict. Interesting. Are there any pictures online of this - as there so frequently is with disused stations?  |
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Post by Dmitri on May 23, 2011 11:36:17 GMT
Are there any pictures online of this - as there so frequently is with disused stations? There are some of them here... not many though... |
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Post by miff on Jul 1, 2011 17:05:52 GMT
Flash Bristow's account (and pictures) of a 2001 visit to Angel and City Road is here |
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