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

Seventy-first day of the London Blitz.

At the commencement of traffic on Saturday 16 November 1940, a number of stations that had previously been automatically closed during an Air Raid Alert were put under local "spotter" control, with them instead being shut only if, "enemy air attack is imminent or there is evidence of damage likely to affect sewers and water mains in close proximity." The stations were:

Piccadilly: King's Cross, and Knightsbridge.
Northern: Tooting Broadway, Trinity Road [Tooting Bec], Balham, and Clapham South (all when re-opened).
Bakerloo: Oxford Circus.
Central: Bank, Tottenham Court Road, and Bond Street.^[1]

Services between Moorgate and Farringdon were suspended again until 15:15 to allow the Building Department to remove broken glass from the roof of Aldersgate ([now Barbican) station.^[2]

Services suspended between Archway and Finchley Central from 09:45 due to three Unexploded Bombs on the track. Resumed Archway to East Finchley only at 10:20.^[2] Resumed East Finchley to Finchley Central at 16:00 on 20 November.^{[3] [4]}

Preston Road station closed from 13:30 to 16:00 until Parachute Mine (PM) made safe by Royal Navy personnel.^[2]

Earl's Court to Putney Bridge suspended 15:05 to 21:35 due to fire adjacent to the line at Parson's Green.^[5]

Northern line trains reversing at Camden Town and Hampstead at 22:45 due to a Parachute Mine at Haverstock Hill near Chalk Farm station.^{[5] [6]} Resumed at 11:40 on the 17th.^[7]

Tottenham Court Road station closed due to bombs in the vicinity.^[5]

At 08:00 on the 17th, the following working conditions were reported:

New damage

Land mine near Chalk Farm station.

Changes

Northern line suspended Camden Town to Hampstead.

Metropolitan – Preston Road and Royal Oak stations reopened.^[8]

Unexploded Bombs

Category A

Three at Finchley Central:

1. 15/11. South of station opposite signal No. 62, 15 ft. from north bound track.
2. 15/11. Between 52 and 54 Station Road, opposite Bomb No. 1 behind retaining wall.
3. 15/11. In 83 Hervey Close, 20 ft. from bomb No. 1.

Category B

1. Morden Depot 10/11. No interference.

Category C

Nil.^[9]

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^[1] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 18/11/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1106]
^[2] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 16/11/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1106]
^[3] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 20/11/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1106]
^[4] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - November 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 21/11/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/4]
^[5] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 16/11/40 to 06:00 17/11/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1106]
^[6] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 18/11/40, page 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/3]
^[7] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D1, 06:00-18:00 18/11/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1106]
^[8] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - November 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 17/11/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/4]
^[9] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - November 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 17/11/40, page 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/4]

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