Monday 11 January 2016

11/12 January 1941: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

One hundred and twenty-seventh day of the London Blitz.

At 19:15 on the 11th Wood Lane Depot was again hit by Incendiary Bombs (IBs), which were extinguished by staff. At the same time IBs caused fires at both Latimer Road and Moorgate stations, which were also put out by staff. Glass in windows and the roof dome of the Northern line Elephant & Castle station were broken, as well as windows in the sub-station.[1]

Also at 19:15 a High Explosive bomb (HE) hit the Central line ticket hall at Bank station and exploded in the escalator machine room, collapsing the surrounding subway and the supported road junction. The blast carried down the escalator shaft, further damaging the escalator, and causing multiple casualties amongst shelterers on the escalator and the platform. The track was damaged, and the station switch room flooded with water from fractured mains.[2] [3] The blast also damaged a Waterloo & City line ventilating fan and signal relay panel.[4] Loss of current from the Bank switch room caused the lighting to fail at Holborn station – hurricane lamps used.[5] At 21:00 a number 21 bus ran into the crater, receiving slight damage.[6] Eastbound Central line trains reversing at Holborn.[7] Through services resumed at 07:11 on the 12th.[8] [9]

Notting Hill Gate and Paddington [Praed Street] stations were hit by IBs at 19:20, dealt with by staff.[10] Services between the stations suspended until 19:40.[11]

Metropolitan line services reversing at High Street Kensington and Edgware Road at 19:53 due to fires adjacent to Notting Hill Gate.[12]

At 20:18 a bomb landing in the roadway damaged both entrances to Green Park station, the ticket hall, and a retail unit. One member of staff and a passenger were injured – one of whom died in hospital the next day – and two ambulance drivers killed (see Appendix X).[13] [14] Northern entrance wrecked, minor fire in station, southern entrance remains open, and services not suspended.[15]
HEs and IBs in the vicinity slightly damaged St Paul’s station, injuring two people, one seriously. Station closed until commencement of traffic on the 12th.[16]

IB on track at Southfields station at 21:02 – southbound District line services reversed at Putney Bridge. Normal working from 21:14.[17]

Tottenham Court Road station closed under local spotter control between 21:10 and 21:40.[18]

HE on Baker Street station at 21:19 – damaged offices and debris on Metropolitan line track and platforms 3 and 4.[19] Train at platform 3 damaged by blast; southbound trains reversed at Wembley Park.[20] Later trains running through.[21]

Unexploded bomb on the LNER tracks directly over the Piccadilly line tunnel at Caledonian Road at 22:00. Westbound trains reversing at Finsbury Park, eastbound at King’s Cross.[22] Eastbound trains subsequently reversed at disused York Road station.[23] Through services resumed 16:15 on the 12th.[24]

Unexploded bomb in St George’s Hospital near Hyde Park Corner station at 23:10. Station evacuated and shelterers transferred to other stations. Trains running through station under speed restriction.[25] [26] Trains reversing at Hammersmith and Green Park from commencement of traffic on the 13th,[7] then resumed fully at 11:50.[28]

At 02:10 the Bishopsgate subway leading to the Central line Liverpool Street station was closed due to flooding from nearby fire-fighting operations.[29]

At 08:00 on the 12th, the following working conditions were reported:
New damage and changes

UXB at Holloway over Piccadilly line tunnel. Suspended between Kings Cross and Finsbury Park.

UXB in St George’s Hospital. Hyde Park Corner station (Piccadilly line) closed, traffic passing under speed restriction.

Bomb damage to Bank station (Central line). Main station closed, but access available to passengers via Northern line station.[30]

Unexploded Bombs

Nil.[31]

[1] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 09/01/11 to 06:00 12/01/41, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[2] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Damage Summary 11-12/01/41, page 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/7]
[3] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 11/01/41 to 06:00 12/01/41, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[4] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 11/01/41 to 06:00 12/01/41, sheet 4 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[5] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 11/01/41 to 06:00 12/01/41, sheet 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[6] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 11/01/41 to 06:00 12/01/41, sheet 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[7] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 11/01/41 to 06:00 12/01/41, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[8] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D1, 06:00-18:00 12/01/41, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1106]
[9] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Damage Summary 12-13/01/41, page 9 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/7]
[10] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 09/01/11 to 06:00 12/01/41, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[11] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 11/01/41 to 06:00 12/01/41, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[12] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 11/01/41 to 06:00 12/01/41, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[13] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Damage Summary 11-12/01/41, page 4 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/7]
[14] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 11/01/41 to 06:00 12/01/41, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[15] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Damage Summary 12-13/01/41, page 9 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/7]
[16] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 11/01/41 to 06:00 12/01/41, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[17] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 11/01/41 to 06:00 12/01/41, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[18] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 11/01/41 to 06:00 12/01/41, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[19] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 11/01/41 to 06:00 12/01/41, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[20] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 11/01/41 to 06:00 12/01/41, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[21] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Damage Summary 11-12/01/41, page 4 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/7]
[22] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 11/01/41 to 06:00 12/01/41, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[23] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Damage Summary 11-12/01/41, page 4 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/7]
[24] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 12/01/41, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[25] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 11/01/41 to 06:00 12/01/41, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[26] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Damage Summary 12-13/01/41, page 10 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/7]
[27] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 12/01/41 to 06:00 13/01/41, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[28] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 13/01/41, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[29] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 11/01/41 to 06:00 12/01/41, sheet 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1107]
[30] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - November 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 12/01/41, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/6]
[31] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - November 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 09/01/41, page 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/6]

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