16/17 October 1940: The London Underground on this day 70 years ago
Fortieth day of the London Blitz.
At 18:00 on Wednesday 16 October 1940, the line west of Acton Town station was damaged.[1]
At 18:48, various problems were reported at the sites of recent bombings. A main sewer burst at Balham Northern line station, while rainwater was entering the shattered escalator shaft at Trafalgar Square (now Charing Cross) Bakerloo line station.[2]
At 19:35 debris was reported on the track at South Kensington, with signals EE3 and EE5 damaged.[2] Services suspended between Earls Court and St James's Park from 19:35 to 22:05.[3]
A 250kg bomb (designated A/2 in the plan below) destroyed 142 Archway Road, directly over the Northern line between Archway and East Finchley station, cracking the concrete lining in two tunnel rings.[4]
Bakerloo line services suspended between Paddington and Elephant & Castle from 20:30 to 21:15 due to a defective train at Piccadilly Circus.[3]
Warren Street station was closed at 20:31 due to bombs in the vicinity.[3]
Multiple problems were reported at 20:45. A bomb hit the track between Kingsbury and Queensbury stations, while three bombs hit Neasden Depot.[2] Burnt Oak sub-station was out of action, the feeders from Hendon sub-station damaged,[5] while services were suspended between Wembley Park and Stanmore due to bomb damage at Wembley Park.[3]
The Chesham branch of the Metropolitan line was suspended at 20:55 due to bombs in the vicinity.[3]
An incendiary bomb went through the roof of a train at South Harrow at 21:55.[5]
At 22:05 current was lost between Russell Square and Your Road (disused station between King's Cross and Caledonian Road), reason unknown. Eastbound services reversed at Covent Garden.[3]
At 23:03 a burst water main flooded Kilburn Park sub-station.[5]
Central line services were suspended between Marble Arch and Holborn from 22:28 to 00:18, and between East Acton and Wood Lane from 00:10 to 08:11 due to reported track subsidence.[3]
At 00:22 on the 17th, a falling Anti-Aircraft shell exploded between Gloucester Road station and Cromwell Road bridge, bursting the air main, and slightly damaging signals. Everything was in order by 02:04, with the exception of the signals.[5]
At 02:20 a large crater was reported between the down line and the siding north of Wembley Park station.[3] At 05:27 an Unexploded bomb (UXB) was reported 50 yards (46 metres) north of Wembley Park.[1]
Bombs between 8, 9 and 10 roads at Neasden Depot damaged track and two trains.[5]
Two Delayed Action bombs in the Victoria Sports Ground suspended all services west of Acton Town from 03:08 to 06:52.[3]
At 03:25 services were suspended between Edgware Road and Hendon Central due to a dead short on the track.[3]
At 08:00 on the 17th, the following working conditions were reported:
[1] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Damage Appreciation 16-17/10/40, page 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/3]
[2] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 16/10/40 to 06:00 17/10/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1105]
[3] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 16/10/40 to 06:00 17/10/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1105]
[4] Ministry of Home Security, Research and Experiments Department: Registered Papers: Damage to underground railways, drawing 11 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 192/8]
[5] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 16/10/40 to 06:00 17/10/40, sheet 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1105]
[6] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 16/10/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/4]
[7] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 16/10/40, page 4 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/4]
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At 18:00 on Wednesday 16 October 1940, the line west of Acton Town station was damaged.[1]
At 18:48, various problems were reported at the sites of recent bombings. A main sewer burst at Balham Northern line station, while rainwater was entering the shattered escalator shaft at Trafalgar Square (now Charing Cross) Bakerloo line station.[2]
At 19:35 debris was reported on the track at South Kensington, with signals EE3 and EE5 damaged.[2] Services suspended between Earls Court and St James's Park from 19:35 to 22:05.[3]
A 250kg bomb (designated A/2 in the plan below) destroyed 142 Archway Road, directly over the Northern line between Archway and East Finchley station, cracking the concrete lining in two tunnel rings.[4]
Bakerloo line services suspended between Paddington and Elephant & Castle from 20:30 to 21:15 due to a defective train at Piccadilly Circus.[3]
Warren Street station was closed at 20:31 due to bombs in the vicinity.[3]
Multiple problems were reported at 20:45. A bomb hit the track between Kingsbury and Queensbury stations, while three bombs hit Neasden Depot.[2] Burnt Oak sub-station was out of action, the feeders from Hendon sub-station damaged,[5] while services were suspended between Wembley Park and Stanmore due to bomb damage at Wembley Park.[3]
The Chesham branch of the Metropolitan line was suspended at 20:55 due to bombs in the vicinity.[3]
An incendiary bomb went through the roof of a train at South Harrow at 21:55.[5]
At 22:05 current was lost between Russell Square and Your Road (disused station between King's Cross and Caledonian Road), reason unknown. Eastbound services reversed at Covent Garden.[3]
At 23:03 a burst water main flooded Kilburn Park sub-station.[5]
Central line services were suspended between Marble Arch and Holborn from 22:28 to 00:18, and between East Acton and Wood Lane from 00:10 to 08:11 due to reported track subsidence.[3]
At 00:22 on the 17th, a falling Anti-Aircraft shell exploded between Gloucester Road station and Cromwell Road bridge, bursting the air main, and slightly damaging signals. Everything was in order by 02:04, with the exception of the signals.[5]
At 02:20 a large crater was reported between the down line and the siding north of Wembley Park station.[3] At 05:27 an Unexploded bomb (UXB) was reported 50 yards (46 metres) north of Wembley Park.[1]
Bombs between 8, 9 and 10 roads at Neasden Depot damaged track and two trains.[5]
Two Delayed Action bombs in the Victoria Sports Ground suspended all services west of Acton Town from 03:08 to 06:52.[3]
At 03:25 services were suspended between Edgware Road and Hendon Central due to a dead short on the track.[3]
At 08:00 on the 17th, the following working conditions were reported:
"Bakerloo line
Northbound trains reversing at Queens Park, and services suspended Wembley Park to Stanmore - damage 17/10.
Trafalgar Square station closed.
Central line
Suspended Wood Lane to Ealing Broadway - repaired crater affected by rain.
Northern line
Suspended Strand (now Charing Cross) to Kennington.
Suspended Tooting Broadway to Clapham Common.
Suspended Hendon to Edgware - bomb at Hendon 17/10.
Single line working Hendon to Golders Green.
Camden Town station closed.
Angel station closed - UXB in forecourt.
Old Street station closed - UXB in vicinty.
Piccadilly line
Suspended Wood Green to Arnos Grove.
Suspended Finsbury Pakr to King's Cross.
Suspended Acton Town to Northfields.
Restricted services Ealing Common to Acton Town.
District line
Suspended Charing Cross [now Embankment] to Mansion House.
Suspended Acton to Northfields
Suspended Dagenham to Baking.
Restricted services Ealing Common to Acton Town.
Metropolitan line
Suspended Moorgate to King's Cross - damage 16/10, and unsafe buildings.
Suspended Edgware Road to South Kensington - damage to Praed Street station.
Suspended Stanmore to Wembley Park, Neasden to Preston Road, and Harrow to Preston Road - damage at Wembley Park 17/10.
East London line
Suspended - damage at East Surrey Docks 16/10.[6]
Unexploded Bombs
1. Canons Park 09/10 - services suspended between Stanmore and Wembley Park.
2. Woodside Park 14/10 - services suspended (2 UXBs).
3. Russell Square 16/10 - Ux Land Mine on roof of flats in Herbrand St. opposite station.
4. Angel station 15/10 - UXB in forecourt of station.
5. Golders Green Depot 11/10 - trains unable to stabled in yard.[7]
[1] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Damage Appreciation 16-17/10/40, page 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/3]
[2] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 16/10/40 to 06:00 17/10/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1105]
[3] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 16/10/40 to 06:00 17/10/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1105]
[4] Ministry of Home Security, Research and Experiments Department: Registered Papers: Damage to underground railways, drawing 11 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 192/8]
[5] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 16/10/40 to 06:00 17/10/40, sheet 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1105]
[6] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 16/10/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/4]
[7] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 16/10/40, page 4 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/4]
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Labels: Blitz 70, London Underground, The London Underground at War
posted by Nick Cooper at
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