Aldwych

[nigelb]

I ran across this video on YouTube about the Aldwych tube station and, in view of the recent posts regarding ghosts on the underground, I thought I would share the link. Its 45 minutes long and a little hokey but I found it interesting. For those not familiar with the London Underground, Aldwych was an appendage of the Piccadilly line that ran for one stop south of Holburn. It was originally opened in 1907 with the name "Strand" because it was built on the site of a demolished theatre of the same name. The name was changed to Aldwych to avoid confusion with another station (now Charing Cross) of the same name. During the war it was one of the stations used as a shelter during ari raids. Originally there were two active platforms but one fell into disuse long ago but WWII era posters still grace the walls. The othjer platform was closed in 1994 it is now used by film companies for movies that call for scenes on the underground.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZyNaSjYq2s

Nigel²

[FlyTexas]

Thanks for posting the link Nigel. I thought it was kind of strange that they came across the parked train. Maybe that part of the line is used for storage.

Brian

[nigelb]

Yes, that parjed train may be there for use in a movie, there is still a rail link joining the Aldwych segment to the main Picadilly line.. I noticed the medium chap may have been off when he stated a ghost had been there since the 1880's - construction began on Aldwych in 1898 so tthat ghost had nothing to do with the station. Ah well, it was entertainment with a little bit of history thrown in.

[Paul K]

Thanks for that Nigel, I'll have a watch later. Ghosts aside, I find the Tube fascinating, along with all of subterranean London. I recommend the book London Under by Peter Ackroyd, a historian and novelist with a particular interest in London's history and culture. BTW, the number of disused stations on the network surprised me, I never knew there are so many of them :

http://www.abandonedstations.org.uk/

Anyway, thanks again for the link - I don't suppose Most Haunted constitutes serious research into the paranormal, but it'll be interesting to see more of the Tube. Er..You Tube..

[ChrisHunt]

Access to the Aldwych branch of the Piccadilly Line is via platform 5 at Holborn. Oddly, accessible from the Eastbound Central Line and not the Piccadilly Line platforms. A few years ago I was asked to investigate possible signalling changes to make access to the branch a signalled move rather than a shunt move. P5 Is largely used for storage and as a trial site for new station materials (as is Charing Cross Jubilee Line platform). Beyond the platform and built into one of the old running tunnels are a series of offices dating from WW2, still with the old gold lettering on the doors.

The underground is a fascinating place, mainly due to the old practice of leaving things unchanged when parts of stations were closed off, usually due to the advent of escalators.