30 September/1 October 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Twenty-fourth day/night of the London Blitz.

At 21:18 on the Monday 30 September 1940, a derailed train at North Acton caused power problems at the Old Oak Common sub-station; Wood Lane to Ealing suspended.^[1]

At 21:51, a 500kg bomb exploded in the front gardens of two houses at the corner of Lessar Avenue and Clapham Common South Side, 150 yards (137 metres) north of Clapham South station, blowing in the buildings' foundations and causing their complete collapse. Sixty feet (18 metres) below, two top segments of the southbound Northern line tunnel were broken, while the northbound tunnel was undamaged, but showed evidence of having been shaken.^[2] When the damage was discovered at 23:15, a 5 mph (8 kph) speed restriction was imposed southbound, and a 20 mph (32 kph) limit northbound. At the Ministry of Transport, Colonel AHL Mount (see here) noted:

"The damage appears not inconsitent with that at Mornington Crescent and Chalk Farm, having regard to the weight of the bomb."^[3]

Normal working resumed 08:40 on the 1st.^[4]

At 04:00 on the 1st, ten bombs were dropped in the vicinity of Ruislip Metropilitan/Piccadilly line station. Services suspended from Ruislip to Uxbridge.^[1] Normal working resumed 07:55.^[5]

At 05:31, the westbound running rail was found to be cracked between Gloucester Road and South Kensington on the Piccadilly line, and 5 mph (8 kph) speed restriction was imposed.^[1]

At 08:00 on the 1st, the following working conditions were reported:

Northern line
Single line working Hampstead to Camden Town - damage to Chalk Farm tunnel 27/09, expected to re-open 05/10.
Woodside Park to High Barnet suspended - Unexploded Bomb (UXB 21/09).

Central line
Wood Lane to Ealing Broadway suspended - damage to Hanger Lane Bridge.
North Acton station closed.

Piccadilly line
Ruislip to Uxbridge suspended - bomb damage 30/09.

Bakerloo line
Stanmore trains reversing at Hampstead - damage to Kilburn Bridge 16/09.

District line
Ealing Common station re-opened 30/09.
Ealing Common to Ealing Broadway suspended - damage to Hanger Lane Bridge 28/09.

Metropolitan line
Kings Cross and Moorgate suspended - damage 19/09 and 24/09, expected to re-open 10/10.
Addison Road to Latimer Road suspended (25/09), expected to re-open 01/10.
Ruislip to Uxbridge suspended - bomb damage 30/09.^[6]

Unexploded Bombs

1. Woodside Park 21/09 - Services suspended Woodside Park to High Barnet.
2. Farringdon, Cow Cross Street 24/09 - Delay in clearance of line.
3. Neasden Depot, 18 Road 21/09 - Preventing use of south end of yard.
4. Surrey Docks 24/09 - Delay to repairs to previous damage
5. Morden Depot 27/09 - No interference.^[7]

^[1] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 30/09/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[2] Ministry of Transport and successors, Railway Divisions: Correspondence and Papers, Air Raid Damage - Underground Railways, 1940-1941 [Kew: National Archives, reference MT 6/2759]
^[3] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 30/09/40 to 06:00 01/10/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[4] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D1, 06:00-18:00 01/10/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1105]
^[5] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 01/10/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1105]
^[6] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 01/10/40, page 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[7] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 01/10/40, page 4 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]

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29/30 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Twenty-third day/night of the London Blitz.

At 09:20 on the Sunday 29 September 1940, a Delayed Action bomb was reported between Uxbridge and Hillingdon Metropolitan/Piccadilly line stations; services suspended 09:52 to 11:20.^[1]

Services resumed between North Ealing and Acton Town Piccadilly line stations at 18:00.^[1]

At 00:25 on the 30th, a fire adjacent to the track at Park Royal station suspended Piccadilly line traffic until 00:45.^[2]

The line at Northfields Piccadilly line station was block by damage to a bridge over the track, while Harlesden station on the Bakerloo line was similarly blocked.^[3]

At Ealing Common Piccadilly/District line station, bombs fell in the Uxbridge Road at 04:50. Services suspended until 06:20.^[3] At 06:40 it was reported that the track was buckled between Ealing Common and Actown Town stations. Ealing Common was closed, and services suspended until lines were reported in order at 09:35, with the station itself reopening at 16:25.^[4]

At 06:30 a Parachute Mine was reported in the air between Putney Bridge and Earls Court District line stations, and drifting towards Walham Green. Services suspended until 07:00.^3]

At 08:00 on the 30th, the following working conditions were reported:

Northern line
Single line working Hampstead to Camden Town - damage to Chalk Farm tunnel.
Woodside Park to High Barnet suspended - Unexploded Bomb (UXB).

Central line
North Acton to Ealing Broadway suspended - damage to Hanger Lane Bridge.

Piccadilly line
North Ealing to Acton Rown suspended - UXB at North Ealing.

Bakerloo line
Stanmore trains reversing at Hampstead.

District line
Richmond to Kew suspended.
Acton to Ealing Broadway suspended - damage to Hanger Lane Bridge.
UXB between Ealing Common and Acton Town.

Metropolitan line
Closed between Kings Cross and Moorgate.
Addison Road to Latimer Road suspended.^[5]

^[1]Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 29/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[2] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 29/09/40 to 06:00 30/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[3] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 29-30/09/40, page 5 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[4]Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 30/09/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[5] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 30/09/40, pages 1-2 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]

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28/29 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Twenty-second day/night of the London Blitz.

At 01:15 on the 29th, bomb damage at Hanger Lane Bridge over the shared District line/Great Western Railway (GWR) knocked cables off brackets and on fire, and blocking the line, leaving a GWR goods train on fire under the bridge.^[1]

At 01:22, two High Explosive bombs hit the Piccadilly line's Northfields Depot, damaging points, and cratering the track west of the Northfields station itself.^[1]

At 08:00 on the 29th, the following working conditions were reported:

Northern line
Closed between Woodside Park and High Barnet - Unexploded Bomb (UXB) at Woodside Park.
Chalk Farm station closed; shuttle service between Hampstead and Camden Town.

Central line
Wood Lane to Ealing Broadway suspended - bomb damage to Hanger Lane Bridge.

Piccadilly line
North Ealing to Acton Town suspended - bomb damage to Hanger Lane Bridge.
Hounslow Town to Acton Town suspended - bomb damage at Northfields.

District line
Turnham Green to Gunnersby suspended - bomb damage.
Acton to Ealing Broadway suspended - bomb damage to Hanger Lane Bridge.

Metropolitan line
Closed between Kings Cross and Moorgate - UXB at Cow Cross Street.
Farringdon Street station closed - unsafe buildings.
Addison Road to Latimer Road suspended - bomb damage at Uxbridge Road station, also closed.^[2]

^[1] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 28/09/40 to 06:00 29/09/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[2] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 29/09/40, pages 1-2 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]

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27/28 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Twenty-first day/night of the London Blitz.

"The enemy was very much more active during the day than usual. Three attacks were made on LONDON and some damage was done to the Southern Railway."^[1]

On Friday 27th September 1940, previously suspended services between Northfield and Hounslow resumed at 08:52, and between Turnham Green and Richmond at 14:00.^[2]

At 21:47, a 250kg High Explosive (HE) bomb hit the road of Haverstock Hill 100 yards (91 metres) north-west of Chalk Farm Northern line station, 32 feet (10 metres) directly above the southbound running tunnel.^[3][4]


It was later reported:

"Exceptionally few windows were broken and the clock was not even stopped in the station; the men in the control room experienced a heavy thus and the structure trembled, but they did not notice this particular bomb more than others in the neighbourhood."^[5]

Segments were cracked in segments of thirteen rings of the northbound tunnel, while the southbound suffered fractures in twenty-three rings, with a 20 x 30 inch (50 x 70 cm) hole blown through one segment at waist height above the rail level.^[5] Services were initially suspended completely between Camden Town and Golders Green stations, but the damage in the northbound tunnel was judged to be of a level that would still allow the running of a full-length shuttle train service through it between Camden Town and Hampstead.^[5][6] The following day a bus service was instituted between Chalk Farm and Belsize park, with the stations only open for booking purposes.^[7]

After visiting the site on the 28th, Lieutenant-Colonel AHL Mount of the Ministry of Transport reported:

"All the engineers concerned were of the opinion that had this damage taken place under the River [Thames], water would have poured into the Tube at many places, and the Inspecting Officers agree."^[5]

At the time the practice was to close the floodgates either end of all the tunnels running under the Thames, between both Charing Cross (now Embankment) and Waterloo, and London Bridge and Bank, but despite the near catastrophic experience at the former on the 9/10 September (see here), it had been strongly suggested that the tunnels at the latter, being much deeper below the river bed, were less at risk, and so could be kept open. Mount was emphatically opposed to this, and considered that this new incident - coupled with the damage at Mornington Crescent on the 8/9 September (see here) - was clear evidence that the existing cautious working practices were correct:

"It is clear that the additional depth of the tubes [at London Bridge] does not justify differentiation from the procedure agreed for the Charing Cross and Waterloo floodgates. The Inspecting Officers are not carrying out their normal functions in this respect. They are normally the Minister's technical advisers on all railway matters; but backed by their knowledge and experience of the last two years, they are in a better position than anyone else in this Ministry to advice the Minister upon the risks which should justifiably be taken in a matter of policy of this kind, and they have no-one upon whom their responsibility can devolve.

It is easy to be wise after the event and say that a risk might safely have been taken after no bombs had fallen during any particular Red Warning; but this Ministry will be hard put to it to find an excuse if, after having spent many thousands of pounds towards making the Tube system safe for transport purposes, the floodgates which have been provided at London Bridge are not used, and the Tube system is flooded in consequence and put out of action for the rest of the war, not only for transport, but even as refuges, together with the almost inevitable loss of many thousands of lives."^[5]

Damaged segments in the southbound tunnel were extensively replaced, whilst those in the northbound tunnel were merely reinforced, pending full replacement later (see plan below). Full services resumed on 7 October 1940.^[5][8][9]


At 23:25 services between Uxbridge and Rusilip on the joint Metropolitan/Piccadilly line were suspended due to a reported HE on the track; normal working resumed at 00:20.^[6]

Stockwell station on the Northern line was closed at 05:45 on the 28th due to a Delayed Action bomb in front of the station.^[6] Station re-opened by 18:00.<sup>[7]

[1]</sup> Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 26-28/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[2] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 27/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[3] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 27/09/40 to 06:00 28/09/40, sheet 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[4] Ministry of Home Security, Research and Experiments Department: Registered Papers: Damage to underground railways, drawing 14C [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 192/8]
^[5] Ministry of Transport and successors, Railway Divisions: Correspondence and Papers, Air Raid Damage - Underground Railways, 1941-1942 [Kew: National Archives, reference MT 6/2766]
^[6] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 25/09/40 to 06:00 26/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[7] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 28/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[8] Ministry of Home Security, Air Raid Precautions (ARP GEN) Registered files: AIR RAIDS, Incident Reports, Tube incidents statistics [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 186/2419]
^[9] Ministry of Home Security, Research and Experiments Department: Notes: Notes on damage to railway tunnels by high explosive weapons Section 1, Tube railways. 26 March 1942. Author, Dr. EWJ Phillips [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 196/11]

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26/27 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Twentieth day/night of the London Blitz.

On Thursday 26 September 1940, the following previously suspended services were resumed:

09:30 - Wood Lane to Ealing Broadway (Central line)
10:20 - Archway to Finchley Central (Northern line)
10:50 - Baker Street to Kings Coss (Metropolitan line)
14:00 - Ladbroke Grove to Hammersmith (Hammersmith & City line)
16:27 - Finchley Central to Woodside Park (Northern line)
17:45 - Hyde Park Corner to Hammersmith (Piccadilly line)
18:19 - Edgware to Hendon (Northern line)^[1]

An explosion in the air above West Hampstead Metropolitan/Bakerloo line station at 22:30 damaged glass in the station building, and injured one passenger.^[2]

On the Piccadilly line, at Caledonian Road station, the roof and doors of Walters Road sub-station were damaged.^[2]

At 23:15, Paddington (Praed Street) station was hit by Incendiary Bombs.^[3]

Fires in the vicinity of Edgware Road station caused the suspension of Metropolitan line services between 00:15 and 00:40 on the 27th.^[4]

An unexploded Parachute Mine was reported near the LNER's Stroud Green station - at the time planned to become part of the Northern Line (see map below) - at 00:50^[5]


The up line on Portobello Bridge carrying the Hammersmith & City line was damaged by a bomb at 01:50.^[2]

On the District line, a girder fell across the eastbound track at South Ealing at 04:20,^[2] while services between Gunersby and and Richmond were suspended due to a Land Mine near Kew Gardens, and damage to Thames Road Bridge.^[4]

A High Explosive (HE) bomb fell on the Piccadilly line track at Boston Manor at 05:16, displacing the current rail.^[2][2] Services suspended.^[4]

An HE hit the car shed at the Northern line's Morden Depot, destroying an ambulance.^[2]

Bakerloo line services between Paddington and Elephant & Castle suspended due to signal problems.^[4]

At 09:00 on the 27th, the following working conditions were reports:

Northern line
Woodside Park to High Barnet closed.

Piccadilly line
Russell Square station closed.

Central line
Tottenham Court Road, and Oxford CIrcus stations closed.

All lines at Ealing Broadway closed.

Earls Court station now open.^[6]

^[1] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 26/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[2] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 26/09/40 to 06:00 27/09/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[3] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 26-27/09/40, page 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[4] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 26/09/40 to 06:00 27/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[5] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 26-27/09/40, page 11 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[6] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 26-27/09/40, page 11 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]

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25/26 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Nineteenth day/night of the London Blitz.

On Wednesday 25 September 1940, a suspected Delayed Action (DA) bomb on the track between Gunnersby and Kew Gardens suspended District line services between 09:07 and 10:25. A DA at Dagenham (now Dagenham East) at 09:16 suspended services between Barking and Upminster. Electric services between Barking and Dagenham, and steam services to Upminster, were resumed at 10:58, with full electric through services at 17:10.^[1]

From 10:00, Tottenham Court Road station was open for interchange and exit only, with no booking facilities open.^[1]

Northern line service between Strand (now Charing Cross) and Kennington were suspended from 12:20 to 12:53 for an inspection of the tunnel.^[1]

On the Northern line, blast from a High Explosive (HE) bomb on the road outside damaged Oval station,^[2] while another damaged Colindale station at 20:45.^[3] Services between Archway and Woodside Park were suspended from 21:30 due to a current failure, and DAs between East Finchley and Finchley Central, and between Finchley Central and Woodside Park; services resumed between Archway and Finchley Central only at 01:03.^[4] An HE on the viaduct at Brent (now Brent Cross) station resulted in northbound services terminating at Hampstead between 11:03 and 11:34.^[4] At 23:45 a second HE at Colindale completely demolished the station, injuring a number of staff and passengers,^[2], eight of them fatally.^[5] Edgware to Hendon services suspended.^[4]

On the Richmond branch of the District line, damage to the Thames Road Bridge led to services being suspended between Kew Gardens and Gunnersby,^[4] while at 21:15, Incendiary Bombs (IBs) between Fishers Lane Bridge and Turnham Green station also affected services.^[3]

IBs caused a fire at Chiswick sub-station, whilst elsewhere Goldhawk Road station and two arches of the viaduct were also set ablaze.^[2] Services suspended Edgware Road to Hammersmith,^[6] and resumed between Edgware Road and Ladbroke Grove at 07:10 on the 26th.^[7]

On the joint District/Piccadilly line, the west signal box at West Kensington was damaged by a bomb, while fires under the arches damaged Stamford Brook station.^[2] Piccadilly line services suspended between Hammersmith and Hyde Park Corner.^[6]

On the short Metropolitan line branch between Latimer Road and Addison Road (see map below), Uxbridge Road station - which stood on the site of the new Shepherd's Bush London Overground station - was damaged by an HE.^[2] Services on the branch suspended.^[6] The Metropolitan line as a whole suffered a total failure of current between 22:05 and 22:36.^[4]


At 22:13 a bomb damaged Kingsbury then-Bakerloo line station, while further down the line, Willesden Green was damaged by another bomb at 22:34. The windows of the sub-station at Finchley Road station were blown in by an HE, and as were those of the Hendon sub-station^[2]

At 08:00 on the 26th, the following working conditions were reported:

Northern line
Closed Finchley Central to High Barnet, and Edgware to Hendon.
Restricted services Hendon to Golders Green.

District line
Damage at West Kensington.
No service Earls Court to Kensington, Ealing Broadway, or Richmond.
Wimbledon to Upminster in operation.

Piccadilly line
No service Hammersmith to Hyde Park Corner - damage at West Kensington.

Metropolitan line
Addison Road to Latimer Road closed.
Baker Street to Moorgate closed.
Aylesbury to Baker Street in operation.

Bakerloo line
Oxford Circus staion closed.

East London line
Closed.

Hammersmith & City line
Open.

Goods Exchange (Metropolitan)
Widened line open.^[8]

^[1] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 25/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[2] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 25/09/40 to 06:00 26/09/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[3] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 25-26/09/40, page 5 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[4] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 25/09/40 to 06:00 26/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[5] Casualty & Fatalty Analysis: Colindale 25/09/40
^[6] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 25/09/40 to 06:00 26/09/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[7] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 26/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[8] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 26/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]

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24/25 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Eighteenth day/night of the London Blitz.

On Tuesday 24 September 1940, District line services suspended since the previous day were resumed between Charing Cross (now Embankment) and Mansion House at 10:05, and between St James's Park and Charing Cross (now Embankment) at 18:15. Services between Earl's Court and Putney Bridge, suspended since 12 September, resumed at 19:50.^[1]

Metropolitan line services through Swiss Cottage station - closed due to a Delayed Action (DA) bomb (see yesterday) - resumed at 15:42, but another DA was discovered at 16:58, and services between Baker Street and Wembley Park suspended until 18:45.^[1]

Piccadilly line services between Wood Green and Cockfosters, suspended since 18 September, resumed at 17:30.^[1]

Debris on the track between West Kingsington and Barons Court damaged two Piccadilly line trains (broken side springs).^[2]

High Explosive (HE) bombs again hit Earl's Court District/Piccadilly line station at 21:30, with debris injuring three passengers and two staff.^[2][3] The station was closed, although District line services between there and Parson's Green resumed at 07:00 on the 25th.^[4] District line services between East Ham and Upminster were suspended at 21:30 due to an incident at Upminster.^[5]

At 21:58 Incendiary Bombs fell on the track at South Kensington station; District line services suspended between South Kensington and Acton Town, and Piccadilly line services between Hyde Park Corner and Acton Town.^[2]

Metropolitan line services were suspended due to an Unexploded Bomb at Finchley Road.^[6]

At 22:00, a bomb hit a buiding on the corner of Hanway Street and Tottenham Court Road, north of the station of the same name and directly above the Northern line, but the tunnel was not damaged.^[7]

At Morden, a faling anti-aircraft shell damaged electrical cables; current switched off between 01:11 and 01:22.^[2]

An HE on the track at Northfields Depot at 01:12 on the 25th damaged three roads.^[2]

At 03:30, Mile End station was also hit by HEs,^[6] while one outside Blackfriars station damaged the roof, and left the ceiling in a dangerous condition.^[2] Services through Blackfriars resumed at 08:40.^[8]

At 08:00 on the 25th, the following working conditions were reported:

Northern line
Woodside Park to High Barnet closed.

District line
Ealing Broadway, Richmond, and Hounslow West to Charing Cross (now Embankment) reversing.
Dagenham (now Dagenham East) to Mansion House reversing.

Metropolitan line
No service between Baker Street and Moorgate.
Addison Road station closed.

Piccadilly, Bakerloo, and Hammersmith & City lines normal.^[9]

^[1] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 24/09/40, sheet 4 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[2] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 24/09/40 to 06:00 25/09/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[3] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 24-25/09/40, page 4 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[4] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 24-25/09/40, page 5 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[5] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 24/09/40 to 06:00 25/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[6] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 24-25/09/40, page 11 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[7] Ministry of Home Security, Research and Experiments Department: Registered Papers: Damage to underground railways, revised drawing 6 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 192/8]
^[8]Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 25/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[9] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 25/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]

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23/24 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Seventeenth day/night of the London Blitz.

On Monday 23 September 1940, Oxford Circus station was closed due to water on the track, cause unknown.^[1]

At 05:00 on the 24th, a bomb damaged the roof and caused flooding at Mile End station on the District line,^[2] although services on the line between Whitechapel and Bow Road resumed at 08:30.^[3]

Swiss Cottage Bakerloo/Metropolitan line station was closed at 07:20 due to a Delayed Action bomb, but Bakerloo line services resumed at 08:45.^[3]

At 08:00 on the 24th, the following exceptions to normal working were reported:

Northern line
Woodside Park to Finchley closed.

District line
Bow Road to Whitechapel closed.
Mansion House to St James's Park closed - bomb on the Embankment.

East London line
Whole line closed.

Piccadilly line
Arnos Grove, Cockfosters, and Russell Square stations.^[4]

^[1]Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 23/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[2] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 23/09/40 to 06:00 24/09/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[3]Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 24/09/40, sheet 4 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[4] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 24/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]

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22/23 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Sixteenth day/night of the London Blitz.

Two trains collided on the southbound platform at Queen's Park station on the Bakerloo. Two trains were damaged, and services were suspended between Kensal Green and Queen's Park southbound only. At Plaistow on the District line, a car overturned at 23:25.<sup>[1]

[1]</sup> Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 22/09/40 to 06:00 23/09/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]

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21/22 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Fifteenth day/night of the London Blitz.

Metropolitan line services between Baker Street and Edgware Road resumed at 09:30 on Saturday 21 September 1940, while those on the Northern line between Golder's Green and Brent (now Brent Cross) resumed at 12:00.^[1]

Services reversed at Putney Bridge due to Delayed Action bomb (DA) at the west end of Parson's Green station on the District line, and at Woodside Park on the Northern line due to a DA a quarter-mile (800 metres) north of the station.<sup>[2]

[1]</sup> Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 21/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[2] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 21/09/40 to 06:00 22/09/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]

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20/21 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Fourteenth day/night of the London Blitz.

On Friday 20th September 1940, an Unexploded Bomb was reported at the Metropolitan line's Neasden Depot, in sheds between roads 17 & 18.^[1]

On the District line, Earl's Court to Parson's Green services were suspended due to a Delayed Action bomb (DA) at West Brompton, while services were resumed between Ladbroke Grove and Addison Road (see map below) at 16:10 on the 20th.^[2]


Northern line services between Golder's Green and Brent (now Brent Cross) were suspended due to a DA.^[2]

A DA was reported adjacent to the track at Alperton station at 21:15; trains were reversed at Ealing Common and South Hounslow. At 21:28, nearby fires closed Lambeth North station on the Bakerloo line.^[3]

There was further disruption at Wood Lane area, when a DA was reported between there and Action; trains reversed at Wood Lane.<sup>[3]

[1]</sup> Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 20-21/09/40, page 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[2] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 20/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[3] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 20/09/40 to 06:00 21/09/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]

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19/20 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Thirteenth day/night of the London Blitz.

On Thursday 19th September 1940, a Delayed Action bomb (DA) between Wembley Park and West Hampstead suspended the Bakerloo /Metropolitan line from 10:05 to 10:45.^[1]

District line services between Bromley-by-Bow and Barking stations were suspended between 10:38 and 11:00, after which they initially resumed without stopping at Plaistow station, which reopened at 14:02.^[1]

Earl's Court station reopened after being closed on the 13th, while Hammersmith & City line services between Hammersmith and Ladbroke Grove station resumed, having been suspended since the 17th.^[1]

No Piccadilly line services between Wood Green and Cockfosters due to bomb crater in track, while Russell Square station was closed due to a nearby DA.^[2]

The Metropolitan line was closed between Baker Street and Edgware Road stations due to a DA, and between Euston Square and Mooraget due to tunnel bomb damage the previous night, and unsafe buildings at Moorgate.^[2]

Central line services between Wood Lane and Queens Road (now Queensway) stations were suspended until 08:00 on the 20th, while the East London line remained closed due to bomb damage at Surrey Docks (now Surrey Quays).^[3]

At 08:00 on the 20th, the following exceptions to normal working were reported:

Piccadilly line
No service Wood Green to Cockfosters - crater in track between Arnos Grove and Cockfosters.
Russell Square station closed - UXB in vicinity.

Metropolitan line
Baker Street - UXB between Baker Street and Egware Road.
Euston Squre - bomb through tunnel roof.
No service Egware Road to Moorgate - unsafe buildings at Farringdon Street station due to fires in vicinity.

Central line
No Service Wood Lane to Queen's Road - bomb at Wood Lane station at 08:05, traffic resumed by 09:00.

East London line
Line closed - damage to tunnel and track at Surrey Docks station (09/09).^[4]

^[1] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 19/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[2] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 17/09/40 to 06:00 18/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[3] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 17/09/40 to 06:00 18/09/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[4] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 20/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]

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18/19 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Twelfth day/night of the London Blitz, on which there was heavy disruption due to Delayed Action (DA) bombs on or in the vicinity of tracks, stations, or other infrastructure.

On Wednesday 18 September 1940 services were suspended between Baker Street and Edgware Road stations, while Russell Square and Great Portland stations were closed, although the latter re-opened at 11:10.^[1] An unexploded Parachute Mine^[2] also closed Shoreditch station on the East London Line.^[1]

A suspected Unexploded bomb (UXB) - probably a Delayed Action, but possibly an unexploded anti-aircraft shell - was reported at the Metropolitan line's Neasden Depot,^[3] between number 8 and 9 roads.^[4]

After the disruption of the previous night, Regent's Park station re-opened at 11:15, while the Central line resumed running between Bond Street and Liverpool Street at 11:30, and a shuttle service between Wood Lane and Ealing Broadway commenced at 17:40.^[1]

Marble Arch station re-opened at 19:12, having been closed since the explosion of the previous day.^[5]

At 19:58 there was more disruption at Neasden Depot, when a bomb hit number 5 road, damaging five trains. Current was switched off at 21:00.^[4]

The ticket hall at Ravenscourt Park station was damaged by a bomb on the track at 22:23.^[4]

At 22:37 Acton Road Junction on the District line was bombed, and services to Richmond suspended. Also on the District line, a bomb hit the Cromwell Curve between Gloucester Road and High Street Kensington at 23:47, badly damaging the track and a signalbox, and severed the No. 63 feeder to Mansion House. Two signalmen were hospitalised.^[4]

Piccadilly line services between Acton Town and South Ealing were suspended from 23:10 and 23:37 due to a DA, whilst another was reported at West Brompton at 00:43 on the 19th.^[4] A third DA on the line, at Alperton station, suspended services between Ealing Common and South Harrow from 08:15 to 09:44.^[6]

At 01:00 a bomb hit the junction of Camden Road and Kentish Town Road, almost directly over the Northern line tunnels north of Kentish Town station, but did not damage the tunnels, which are 15 yards (12 metres) below ground at this point.^[7] At 01:15 the junction of Seaton Place and Hamsptead Road, directly above the Northern linebetween Warren Street and Euston stations, was also hit, but again the explosion did not damage the tunnels, 24 yards (22 metres) down.^[8]

A bomb through the tunnel roof at Euston Square station at 01:20. Two permanent way men were killed, and passengers on a train were injured by flying glass. The contemporary plan below shows the point of impact of the bomb, designated "S/P4."^[4][9]



At 05:30, a High Explosive bomb blocked the Piccadilly line track 100 yards (91 metres) North of Arnos Grove station; trains reversed at Wood Green.^[10][4]

At 08:00, the following exceptions to normal working were reported:

District line
No service Parsons Green to Earls Court - UXB at West Brompton.
No service West Kensington to South Kensington - bomb damage on Cromwell Curve.

Piccadilly line
No service Wood Green to Cockfosters - crater on track between Arnos Grove and Cockfosters.
Russell Square station closed - UXB in vicinity.

Metropolitan line
No service Edgware Road to Moorgate - unsafe buildings between Kings Cross and Moorgate, and bomb damage between Esuton Square and Great Portland Street (19/09 and previously).
No service Ladbroke Grove to Addison Road - UXBs at Shepherd's Bush (17/09) and Uxbridge Road (17/09)

Central line
No service Ealing Broadway to Queen's Road (now Queensway) - bomb damage at Wood Lane, and UXBs at Ducane Road and Shepherd's Bush.
Oxford Circus interchange traffic only - debris in Oxford Street.

East London line
Line closed - damage to tunnel and track at Surrey Docks station (09/09).^[11]

^[1] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 18/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[2] A naval mine re-purposed for use on land. Inter-service demarcation dictated that they had to be defused by Royal Navy personnel, rather than the army, who were responsible for dealing with conventional bombs.
^[3] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 18-19/09/40, page 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[4] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 18/09/40 to 06:00 19/09/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[5] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 17/09/40 to 06:00 18/09/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[6] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 19/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[7] Ministry of Home Security, Research and Experiments Department: Registered Papers: Damage to underground railways, drawing 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 192/8]
^[8] Ministry of Home Security, Research and Experiments Department: Registered Papers: Damage to underground railways, drawing 5 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 192/8]
^[9] Ministry of Home Security, Research and Experiments Department: Registered Papers: Damage to underground railways, drawing 19 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 192/8]
^[10] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 18-19/09/40, page 10 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[11] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 19/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]

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17/18 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Eleventh day/night of the London Blitz.

High Barnet station was closed on Tuesday 17 September 1940 due to a Delayed Action bomb (DA) in the sidings, while another outside Baker Street station closed it except for interchange traffic.^[1]

Regent's Park station on the Bakerloo line closed at 14:35 due to the risk of flooding.^[1]

Over the course of the night, the Metropolitan/Hammersmith & City line's Bow Road Goods Yard (Arnold Road, Bromley) was hit with multiple High Explosive (HE) bombs, rendering some of the track unusable.^[2] At 01:40 on the 18th, a bomb breached the tunnel between Great Portland Street and Baker Street station, landing by the track, but failed to explode.^[2]

At 21:35, the Hammersmith & City line Wood Lane station was hit by Incendiary Bombs.^[3] At the same time, a DA was reported on the track between Shepherd's Bush (now Shepherd's Bush Market) and Latimer Road stations, and another in the vicinity of the Shepherd's Bush sub-station. Services were suspended between Hammersmith and Ladbroke Grove.^[4]

At 21:55, the nearby Central line Wood Lane Depot was hit by a HE bomb or bombs, damaging the Yard Master's office and the Trainmen's Room, as well as the high-tension cable from Lots Road power station. A signalman, a lineman, and a clerk were hospitalised.^[3] Also on the Central line, bombs hitting the road outside Marble Arch station at 23:55 wrecked the subway, and severly damaged the ticket hall.^[3] The Central line as a whole was shut down at 22:10.^[4]

The Marble Arch incident raises questions in relation to the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), which show one fatality - Abraham Rothberg (29), of Bethnal Green - "at Marble Arch Subway," with a second person - Dorothy Esther Jessie Bennett (19), or London, WC2 - dying in hospital on 22 September having been, "injured 18 September 1940, at Marble Arch Subway." The latter dating of the 18th rather than the 17th can easily be explained by the incident ocurring so close to midnight. In addition, however, the CWGC records fourteen other people - nine men and five women - being killed, "at Marble Arch Subway," on 16 September, a date on which there is no damage to the station recorded. It is possible that that they died in the pedestrian subway under Park Lane near to the Marble Arch itself, and that the subsequent casualties at the Underground station were linked in error ("subway" is used to describe pedestrian tunnels in the UK, but rarely Underground stations).

At 01:45 on the 18th, DAs breached the Circle line at Baker Street, damaging the track, but repairs were effected by 06:00.^[3] In the meanwime services between Finchley Road and Baker Street, and Baker Street and Kings Cross, were suspended.^[4]

The Metropolitan line bridge over Uxbridge Road, Sherpherd's Bush, was reported unsafe due to HEs at 04:45.^[5]

At 08:00 on the 18th, the following exceptions to normal working were reported:

District line
Parsons Green to High Street Kensington - UXB at West Brompton, difficult to reach.
No electric servide from Mansion House beyond Bromley.
LMS steam service operating.

Metropolitan line
No service Finchley Road to Moorgate (UXB near Baker Street), Edgware Road to Baker Street, Hammersmith to Latimer Road [Hammersmith & City].
East London Line closed.
Widened line open for freight.

Central line
Entirely closed - damage to Shepherds Bush sub-station and Marble Arch Station.

Northern line
No service Totteridge to High Barnet.^[6]

^[1] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 17/09/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[2] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 17-18/09/40, page 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[3]Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 17/09/40 to 06:00 18/09/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[4]Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 17/09/40 to 06:00 18/09/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[5] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 17-18/09/40, page 4 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[6] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 18/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]

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16/17 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Tenth day/night of the London Blitz.

On Monday 16 September 1940, Incendiary Bombs (IBs) caused damage to St John's Wood station,^[1] while a Delayed Action (DA) exploded outside Clapham North station on the Northern line, breaking windows and putting an escalator out of action.^[2]

At 10:22, as a result of the discovery of a DA on the Northern line track near High Barnet stgation, trains were reversed at Totteridge & Whetstone.^[4]

Another DA, at Globe Road, Mile End, caused the suspension of District line services east of Whitechapel at 10:25.^[3]

Single line working between Willesden and Finchley Road station on the joint Metropolitan/Bakerloo line from 10:45.^[3]

Oxford Circus Central/Bakerloo line station re-opened at 10:45,^[3] having been closed since 14 September due to an Unexploded Bomb in the vicinity.^[5]

At 11:10, a falling anti-aircraft shell damaged an East London line train at New Cross station.^[2]

Also at 11:10, the westbound trackside telephone between Ravenscourt Park and Barons Court failed, and at 15:00 IBs were found 100 yards (91 metres) east of Barons Court.^[3]

At 22:25 IBs also set fire to Aldersgate and Farringdon Street stations on the Metropolitan line, as well as the adjoining market.^[1] Additional fires between the stations burnt through high tension cables; current switched off at 23:38.^[4]

At 00:25 on the 17th, Streatham, Tooting, Forest Hill, and Bromley sub-stations were shut down due to the main feeder pillar at Lewisham High Street being hit by at bomb.^[4]

An unexploded bomb dropped in the vicinity of Bromley-By-Bow station caused the suspension of District line services.^[6]

The following sections of the Underground were reported at 08:00 on the 17th as being closed:

District line
Earls Court to Parsons Green
Whitechapel to East Ham

Metropolitan line
West Hampstead to Willesden Green
Edgware Road to Moorgate
East London Joint Line

Bakerloo line
Regents Park station

Northern line
Totteridge to High Barnet^[7]

^[1] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 17-18/09/40, page 4 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[2]Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D1, 06:00-18:00 16/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[3]Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D1, 06:00-18:00 16/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]^[4]Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 16/09/40 to 06:00 17/09/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[5]Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 16/09/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[6] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 16-17/09/40, page 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[7]Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 17/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]

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15/16 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Ninth day/night of the London Blitz.

On the 15th, High Explosive bombs dropped between Upton Park and Plaistow stations on the joint LSTR/District line scored a direct hit on a LSTR train. Upton Park station itself was also hit, completely blocking the tracks, and rendering Station Bridge unsafe for traffic.^[1]

At 06:30 on the 16th, a Delayed Action bomb exploded at the Bakerloo line London Road Depot in North Lambeth. Further explosions followed at 10:23, putting Roads 1-6 out of action.^[2]

The following sections of the Underground were reported at 08:00 on the 16th as being closed:

Hammersmith & City line
Edgware Road to Baker Street
Hammersmith to Westbourne Park

District line
King's Cross to Farringdon Street
Barking to Bow Road [see below]
St James's Park to Earl's Court
Parson Green to High Street Kensington

Bakerloo/Metropolitan lines
West Hampstead to Willesden Green

Central line
Wood Lane^[3] to Ealing Broadway

Northern line
Finchley Central to Archway^[4]

^[1] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 15-16/09/40, page 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[2]Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D1, 06:00-18:00 15/09/40 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1104]
^[3] Disused station situated at location between the current Shepherd's Bush and White City stations
^[4]Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 16/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]

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14/15 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Eighth day/night of the London Blitz.

The following sections of the Underground were reported at 08:00 on the 15th as being closed:

Hammersmith & City line
Edgware Road to Baker Street

District line
King's Cross to Farringdon Street (presumably the unexploded bomb of 11/12 September)
Gloucester Road to Parson's Green^[1]

^[1] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 15/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]

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13/14 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Seventh day/night of the London Blitz.

"For the [seventh] successive day and night the LONDON area was again the main object of attack, with particular concentration on Railway communications and to a less extent the Docks."^[1]

At 11:25 on the 13th, West Brompton station was again (see previous day) affected, when a High Explosive bomb landed in the adjacent Brompton Cemetery, causing a retaining wall to collapse across the tracks, damaging electrical cabling.^[2] Delayed action or unexploded bombs dropped in the vicinity of Queen Anne's Mansions (requisitioned by the Admiralty) in Westminster caused the precautionary suspension of District line traffic through St James's Park station.<sup>[3]

[1]</sup> Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 13-14/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[2] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 13-14/09/40, page 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[3] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 13-14/09/40, page 7 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]

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12/13 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Sixth day/night of the London Blitz.

At 23:10 on the 12th, a High Explosive bomb landed in the vicinity of West Brompton station on the Metropolitan line, causing a water tower to collapse, temporarily blocking the tracks.<sup>[1]

[1]</sup> Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 12-13/09/40, page 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]

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11/12 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Fifth day/night of the London Blitz.

At 01:24 on the 12th, two bombs straddled the Metropolitan line tracks between Uxbridge and Ruislip, but did not explode. District line traffic was suspended when a High Explosive bomb breached the running tunnel between Blackfriars and Mansion House stations at 03:10, but it also failed to detonate.<sup>[1]

[1]</sup> Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 11-12/09/40, page 4 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]

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10/11 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Fourth day/night of the London Blitz.

"From dark until dawn LONDON was again the main objective but the attacks were less severe than on the preceding nights. As regards railways repeated attacks were continued, although less numerous than on previous nights, nevertheless the damage sustained has certainly affected railway transport."^[1]

An unexploded bomb was reported between Kings Cross and Farringdon Street stations on the Metropolitan line.^[2]

The large area of docks on the Isle of Dogs was heavily targeted on the,^[3] but bombs were also dropped on the similar but smaller facilities south of the river. Between Rotherhithe and Surrey Docks (now Surrey Quays) stations on the East London line, a 50kg High Explosive bomb breached the 15¾ feet (4.8 metres) of ground at the north-east corner of Canada Dock (now Canada Water), just to the south of the position of the current Canada Water station, and exploded in the running tunnel. Traffic was suspended until 11 October. The contemporary plan below shows the point of impact of the bomb, designated "A12" ("A13" was a second hit in almost the same location eight months later).<sup>[4][5]


[1]</sup> Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 10-11/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[2] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 10-11/09/40, page 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[3] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 10-11/09/40, page 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[4] Ministry of Home Security, Research and Experiments Department: Registered Papers: Damage to underground railways, drawing 22H [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 192/8]
^[5] Ministry of Home Security, Air Raid Precautions (ARP GEN) Registered files: AIR RAIDS, Incident Reports, Tube incidents statistics [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 186/2419]

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9/10 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Third day/night of the London Blitz.

"During daylight of 9th September, enemy action was almost entirely lacking, but from darkness to dawn on 10th September heavy attacks were made, and largely confined to London. The main attack appears to have developed on the City, and the areas near the river, and apparently one of the main objectives was the destruction of rail communications to the South."^[1]

On the morning of 10 September it was realised that a potentially catastrophic danger to part of the Underground network had occured during the night.

In 1914, the original section of what is now the Charing Cross branch of the Northern line was extended to a new terminus at the then Charing Cross station (now Embankment) on the north bank of the Thames. Rather than reversing, trains were turned by means of a wide clockwise loop tunnel, part of which passed under the River. A single platform for both alighting and boarding was provided on the final part of the loop before the tunnel straightened out again on a northern alignment. A ventilation shaft also linked the loop to the sub-surface District line tunnels above.

When in 1926 the line was further extended to Waterloo, on the south bank of the Thames, it was by means of a new southbound tunnel bisecting the loop. A new southbound platform was also added, with the original one on the loop becoming the northbound platform (this is why the platforms are the distance apart that they are, and why one is curved and other straight). The new trackwork was not connected to the loop, but the tunnel was retained for ventilation purposes by means of the shaft to the District line, and so not completely sealed off, although watertight bulkheads were installed on the river side of the ventilation shaft, and where the other end of the loop met the new southbound tunnel, numbered 13 & 14 respectively.

During the air raid on the evening of Monday 9 September 1940 - possibly around 23:25^[2] - the schooner Seven Seas, moored on the north-east side of Hungerford Bridge, was rocked by the detonation of a 50kg High Explosive (HE) bomb that landed in the River. The crew reported that, "the water appeared to spout up for some 30 seconds after the explosion," caused by air escaping from the ruptured loop. It was later discovered that water was seeping through bulkheads 13 & 14, further indicating that the disused tunnel had been breached.

Soundings were taken of the river bed on Wednesday 18 September, and it was determined that the bomb had exploded almost directly over part of the loop, about 60 feet (18 metres) from where it joined the southbound running tunnel, and causing a crater 5 feet (1.5 metres) high around its edge, and 15 feet (4.5 metres) deep in the centre. As the crown of the tunnel was only some 12 feet (3.5 metres) below the river bed, this meant that the bottom of the crater was actually inside it, partially filled with clay and other debris.


During another air raid on the evening of the 18th, a "stick" of bombs straddled the river, and the crew of the Seven Seas - along with some members of the Auxiliary Fire Brigade who were on board at the time - again reported their vessel being rocked by the impact of a bomb in the river. Efforts to locate either this bomb or any crater in the river bed it might have created, however, were fruitless.

On the morning of Friday 20 September, divers examined the crater caused by the first explosion, and found some 12-15 feet (3.5-4.5 metres) of the tunnel had been fractured. A considerable quantity of ballast and mud was lying inside, to a level of around 3-4 feet (1 metre) above the original track level, and the loop between the bulkheads was completely flooded. The extent of the damage was clearly worse than expected, as it was apparent that another bomb landing in the vicinty could cause a "water hammer" effect through the flooded tunnel that would easily breach the bulkheads, flooding the southbound running tunnel, and also the District line via the ventilation shaft.

It was decided to use divers to build a wall of concrete bags inside the breach in the tunnel, after which the crater would be partially filled with ballast, and then capped with a layer of clay (see original plan below). At the same time, a disused passageway connecting the northern end of northbound tunnel to the other side of the loop was to waterproofed, as was bulkhead 14, and finally a new bulkhead would be erected between bulkhead 13 and the ventilation shaft.


While this work was ongoing, at 09:00 on Tuesday 8 October, the crew of the Seven Seas reported a third bomb landing in the river, just to the west of the northbound running tunnel. A maintenance party making a routine inspection inside this tunnel corroborated this impact, but while there was flaking of the cement pointing of 25 rings of tunnel segments, it was initially doubted that the bomb had actually exploded. It was only later when divers recovered the tail fins of a 50kg HE bomb from the river bed near the tunnel that it was decided that it had may have detonated, although no crater could be found.

Work on the loop tunnel continued, with the plugging of the main breach being finished by Wedneday 6 November, the waterproofing of the disused passageway on the following day, and the construction of the new bulkhead some time after Tuesday 12 November.<sup>[3][4]

[1]</sup> Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 09-10/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[2]This was the time an HE bomb pierced a Charing Cross mainline station platform, exploding on the road below, and putting tracks and signalling out of action.
^[3] Ministry of Transport and successors, Railway Divisions: Correspondence and Papers, Air Raid Damage - Underground Railways, 1940-1941, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference MT 6/2759]
^[4] Ministry of Transport and successors, Railway Divisions: Correspondence and Papers, Air Raid Damage - Underground Railways, 1941-1942, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference MT 6/2766]

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8/9 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Second day/night of the London Blitz.

Enemy activity during the day was, "intermittent, with no apparent object in view," but from 19:45 until around 05:00 the next morning, the capital again came under concentrated attack - "particular attention was paid to communications, i.e. railways, roads, etc."^[1]

At 23:06 High Explosive (HE) and Incendiary Bombs fell on Wimbledon station, setting an arriving District line train on fire.^[2]

Just south of Mornington Crescent station, a cluster of three 250kg HEs landed on the junction of Harrington Square and Hampstead Road at 03:35, cratering the roadway. At this location the Northern line runs 60-75 feet (18-23 metres) directly under Hampstead Road, and the shockwaves from the bombs shook tunnel segments, knocked cables off the wall hangers, and displaced the current rails in both tunnels for a length of 75 feet (23 metres).^{[3] [4]} Traffic resumed on 11 September.^[5]

At 04:39 an HE hit Bow Road station on the East London line, blocking the track.<sup>[6]

[1]</sup> Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 08-09/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[2] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 08-09/09/40, page 5 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[3] Ministry of Home Security, Research and Experiments Department: Registered Papers: Damage to underground railways, revised drawing 4 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 192/8]
^[4] Ministry of Home Security, Research and Experiments Department: Notes on damage to railway tunnels by high explosive weapons, Section 1 - Tube railways. Author Dr. EWJ Phillips, page 5 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 196/11]
^[5] Ministry of Home Security, Air Raid Precautions (ARP GEN) Registered files: AIR RAIDS, Incident Reports, Tube incidents statistics [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 186/2419]
^[6] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 08-09/09/40, page 5a [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]

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7/8 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

The first day/night of the London Blitz.

In the afternoon of the 7th, 364 Luftwaffe bombers - escorted by 515 fighters - targeted the area of the docks, although many bombs fell on the surrounding residential areas. As evening fell, a second wave of 133 bombers attacked. In total 436 people were killed, and 1,666 injured. The Ministry of Home Security's Damage Appreciation the following morning stated:

"Practically the whole of the enemy effort during the last 24 hours was devoted to the attack on LONDON, with an acute concentration of the DOCK AREAS, RAILWAYS and POWER STATIONS."^[1]

Approximately twenty-four railway stations were hit in the south and east of the capital, including those on the London underground network. At around 19:00, Blackfriars District/Circle line station was hit by a High Explosive (HE) bomb, knocking out the signalling and leaving traffic, "practically at a standstill."^[2]
The joint LPTB/Southern Railway New Cross Gate station was hit by five HEs, injuring two Southern Railway workers,^[3] one of whom - 43 year-old engine driver Richard James Shelton of Catford - died in St Giles' Hospital the following day.^[4] Five year old George Turner of Forest Gate was killed at East Ham station on the District line.<sup>[5]

[1]</sup> Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 07-08/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[2] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 07-08/09/40, page 4 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
^[3] Brooksbank, B W L: London Mainline War Damage, page 14 [Harrow Weald: Capital Transport, 2007]
^[4] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
^[5] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record

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