On the 11th February 2023, I went exploring more parts of the Underground and also managed to get to do the tour of the disused parts of the Charing Cross Underground station. Once again I met up with Martin and off we went.
Starting at West Ruislip, we headed to Greenford to see if we could see any of the remains of the old mainline platforms, where the line runs parallel to the Underground, but couldn't see much. There was however a GWR service sitting in the middle platform, waiting to depart, so we headed down to West Ealing, where the platforms are numbered 3, 4 & 5 because platforms 1 & 2 were demolished years ago, and the platforms never renumbered. Evidence of the demolished platforms can still be seen, if you know what you are looking for.
Neither of us realised that not all Elizabeth line services stop here.
From here, we went on the Elizabeth line, going through the Paddington section, which had only opened 6th November 2022 and then we got out at Liverpool Street and walked through to Moorgate to get a Great Northern service to explore what would have been the Northern Heights terminus.
There was such a contrast between the open and airy escalators on the Elizabeth line (left) to the old staircase down (right) to the National Rail at Moorgate.
We hopped onto the first train and went to Essex Road, to see the remains of the Network South East signs, which are still in place. This station was part of the Underground from 1904 to 1975 and Network South East ceased to exist in 1994, so it is clear that this station has not been modernised for a number of years. It was odd to be in a mainline station which is underground and it was particularly quiet.
Our next stop was Highbury & Islington to find the original Highbury station entrance, which is just across the road from the new(er) entrance. You can see how this station has been redeveloped over the years with adding and removing bits. The former station is partially used a ventilation point for the Victoria line and the Original platforms were realigned when the Victoria line opened, creating the option to cross the platform to go from National Rail straight across to the Victoria line. The platform layout can be seen here.
We jumped onto the Victoria line from here and went to Warren Street and changed for the Northern Line to Charing Cross, where we grabbed a quick coffee and a sit down, ready for the Hidden London Tour. The tour starts by meeting the team at the designated meeting point, then after a quick safety brief, we head through the barrier, down the public escalator and to a pair of doors. Through the doors, we we met with a set of 3 escalators, which we descended to the main platform concourse. There are only two platforms here that are disused, but still connected to the main running rails. There was a brief history of the station followed by a walk along one platform, through a service corridor to the other platform and then back along.
On our visit, there was a rail grinding train sitting in the platform, awaiting to go out to do some work in the next few days. This was proof that the lines are still connected and can be used if necessary. This part of the station has also been used for trialling some new things for the network and for filming various films/music videos/TV Series, so having a live rail makes things easier for getting equipment in and out. Having walked back along the second platform, we are back at the same concourse that we arrived on and then went up a different staircase/unused escalator. This is the one that is used in the James Bond Film Skyfall and can be seen in this video clip on YouTube. Those that are "Eagle Eyed" and know the station will know that the train shown in the video is not "S" stock, which it should be if it was going from Temple to Embankment and that the escalator that James Bond slides down, goes down to the platform that he has just come off!
Next, we exit in a public area and head around a corner, down a passageway and then through another door (also featured in Skyfall), into a ventilation tunnel, along the tunnel to a ventilation shaft, where we could see daylight above. Then back along the ventilation tunnel, to a point where we could look down onto the Northern Line running lines, and then back to the start point.
I have produced a video of bits of the tour and this can be seen here. After the tour, we walked to Embankment (the real one, not the Charing Cross one featured in the James Bond film!) where we the went on to South Kensington to find the disused Leslie Green building and the disused District/Circle line platforms. This station has been redeveloped over the years. The platform layout for this station can found here. The Piccadilly lines run directly underneath the Sub surface lines and where there used to be a bay platform, this is now a staircase going down. The broken down car was an additional feature, just for the photo!
After this, we went to Gloucester Road as I had hoped to exit the station from the District line and then reenter the Piccadilly line entrance, but I didn't realise that the Leslie Green entrance was as in use as the one at South Kensington! Again this station has been redeveloped over the years and there is a disused platform here, which is often used for "Art on the Underground" and there is a disused lift shaft, which is now used for ventilation. It is amazing that when the station opened that you would have to exit one part of the station and then reenter to be able to change lines.
From here, Martin needed to go somewhere, so I got on a Piccadilly line train and went out to find the abandoned Osterley and Spring Grove station, which is a short walk away from Osterley station. The main booking office is now a book shop, but the platforms remain in situ, although a bit unkempt are still visible from the overbridge and the train.
From here, I needed to get a train from Marylebone to get back home and I went through to Hammersmith and then swapped platforms to the District line and the up to Edgware Road. Now I know that I could have walked from there to Marylebone, but I just wanted to do the Edgware Road (District/Circle) to Edgware Road (Bakerloo) journey! The architecture between the two stations is quite different. The District/Circle line platforms are sub surface and the Bakerloo are deep level. If you would like to see more, I have made a video of the other bits of the day, not included in the tour and this can b found here.
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