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

Seventy-fourth day of the London Blitz.

At 20:18 on the 19th, a bomb penetrated the Aldwych tram subway at Lancaster Place, near the Embankment entrance. Large crater in up track, slight flooding due to burst water main, and eight trams damaged by blast. Down track cleared and usable at 02:44; single line working between Holborn and Waterloo Bridge.^[1]

At 08:00 on the 20th, the following working conditions were reported:

New damage

None reported.

Changes

None reported.^[2]

Unexploded Bombs

Category A

1. 15/11. Between 52 and 54 Station Road, opposite Bomb No. 1 behind retaining wall.
2. Lotts Road Power House 18/11. In river adjacent to Power Station. Not considered dangerous to Board’s property.

Category B

Nil.

Category C

Nil.^[3]

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^[1] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 19/11/40 to 06:00 20/11/40, sheet 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1106]
^[2] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - November 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 20/11/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/4]
^[3] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - November 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 20/11/40, page 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/4]

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