Special, Like Saturday Night!

The history of railway regulation is based on the observation of things that have previously happened. In this case, the type of tunnels and the motive power were both new, and the rules were just a draft based on what the regulators thought might happen. Although there does seem to have been a light touch, I think that this was because the BOT were learning what to do with a railway like this.
Nevertheless, I still cannot understand why something like the signalling matter that I previously mentioned slipped through. That appears to have been a complete breach of existing railway operating practice. Although it was a vital step towards automatic signalling, it seems strange that it happened in the way that it did. It would have been more logical to plan such a bold move on a surface line where it could be monitored, inspected and adjusted. Instead, the company just installed and commissioned it without permission and then wrote to ask for retrospective approval. The BOT just rubber-stamped their acceptance and did not even bother to send anyone out to look at it for two months.
Elsewhere though, things were more difficult. The C&SLR certainly did not have an easy time getting parliamentary approval for its extensions and as new tube railways appeared, the regulations certainly got tougher.

Wonderful pic you have there, CSLR. If we look closely, we can see little 'danglies' from the tunnel rings; these are not scratches on the pic, but stalagmites. Little thin rods of sediment which has dripped through the linings over many years and have solidified.

Ah yes, I knew that!!! Always got stalag-mites and -tites muddled up. One grows upwards. Oh well, I was never any good at science....

Stalagmites and Stalagtites form because water seeping through the lime grout around the tunnel lining replicates a limestone cave, where such things are normally found.

When I started this quiz almost one week ago, I thought that it would be gone within a few hours or even minutes. I certainly didn't expect it to run to five pages. Thanks to some interesting postings, I have learnt a great deal about the CSLR and it's tunnels. Thanks to all those who have posted, CSLR in particular.



What type of grout was used by the other tube companies? What type is used today?

I remember in the 1990s being told that holes drilled in the walls of CSLR stations was to inject fresh grouting. Does anyone else recall this?

A week ago David posted a picture of part of a tube tunnel in this thread and asked where it was. I am now posting a picture of another tunnel, that I think you will guess is somewhere on the same line. It is the oldest known photograph of a train in a tube tunnel and comes from an article called 'London Underground' that was published in a monthly magazine. To my knowledge, only one copy of the magazine survives, tucked away in a relatively obscure library somewhere in the world. Even the British Library does not have a copy. I am therefore reasonably certain that most of you will not have seen this.
If you use the clues in previous posts in this thread, you might just be able to work out where it is. Have a go if you like. There is however a slight difference to this 'quiz'. Just take a look at this picture and see what you make of it. No right or wrong answers, just something very interesting to spot.
I will not be making any comments until there have been a few posts. See what you can do.

I'm thinking about that 'board' below the 2nd 'O' in London...

I was trying to work out what that box was David. I think that, because the trains were effectively 'top and tailed' they used to leave the lamps on, to save walking back and forth each time they 'changed ends'. I could be wrong, but it wouldnt surprise me if this IS what happened.

This board is at just the right height to have been seen from the cab of a CSLR loco, I think it could have been collected with the 'signal' object opposite.

None of which gets us any closer to working out a location of course.!

Is the device I mentioned in the post above this one, not a signal at all, but in fact one of the CSLRs train detectors?

"Not the rear of the train ??" (David # 74)

Could the train be standing at a 'Set Back' signal (ie: to a siding) into which it will be propelled by the Loco ?

It is not a siding but you are getting warm with your comments.
To help you narrow things down, the photograph was taken in 1899 when the line ran only from King William Street to Stockwell.

Virtually all of the key indicators have now been mentioned. As part of his comments, one of the members has unwittingly described the exact position that this picture seems to have been taken, without naming the location.
I think that it is now time to give a little more information. The photograph is one of a pair that were taken during the same visit. The other photo was of a train in the platform at King William Street station.
Although we have covered many points, there is still one important feature staring everyone in the face. Will someone please look at the tunnel segments and tell me what you see?
Here is a direct link back to the picture if you need it
img83.imageshack.us/img83/7503/tunnel4er.jpg

I assume this is the original 10'6" gauge? My immediate comment is that the tunnel segments haven't been laid symmetrically leading to different lines of action of forces on the rivetted connections due to the hoop stresses? This may be intentional due to constraints during construction.

Then again my only experience with tunnels are the sub-surface type and not the deep tubes.