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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2012 8:56:09 GMT
I commute east to west on the central line each day, sitting towards the rear of the train. Several weeks ago, I started noticing a smell at Bank. At first I thought it was gas, but that nasal analysis didn't seem quite accurate. I got used to the smell, and could be sitting with my eyes closed and half asleep but still knew when the train was approaching Bank from the smell.
The stench has intensified: you can now smell it quite a way up the tunnel, and it seems to have gained a component something like frying onions. I've not noticed it travelling eastbound, only west. Does anyone know what this is, please? Clearly it isn't domestic gas, it would gave ignited long ago... but it is quite foul, and not the same stink that supposedly triggered the term 'The Drain' for the WC line.
Many thanks all,
L. Worm
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Post by madandy on Sept 13, 2012 9:33:22 GMT
It could be the bankers.
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Post by phillw48 on Sept 13, 2012 9:37:01 GMT
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Post by trt on Sept 13, 2012 10:35:37 GMT
There are particular smells associated with different parts of the lines. For example, there's a strong smell of bacon between Old Street and Moorgate on the Northern Line. The forced air ventilation seems to draw in near a cafe noted for its breakfasts - for a few weeks the smell was absent, so I went and checked out what was going on, and sure enough that chain of eateries had closed due to financial difficulties. The premises was bought by someone else in the same line, reopened, and now the smell has resumed!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2012 11:55:33 GMT
Yep they are stinkers! XF ;D |
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Post by chrisvandenkieboom on Sept 13, 2012 12:31:00 GMT
There are particular smells associated with different parts of the lines. For example, there's a strong smell of bacon between Old Street and Moorgate on the Northern Line. The forced air ventilation seems to draw in near a cafe noted for its breakfasts - for a few weeks the smell was absent, so I went and checked out what was going on, and sure enough that chain of eateries had closed due to financial difficulties. The premises was bought by someone else in the same line, reopened, and now the smell has resumed! Do you happen to know about any other interesting smells on the Underground? |
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Post by phillw48 on Sept 13, 2012 17:05:50 GMT
Do you happen to know about any other interesting smells on the Underground? Both are closed now but the District between Dagenham East and Elm Park used to pass between a chemical factory and a sewerage works!  |
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DWS
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Post by DWS on Sept 13, 2012 17:36:39 GMT
Do you happen to know about any other interesting smells on the Underground? Both are closed now but the District between Dagenham East and Elm Park used to pass between a chemical factory and a sewerage works! Also the Acid works at West Ham. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2012 17:37:01 GMT
One of the deep level stations smells perpetually eggy, but I can't remember which...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2012 23:16:19 GMT
There are particular smells associated with different parts of the lines. For example, there's a strong smell of bacon between Old Street and Moorgate on the Northern Line. The forced air ventilation seems to draw in near a cafe noted for its breakfasts - for a few weeks the smell was absent, so I went and checked out what was going on, and sure enough that chain of eateries had closed due to financial difficulties. The premises was bought by someone else in the same line, reopened, and now the smell has resumed! Do you happen to know about any other interesting smells on the Underground? There is nothing nicer than the smell of hot brake blocks after a robust use of the Westinghouse.  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2012 3:28:32 GMT
I haven't noticed the smell at Bank but there is a distinct whiff of garlic bread just past the headwall at Oxford Circus on the WB Central Line
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Post by trt on Sept 14, 2012 8:48:27 GMT
I understand that some parts of the network smell of curry in the evening when the balti houses get going.
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Post by ducatisti on Sept 14, 2012 13:30:39 GMT
I was actually at moorgate today and can confirm the smell of bacon on the northern line platforms... On the subject of bacon, Camden town escalators can be torture for the hungry chap with nothing but a bowl of muesli to look forward too - the smell of bacon wafts down from the cafe round the corner.
Waterloo passageways for the Bakerloo and northern often smell of sick - as it's frequently in the post rush-hour morning, I suspect it's actually the smell of something acid.
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Chris M
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Post by Chris M on Sept 14, 2012 14:35:29 GMT
Rather nicer than those examples, the West Silvertown area sometimes gives you the delightful odour of sugar from the Tate and Lyle refinery.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2012 14:52:42 GMT
Smell of vomit at Baker Street Met platforms near the steps down to the concourse underneath is actually bird poo!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2012 15:44:48 GMT
praed street junction sitting at the signal i think its op11 you used to get overwhelmed by the smell of kfc- murder towards the end of 4hrs 15 on the locals
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Post by carltona on Sept 14, 2012 17:43:58 GMT
There's a strong smell of urine in the west passage over the lines between p5&6 at Baker Street. It is of course actual urine deposited by caring passengers late in the evening. Not sure if the Gents near p5 is closed when they do it or not.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2012 20:52:26 GMT
Don't forget the sweet biscuity smell at Harlesden, I think its from the Mcvitties factory nearby, you can smell it when your on a bakerloo line train.
Not strictly stations but I have noticed the smell of a westinghouse brake application on C stock trains, it smells the same as heavy braking on a BR MK3 coach, its like smoked bacon or something. Its very noticeable at Euston Square, I think thats where they always make a running brake test.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2012 7:23:47 GMT
The worst smell on the whole system is that waste food proccessing plant opposite Neasden depot! I havn't passed it enough times to comment about the smell on the S stock but, hot day on an A stock, all windows open, bloody hell does it stink the train out! The smells range from old gravy to a sickly sweet smells which is not a pleasent sweet smell.
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class411
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Post by class411 on Sept 15, 2012 10:54:16 GMT
Many years ago there was a very distinct smell on Victoria BR platforms. It always smelled somewhat like cheese on toast to me but I was informed that it was a smell from a nearby brewery.
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Post by metrailway on Sept 15, 2012 14:20:48 GMT
Amersham Platform 1/2 always smelt of fish and chips in the early morning
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2012 21:36:35 GMT
That's slightly freaky. Wasn't the District/Circle staion built on the site of a former brewery?
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rincew1nd
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Post by rincew1nd on Sept 15, 2012 22:35:17 GMT
I picked up a cheap second-hand copy of Stephen Halliday's "Underground to Everywhere" today with the intention of reading it whilst City of York No3 gently ticked over at the Middleton Railways autumn (diesel [spit]) gala. In the foreword he writes: I find that the underground section of MerseyRail smells similar, I assume it's a mixture of dank and brake blocks that make it. |
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class411
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Post by class411 on Sept 16, 2012 8:59:31 GMT
As people have pointed out, there are many smells on the Underground, some unpleasant, some that can be rather unpleasant out of context (i.e. food smells) but the one I've always considered the 'signature' smell is that which I otherwise associate with overheated printed circuit board (the older type, called, I think, 'paxolin' (technically, paper impregnated with phenol formaldehyde resin, rather than the modern, fibreglass based material). This was used for a variety of purposes in electric and electronic circuitry.
Thinking about it, it's something that you smell less and less, nowadays, but it used to be noticeable on almost every journey.
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Post by phillw48 on Sept 16, 2012 9:35:33 GMT
Back in the 60's the District tunnels used to smell of hot bakelite and damp soot.
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class411
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Post by class411 on Sept 16, 2012 9:47:50 GMT
Back in the 60's the District tunnels used to smell of hot bakelite and damp soot. Bakelite is, indeed, composed of phenol formaldehyde resin. It may well have been some bakelite component heating up that gave the trains their distinctive smell. That would explain why the smell has diminished over the years as, presumably, bakelite is not used for modern components. |
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slugabed
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Post by slugabed on Sept 16, 2012 9:55:29 GMT
Back in the 60's the District tunnels used to smell of hot bakelite and damp soot. On damp days you can still smell the soot on the North side of the Circle...I've noticed it at Great Portland St and Euston Sq...forty years (presumably) since the last steam train went by? |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2012 11:45:43 GMT
Back in the 60's the District tunnels used to smell of hot bakelite and damp soot. On damp days you can still smell the soot on the North side of the Circle...I've noticed it at Great Portland St and Euston Sq...forty years (presumably) since the last steam train went by? The smell at Euston Square, as someone else pointed out, is in fact from brake blocks, as this is (or was) the place where the Westinghouse was tested. |
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slugabed
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Post by slugabed on Sept 16, 2012 12:15:48 GMT
On damp days you can still smell the soot on the North side of the Circle...I've noticed it at Great Portland St and Euston Sq...forty years (presumably) since the last steam train went by? The smell at Euston Square, as someone else pointed out, is in fact from brake blocks, as this is (or was) the place where the Westinghouse was tested. Having swept many,many chimneys over the years,I know what damp soot smells like,thank you very much. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2012 11:03:22 GMT
I noticed the smell too last Sunday. It's a sort of fumigation smell. In turkey, the local authorities used to spray tourist areas to kill mosquitos and the smell was a bit like that.
A few weeks back and Bond Street Central LIne platforms, there was an awful smell of tramp. Sort of stale feet/stale urine smell. Glad that's gone
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