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Post by jacobcourtney on Jan 2, 2021 13:46:57 GMT
Hi all,
I’m currently working on a project about the London Underground, and more specifically have started focusing on the stations at Stratford and White City and journey between them on the Central Line. I’m interested in these as they used to be notable stations on my commute as they bookend the part of the line which goes underground (even though the line goes underground again eastbound before getting to Leyton).
I was wondering if anyone had any interesting or notable insights, facts, stories, experiences, or thoughts about these stations.
I hope this is an appropriate place to ask this question. Any response is much appreciated!
Many thanks!
Jacob
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slugabed
Zu lang am schnuller.
Posts: 1,480
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Post by slugabed on Jan 2, 2021 18:32:33 GMT
That's a pretty broad question...what sort of things are you looking for?
The history of White City station per se isn't that long,and isn't that interesting....but the wider history of the Underground's involvement in the area is complex and fascinating...
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Post by Chris L on Jan 2, 2021 21:12:38 GMT
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Post by revupminster on Jan 2, 2021 22:28:05 GMT
Stratford was primarily a British Rail station, with the central Line merely passing through, staffed by Eastern Region. It was the station for football specials when West Ham played away. I travelled on them to Cambridge United and Colchester United. There was a huge locomotive works; now the Olympic Park, Westfield, and the Eurostar station.
The only connection I can remember was the Rapid Printer ticket machines in the ticket office which were maintained by Underground machine fitters.
When I worked at Mile End the keys for the ventilation shaft by the A12 were kept there and being taken there as it was also an emergency escape route.
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Post by miff on Jan 2, 2021 22:38:24 GMT
The old, yellow tiled, entrance to Stratford Station can still be seen behind the taxi-rank and I believe it’s still accessible as an emergency exit - a double doorway leads to it from the inside. There used to be a subway from there under the road into the old shopping centre. Another (private) subway next to the station entrance was a staff entrance to the works and loco depot.
Once upon a time there was a Station Road leading from Angel Lane to a long gone station building at that end of the site. Close to the site of that old Angel Lane/Station Road junction there is now a ‘junction to nowhere’ where Angel Lane has a sharp bend onto the bridge over the railway. This would be a T-junction into a development site which has yet to be built. So there is a, currently pointless, set of traffic signals ‘controlling’ access to what would be another road but it’s blocked by a wall after a few feet. On the other side of the wall is a sheer drop.
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Post by norbitonflyer on Jan 3, 2021 10:38:50 GMT
White City was built as a terminal loop as a one-stop extension from the original Shepherds Bush terminus and, because of the geometry of the tight curves necessary to negotiate the right angle under Shepherds Bush Green, it ran anticlockwise. When the line was further extended to Ealing, the station had to be rebuilt, with the loop opened out, but as a consequence of the previous anticlockwise loop, right-hand running operates through White City, hence the flyover between there and East Acton.
The exit from the tunnel features in a chase scene in the Ealing Studios film "The Blue Lamp", featuring Dirk Bogarde as a hoodlum and Jack Warner as the policeman he murders.
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Post by Chris L on Jan 3, 2021 11:02:13 GMT
The old, yellow tiled, entrance to Stratford Station can still be seen behind the taxi-rank and I believe it’s still accessible as an emergency exit - a double doorway leads to it from the inside. There used to be a subway from there under the road into the old shopping centre. Another (private) subway next to the station entrance was a staff entrance to the works and loco depot. Once upon a time there was a Station Road leading from Angel Lane to a long gone station building at that end of the site. Close to the site of that old Angel Lane/Station Road junction there is now a ‘junction to nowhere’ where Angel Lane has a sharp bend onto the bridge over the railway. This would be a T-junction into a development site which has yet to be built. So there is a, currently pointless, set of traffic signals ‘controlling’ access to what would be another road but it’s blocked by a wall after a few feet. On the other side of the wall is a sheer drop. The old entrance is still there and there is talk of it being re-opened. The taxi rank has been moved into the bus station area. The is also a disused subway which runs the length of platforms 5/8. There is also a scheme to create a new entrance/exit from the Jubilee line concourse. This would assist with handling large crowds at the London stadium. |
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hobbayne
RIP John Lennon and George Harrison
Posts: 516
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Post by hobbayne on Jan 3, 2021 11:20:25 GMT
The westbound tunnel between Shepherds Bush and White City has the tightest curves on the entire underground system.
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Post by Dmitri on Jan 3, 2021 12:03:41 GMT
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Post by jacobcourtney on Jan 3, 2021 17:28:59 GMT
That's a pretty broad question...what sort of things are you looking for? The history of White City station per se isn't that long,and isn't that interesting....but the wider history of the Underground's involvement in the area is complex and fascinating... Hi slugabed, thanks for the response. Yes, sorry my question is a bit vague. I wasn't necessarily looking for anything too specific, just wondering if anybody had any notable or interesting experiences or stories about these stations, or if anybody knew any particular interesting facts or nuances about them. |
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Post by jacobcourtney on Jan 3, 2021 17:38:01 GMT
Thank you for sharing Chris! |
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Post by jacobcourtney on Jan 3, 2021 17:40:04 GMT
Stratford was primarily a British Rail station, with the central Line merely passing through, staffed by Eastern Region. It was the station for football specials when West Ham played away. I travelled on them to Cambridge United and Colchester United. There was a huge locomotive works; now the Olympic Park, Westfield, and the Eurostar station. The only connection I can remember was the Rapid Printer ticket machines in the ticket office which were maintained by Underground machine fitters. When I worked at Mile End the keys for the ventilation shaft by the A12 were kept there and being taken there as it was also an emergency escape route. Thank you for the response! |
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Post by jacobcourtney on Jan 3, 2021 17:43:41 GMT
The old, yellow tiled, entrance to Stratford Station can still be seen behind the taxi-rank and I believe it’s still accessible as an emergency exit - a double doorway leads to it from the inside. There used to be a subway from there under the road into the old shopping centre. Another (private) subway next to the station entrance was a staff entrance to the works and loco depot. Once upon a time there was a Station Road leading from Angel Lane to a long gone station building at that end of the site. Close to the site of that old Angel Lane/Station Road junction there is now a ‘junction to nowhere’ where Angel Lane has a sharp bend onto the bridge over the railway. This would be a T-junction into a development site which has yet to be built. So there is a, currently pointless, set of traffic signals ‘controlling’ access to what would be another road but it’s blocked by a wall after a few feet. On the other side of the wall is a sheer drop. Thank you for the response! |
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Post by jacobcourtney on Jan 3, 2021 17:45:22 GMT
White City was built as a terminal loop as a one-stop extension from the original Shepherds Bush terminus and, because of the geometry of the tight curves necessary to negotiate the right angle under Shepherds Bush Green, it ran anticlockwise. When the line was further extended to Ealing, the station had to be rebuilt, with the loop opened out, but as a consequence of the previous anticlockwise loop, right-hand running operates through White City, hence the flyover between there and East Acton. The exit from the tunnel features in a chase scene in the Ealing Studios film "The Blue Lamp", featuring Dirk Bogarde as a hoodlum and Jack Warner as the policeman he murders. Thanks for the response! I'll have to check that film out. |
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Post by jacobcourtney on Jan 3, 2021 17:49:29 GMT
The westbound tunnel between Shepherds Bush and White City has the tightest curves on the entire underground system. Interesting, thanks for sharing! |
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Post by jacobcourtney on Jan 3, 2021 17:50:05 GMT
Thanks for sharing Dmitri! |
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Post by John Tuthill on Jan 3, 2021 17:59:44 GMT
White City was built as a terminal loop as a one-stop extension from the original Shepherds Bush terminus and, because of the geometry of the tight curves necessary to negotiate the right angle under Shepherds Bush Green, it ran anticlockwise. When the line was further extended to Ealing, the station had to be rebuilt, with the loop opened out, but as a consequence of the previous anticlockwise loop, right-hand running operates through White City, hence the flyover between there and East Acton. The exit from the tunnel features in a chase scene in the Ealing Studios film "The Blue Lamp", featuring Dirk Bogarde as a hoodlum and Jack Warner as the policeman he murders. I'll stand corrected if I'm wrong, but I don't think the tunnels were in the final chase scene.The getaway car crashes in Sterne Street, and the chase goes across the empty railway sidings. Tommy Hanley, nearly gets hit by a west bound standard stock, which is approaching the west bound bend, then the chase ends up in the White City stadium. It''s absolutly rammed with punters watching greyhound racing!! The 'Blue Lamp' is a wonderful nostalgic film to see how that area was before the westway was built and other 'civic improvments.' Now the houses that are left you'll need a lottery win to buy one!! |
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Post by Dstock7080 on Jan 3, 2021 20:17:47 GMT
Tommy Hanley, nearly gets hit by a west bound standard stock, which is approaching the west bound bend, then the chase ends up in the White City stadium. Jimmy Hanley was the actor in the film, Tommy Handley (no relation) was a radio comedian. |
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Post by John Tuthill on Jan 3, 2021 20:19:00 GMT
Tommy Hanley, nearly gets hit by a west bound standard stock, which is approaching the west bound bend, then the chase ends up in the White City stadium. Jimmy Hanley was the actor in the film, Tommy Handley (no relation) was a radio comedian. Thanks for that!  If anybody is interested in old British films, check out the 'Reel Streets' web page. It shows still from the original, with in most cases photos of today taken from the same spot. If you're like me you can spend hours on it. The 'Blue Lamp' would be a good start. HNY to one and all |
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Post by selbiehouse on Jan 3, 2021 22:42:17 GMT
Stratford was the eastern terminus of the Central Line from 4.12.1946 until the line was extended further east on 5.5.1947. Does anyone know how the trains reversed?
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gantshill
I had to change my profile pic!
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Post by gantshill on Jan 3, 2021 22:54:02 GMT
Stratford was the eastern terminus of the Central Line from 4.12.1946 until the line was extended further east on 5.5.1947. Does anyone know how the trains reversed? The trains went forward to Drapers Field to reverse. I always have presumed that was the ramp from the tunnels up to Leyton Station, but I am sure that some experts will be able to give more precise details. |
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Post by jimbo on Jan 3, 2021 23:33:34 GMT
I believe there were spring points on the ramp to auto-reverse trains for that short period. Google maps shows Drapers Field Recreation Ground alongside, which was used as a temporary construction depot for the eastern extension. It was said that you could see the concrete patch over the temporary rail access ramp to those grounds, but that may no longer exist.
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DWS
every second count's
Posts: 2,487
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Post by DWS on Jan 4, 2021 0:06:26 GMT
I believe there were spring points on the ramp to auto-reverse trains for that short period. Google maps shows Drapers Field Recreation Ground alongside, which was used as a temporary construction depot for the eastern extension. It was said that you could see the concrete patch over the temporary rail access ramp to those grounds, but that may no longer exist. Both end of the crossover number 100 were powered and controlled from a relay room code LD at Drapers Field . |
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enness
enthusiastic railway amateur.
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Post by enness on Jan 4, 2021 10:42:29 GMT
harsig central line page clearly shows the temporary crossover and link to Draper`s Field, see CentralLineEasternExtensions ( zoom in to the inset !). (Draper`s Field was a working (main line) depot, with links south towards Stratford, so it would make sense that it was used during Stratford- Leyton tunnel construction ). |
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Post by jimbo on Jan 5, 2021 4:20:59 GMT
The late Mike Horne's listing of LU interlockings is still available here and shows code LD as a temporary auto reversing facility with relay room near tunnel mouth, opened 4 Dec 1946 and closed after 4 May 1947 |
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Post by brigham on Jan 5, 2021 8:47:36 GMT
It''s absolutly rammed with punters watching greyhound racing!! I'm not entirely sure what you expected punters at Britain's premier greyhound stadium to be watching, other than greyhound racing? It's what I went for, during my annual 'Motor Show' visit to London. It seemingly held some major international football match in 1966; a match rescheduled from Wembley stadium when it was found to clash with Wembley's own greyhound racing!! |
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Post by John Tuthill on Jan 5, 2021 8:50:15 GMT
It''s absolutly rammed with punters watching greyhound racing!! I'm not entirely sure what you expected punters at Britain's premier greyhound stadium to be watching, other than greyhound racing? It's what I went for, during my annual 'Motor Show' visit to London. It seemingly held some major international football match in 1966; a match rescheduled from Wembley stadium when it was found to clash with Wembley's own greyhound racing!! Don't forget it was also used for athletics and for speedway racing |
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Post by brigham on Jan 5, 2021 9:11:21 GMT
Chataway broke a running record there, at one time.
It degenerated into banger racing towards the end, which can also be seen in the background of a feature film.
It remains the only greyhound stadium at which I've seen a hurdles race. Dog racing has become almost exclusively flat.
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Post by John Tuthill on Jan 5, 2021 10:41:14 GMT
Chataway broke a running record there, at one time. It degenerated into banger racing towards the end, which can also be seen in the background of a feature film. It remains the only greyhound stadium at which I've seen a hurdles race. Dog racing has become almost exclusively flat. I seem to remember some ex MP who served time ran for one of the unis there. |
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 5, 2021 21:57:51 GMT
The old entrance is still there and there is talk of it being re-opened. The taxi rank has been moved into the bus station area. The is also a disused subway which runs the length of platforms 5/8. There is also a scheme to create a new entrance/exit from the Jubilee line concourse. This would assist with handling large crowds at the London stadium. I am baffled by the 5/8 reference. Platform 5 is for westbound local mainline trains, eg: TFL Rail to Liverpool Street Maybe you mean 6/8, this being the island platform for eastbound Central line (6) and mainline trains (8) - mostly used by TfL Rail services towards Shenfield? (plus the never used platform 7 for services to Fenchurch Street, the platform was specially built for this shuttle service because the stations served by Fenchurch Street trains beyond here were being given to the Central line) btw, in the mid 1980's there was a Christmas Day when Central line train ran through Stratford non-stop. This happened because being a BR station it did not open on Christmas Day. Nowadays, with the Jubilee line, the DLR, London Overground and TFL Rail using this station the majority of trains that serve it are from services operated by TfL - hence the station now being operated by TfL. |
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