The Illegal Underground Line in Kensington

Did you know that you can just build an Underground line? Just like that? I didn't, but the District Railway did.
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[@archivek4]

I don't live in London. I don't even live in UK (livin in Poland) but God I am addicted to every video about London Underground and railways. It makes me want to hop on a plane fly to London and just ride over London trains.

[@mypointofview1111]

Having been to Poland, notably Krakow and Warsaw I've been impressed by the trains good and not so good. The high speed trains are brilliant, clean, very fast & affordable. Even being rescued after a storm when the electric connector was dislodged, by a passing local train in 40 minutes was impressive. In the UK it has been known for passengers to be stranded for hours. However, not having rail staff on each platform to ask if you're on the correct platform for your intended destination is a minus point as is a lack of communication. Other than that Poland is a beautiful country and I'll certainly visit again once the madness is over

[@emjayay]

@@mypointofview1111 COVID, or the homophobic and probably racist right wing politics?

[@archivek4]

@@mypointofview1111 rail service in Poland improved a lot in last 10 years. Also safety has improved (mostly after 2012 Szczekociny Rail Disaster). The government is now planning to build big network of high speed rail (if 250kph can be called high speed) in the whole country. But some regions lack passenger rail. The biggest train station in Poland Warszawa Zachodnia (Warsaw West) is under big renovation. Warsaw Metro is also rapidly expanding, last parts of the M2 line will opend before 2025 and soon the M3 line will start construction.

[@archivek4]

I can talk a lot about rail transportation in Poland

[@2H80vids]

@@archivek4 I've read a bit about the Szczekociny Rail Disaster and, although most of what I've seen was uninformed press coverage, it seems to have been mostly human error and rather slack interpretation of the rulebook, not by just one person. Whatever the causes, the terrible outcome will, hopefully, have led to improvements in safety. Its sad that this is so often the case.

[@brockett]

In the Autumn and winter of 1964 as a Railway Operating Apprentice ( age 16) I was sent to work odd shifts as a "Box Boy" in Cromwell Road Signal Box. My job was to record District Line trains arriving and departing the four surface platforms at Earl's Court. Later in my career 1978 to 1981 I was a Station Inspector at Earl's Court. A marvellous place to work.

[@pixoontube2912]

Geoff Marshall at HSK: I've never arrived on Platform 4 before..."

[@jtsholtod.79]

Did you just have a nerd-gasm? (I know he both did and didn't want that written in the comments).

[@bobblue_west]

I recall that. On weekend that's pretty normal. The shuttle to/from Olympia uses Platform 4 at HSK. Sometimes the Wimbledon service at w/ends stops short. (R we nerds or what?)

[@davidjosephnolan]

Ditto, I'm in New Zealand

[@norbertnedsworth7172]

Chortle, snort, guffaw. Raus, raus!

[@whengarble]

One of the reasons I enjoy this channel so much is that I live in a part of America with very little public transportation. It is cool to see it and the availability of public transportation almost makes me want to move to Europe on its own.

[@mypointofview1111]

Lobby your representative to increase your town's connectivity to other areas

[@emjayay]

A lot of the US was built up after it was assumed everyone had a car so it's far less dense. It takes a certain density (including nowhere to park, or expensive parking, gridlock etc.) to make public transit make financial sense. Subways are expensive to build and run and require the most density. Cities in the US like Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and Boston have extensive subway systems.

[@29brendus]

Be careful what you wish for.

[@byronm6225]

don't romaniticise the UK or Europe mate.

[@memyself1566]

@@byronm6225 At least we have culture - although now fading fairly quickly, year after year.

[@peternottingham6067]

i use gloucester road tube station all the time when i stay in kensington. i was there just yesterday. then guest what? new jago video turns up about the station. love the history, appreciate the station all the more now. thanks.

[@TheFrogfather1]

Same here - I was down in August and ended up with aching legs because Gloucester Road doesn't have escalators and I'm too impatient to wait for the lifts. 87 steps - how many floors is that now?

[@BoredInNW6]

@@TheFrogfather1 that'll be 15 floors, of course

[@camerastooge]

Wait... the FIRST illegal underground line? There's more? Sounds like some more videos are needed!

[@mypointofview1111]

As Jago said, there was broad parliamentary agreement for the railways to be built, just permission for that section hadn't been granted at the time of construction. It's like building an extension to your house without planning permission, even though its within permitted planning rules.

[@iankemp1131]

@@mypointofview1111 Except that in this case it seems that section had been specifically removed from the Act - so it's more like building your extension when planning permission has been refused. Hence why it took 30 years to sort it rather than getting it retrospectively granted in a few months.

[@edandrew7842]

Would these be underground Underground lines?

[@collincovid6950]

@@iankemp1131 Idiots do not appreciate the value of money and so just carry on regardless

[@markmartindale7215]

@@collincovid6950 Money has value?!

[@jennyd255]

That's fascinating - for nearly ten years of my life in the 1960's I must have lived almost right on top of the Cromwell curve, not to mention frequently flying departing from the West London air terminal, yet I never knew that track was even there.

[@Peasmouldia]

I've often wondered how these lines decided at their loading gauges. The down side of being at the forefront of railways is that we have very restricted loading gauges on most of our lines. Of course, having a major conurbation in the way of your prospective line, with all its obstructions doesn't help. I have a US friend who couldn't believe our stock was standard gauge. "Your trains look like narrow gauge" was his verdict on seeing a Metropolitan A stock unit. He hadn't even seen a Central line unit at that point... Ta.

[@richiehoyt8487]

"You call that a train, boy?! Why, back in Texas we got trains so big that..."

[@johnm2012]

You ought to have taken him to Didcot and shown him what Brunel's "standard gauge" looked like.

[@davidford85]

Usually the deciding factor was money. The bigger the loading gauge the more everything cost. So naturally the railway companies chose loading gauges that just about met their needs (or their funds). Trouble is once the lines were built, it was usually prohibitively expensive to widen the loading gauge, since not only would the work cost huge amounts, but the lines themselves would at best be disrupted and at worst closed for the duration of the work. This is especially true of tunnels (rather fitting since we're talking about the underground here). Tunnels were costly (both in terms of money and lives), time consuming and often complicated, so they were usually built as small as possible. Unfortunately once dug, it's even more costly to then expand them, requiring not only more tunneling work, but usually also the closure of the line itself. Sometimes it was actually easier and cheaper to dig a new tunnel rather than expand the original (yes Woodhead Tunnels, I am looking at you 😂)

[@Peasmouldia]

@@davidford85 I.K.B. was well ahead on that. I live near box tunnel..Loading gauge that would shame the Union Pacific.. You're dead right though. Ta.

[@Peasmouldia]

@@johnm2012 It's funny you should mention that..It's just up the road from me, and he now lives in Bradford on Avon.

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

Genuinely didn't know about that curve, cheers! I can't blame the Underground or whoever for closing it and selling off the site, as it did seem pretty pointless and even now would serve little function. Those bay platforms at High St Kensington are useful for terminating District Line trains, whether the Olympia shuttles or any other service stopped short due to problems or planned engineering works.

[@Jerrymouse79]

I travelled through South Kensington today on my way to and from the tennis in Wimbledon. I saw this old platform and I was going to ask you if you could explain the reason it’s there. I’m glad I scrolled through your back catalogue first. Thanks Mr Hazzard sir!

[@philipjdrake3737]

Keep them coming, love to hear stories about the tube.

[@chrispoupart2171]

In the 1960s I worked for a tobacconist called J Leons. My shop was attached to Gloucester Road tube station. We had a side entrance into the station where there was a W H Smith shop. I have fond memories of the area. Thanks for this video.

[@robertmurray1157]

My grandmother always used to refer to the circle line as 'the inner circle'. Now I understand.

[@amanvir100]

Really happy to see some maps and some interesting images of the station signage in this episode - makes the whole story much easier to follow! thank you.

[@montedaestrada3563]

As someone born in the South West London suburbs the London Underground (and surface rail extensions of the 30s) story has always fascinated me. Thanks for the further insights.

[@AFCManUk]

Never really noticed it before, but Gloucester Road is definitely one of, if not the best looking stations on the whole Underground. Quite aesthetically pleasing!

[@1258-Eckhart]

Totally agree, when you're standing there it has the coolest vibe of all London stations (though some others come close).

[@johnm2012]

I seem to remember it being more open to the outside thirty or so years ago, like South Kensington still is. It must have been built over at some point. The platform lighting is nicely done.

[@capitalb5889]

@@johnm2012 me too - I think until about 1990 it was open air. But it was never as impressive as South Kensington - it felt more utilitarian. But the covering actually was done very sensitively.

[@TheBritFromOz008]

I heard tell from a certain other KZbinr that the line north of High Street Kensington was also going to be duplicated, but it only got as far as the bay platforms 3 & 4 at HSK before the plan was brought to a permanent halt. For ages I've wondered what the point of duplicating those lines was meant to be... and now I know. Greeting from Australia; as a big fan of the British railway system including the Underground I've found your videos to be the perfect blend of entertaining and informative.

[@Ostermond]

AYY! FINALLY! An episode about Gloucester Road! My family once house-sat for a family member at a loft right by this station!

[@marcocura295]

Thank you Jago. I spent many years travelling to and from South Kensington and always wondered why there were spare platforms there and at Gloucester Road. Nearly 40 years later, I have the answer. Thank you!!!

[@johnm2012]

Don't they make use of one of the spare platforms now to separate the westbound District trains from the clockwise Circle trains ahead of the junction where they used to diverge? The eastbound trains all use the same platform.

[@marcocura295]

@@johnm2012 I've no idea. There was never a track bed there when I used it!

[@sookibeulah9331]

@@johnm2012 no they don’t. For a while the spare ‘westbound’ platform was used as an art gallery with large art installations you could view from the train. It was rather fun.

[@johnm2012]

@@sookibeulah9331 Yes they do. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloucester_Road_tube_station

[@jamesbutler6253]

Gloucester Road was my primary school station in the 1960s, and back then the Circle Line trains (O and P stock) from High Street Kensington would come in on the left hand track/platform and the District Line trains from Earls Court would come in on the right hand track/platform but that stopped a few years later. Then the extra track was removed and then the final measure was that a new platform was built over it when G Road was rebuilt in the 90s.

[@pablozewoppa]

This whole District and Metropolitan Lines feud, it's beginning to obsess me.

[@donkeysaurusrex7881]

Careful. That path leads only to madness.

[@smcdonald9991]

Are we expected to take sides?

[@david-stewart]

Up the District

[@pablozewoppa]

@@david-stewart The District Line is my line. I've used it for years from Chiswick Park. To Ealing Broadway for a drink at the North Star with my friends Rishi and Jyoti. But mostly east-bound to work in Tower Hill and/or Aldgate East. Strange how a line (a tube line!) becomes part of your life...

[@silentnight1805]

@@pablozewoppa Intense love-hate relationship between me and the northern line. Only consistent thing in my life since birth lol.

[@julianellis8200]

I think it is wonderful how all the old signage has been retained across most of the underground

[@supernick345]

5:32 - Seems South Kensington has a bit of a strange microclimate for September! I kid of course, interesting video as always

[@groovydonkey]

I find all your videos about the tube totally fascinating and find myself looking at all the little bits of hidden gems you mention. I worked for what was then, London Underground and the history and all that is hidden away so unique. Thank you for all the history, videos and information you know.

[@jp-i]

Fresh Jago! No finer start to a Wednesday evening.... Now I better stop commenting and watch the thing!

[@jp-i]

UPDATE: And a damn fine watch it is!

[@alexandercuthell2820]

I was at South Kensington Station last week on a trip down to London and saw the spare platforms , I did wonder why they were disused so thanks for reading my mind and giving the answer!

[@luxford60]

Not mentioned, but clear in the footage, is that the Piccadilly Line originally had an entirely seoarate station next door to the District/Met one.

[@highpath4776]

Finished in OxBlood Red similar to the Met's Red (except the map of the time had them in Green), Designed by Leslie Green which is the current colour of the District. My Head Aches

[@Andrea-sg7qp]

When I lived in London in 2008 my family would stay at a hotel across from Gloucester Road Station and I'd always meet them there for breakfast. I think the Waitrose in this video is where we used to buy chocolate croissants every morning. It looks exactly like I remember it but at the time one of the disused station platforms had a massive wooden panda head on it which I always found odd but interesting. I've long since moved back to Canada but I love seeing so much of London through you videos, I really need to get back there one day.

[@mumu8042]

I now travel around London noticing the train stations and old buildings thanks to Jago ❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 for example we drove by the closed Highbury Station opposite Highbury and Islington station 🤓

[@joannaatkinson235]

Ah, still early enough for the tales to be piping hot! Good fayre as always!

[@alansmith1770]

I find your videos really informative & really interesting. Keep up the good work Jago.

[@ZonkerRoberts]

Thanks for this! Gloucester Road is one of my favorite tube stations because of the double surface buildings (even though the Leslie Green one isn't used for station access today).

[@chrislodzinski9056]

In 1966 when I started using South Ken, to go to school, it still had 4 tracks, and I think that eastbound trains used two platforms, and all westbound trains were using the platform that they use at present.then by about 1968 they were using the two existing platforms, because they needed room to install escalators for the Piccadilly line. If you are catching a westbound Piccadilly line train, and you actually follow the signs, at the bottom of the steps to access the platform, then you are walking around the old lift shaft. They were quite large lifts, much bigger than any you see in use today.

[@scootergrant8683]

Well wouldn't you know. Do you remember where you'd go in South Ken station to the extra District and Metropolitan platforms? I'd been wondering this for years given that South Ken was one station I was at often. I also had a look on Wikipedia and someone has provided a nice graphic showing the original layout and there was a line bisecting what is now the main platform. Makes me wonder where the original stairs went or if they just took the two either side and joined them after filling in the middle of the platform. Gosh Kensington has a lot of fun quirks I wish were still in use.

[@spacestation52]

I too remember using Gloucester Road in the 60s and there were definitely four platforms. Going westwards to Earl’s Court wasn’t an issue as the lines split after leaving Gloucester Road. But to go to Victoria you could chose to wait at the top of the stairs to see whether a District or Circle line came in first and then run down the stairs to catch it. Madness, really. It was open-air in those days.

[@asciisynth]

2 main types of people have arch enemies. Superheroes and 19th century railway developers.

[@patricialockhart2135]

That was very interesting. I've just come back from a trip down to London and was based on Kensington High Street. I found it interesting that two lines, the Circle and district run on the same tracks. In fact I was on a district line train when an announcement came on saying that it was no a circle line train terminating at Edgeware Road. BTW, the stations especially Kensington High Street are beautiful.

[@unclenogbad1509]

"Everything should be great, with no drawbacks." How many times have I heard that before?

[@MattMcIrvin]

The hotel where we stayed on our recent visit to London was across the street from here--I bought a lot of necessities from that Sainsbury's over the curve. Had no idea the location was key to that weird long-running Underground feud.

[@martinhall60]

Just brilliantly directed and very informative as always, well done again.

[@BrianSeaman]

Jago takes a mundane tube journey into hyperspace and beyond, throwing in the odd curve.

[@el_es]

the pun of having 'arches' in picture and talking of 'arch enemies' is not lost o.O :)

[@Tube-Shots]

I love the shots of the stations lot of work gone into these videos

[@davidbarry7538]

I worked at Gloucester road in the ticket office until the ticket office closed in 2015, always enjoyed working at this wonderful station. Nice to see a factual and informative video of the station.

[@islayidiots713]

Love these videos, keep up the great work Jago!

[@antonydicesare4632]

Marvellous, another wonderful jago production.

[@Del-bm]

That was a pleasure to watch and very informative, thanks for sharing with us

[@PeacefulSlumber]

I'm not sure what I love most... The tube, or your videos on it. Thank you ,🥰

[@bethenecampbell6463]

When I'm in London I stay very near Gloucester Road. It's great having some insider knowledge now. Thanks for this.

[@stevevasta]

Delighted by the brief view of High St Kensington--the street itself, not just the station. Thirty years ago, we stayed at what was then the Kensington Close Hotel on Wrights Lane: the street and station were our starting point almost every day.

[@boohaka]

Wow! In all the time I stood on those platforms I never once wondered why they were disused! I now know something I never knew I didn’t know! Thanks!😊

[@erikthenorviking8251]

Extreme naughtiness indeed !! I think District, Circle and Metropolitan are my favourite lines. Keep up the excellent work !

[@RogersRamblings]

On a slightly pedantic note (as if), the former air terminal and the supermarket are built on a raft above the railway. At railway level are sidings for overnight storage. Since they're within the former triangle they're known as Triangle Sidings.

[@cypher50]

Jago, you should collaborate with Don Coffey on a few cab rides through the London Underground. Would like to see you do the history subtitles for a video like that....

[@hartstukken]

Sublime idea, pointing at small and specific things even enthusiasts wouldn't know about. Like a wall or signalbox it something like that

[@tangomoggynoengi8518]

Would that be a Coffey Hazzard...or a Hazzardous Coffey...???

[@gfuentes8449]

Excellent video as always

[@pauldwyer4430]

You’ve just answered my long running question why South Kensington has a disused platform more visible now on the Eastbound side, although wide of the Westbound with no platform. Really fascinating story of rivalries between different railway companies.

[@GerardScroogeGoes]

thx Jago, Seems that I'm connected to this station. My first school trip in 1979 brought me there. It was an open air station then. I've been returning there intermittingly. And even stayed a year in the Forum next door. Alway wondered about the Cromwell curve. It clearly didn't fit. So after 42 years finally the aswer why.

[@amethyst7084]

Another really interesting and revealing account of part of the history of the Underground. Gloucester Road holds a degree of mystique. Maybe it's because like South Kensington it has the same line connections, but is far less busy, or maybe it's because it sits between South Kensington and Earl's Court (both of which are a lot busier), or yet still, maybe it's because it's the last station on the southern part of the western end of the Circle Line. Thanks again, Jago. 👏🏾😊

[@anshulaich6026]

South Kensington is such a cool station. Not only is it a joint district and metropolitan line station, but it also has a completely separate Leslie Green station building for the picadilly line, right next to the metropolitan & district one.

[@LeedsInAHat]

In the before times, I’d go down to London once, twice or three times a year, and always visit Waitrose and the NHM. Always interesting to see what art was on show on the disused platform. I miss Glo Road and Great Portland Street, my accommodation stations!

[@michaelcallummayaka]

Happy new month, good sir! This was quite an interesting tale, as always. It seems in those days if a company wanted to do something they usually just did it, regardless of anyone else.

[@michaelbartle7354]

Great stories. Love them 👍

[@FrangoTV1]

Thank you for enlightening me about the 2 bay platforms at High St. Ken. Having noticed them some 45 years ago, I now know the real reason for their existence! 👍

[@teecefamilykent]

Fantastic video sir.

[@stephenpegum9776]

As someone who's lived in London for some 45 years, I've travelled through Gloucester Road station many, many times but have never needed to get on or off there, so had no idea about the lovely above-ground architecture. I'll definitely remedy that the next time I'm in that area ! 😎

[@pontyexpat]

Fascinating! I once lived in west London, traipsing all over town by tube, bus and foot, totally unaware of the rivalry that once took place beneath my feet. Thank you for the enlightenment 🚉

[@markharris1223]

It is a pleasure to listen to this gentleman.

[@markellis6413]

Fabulous video - always wanted someone to explain the extra platforms at Gloucester Road & South Kensington.. 👍👍

[@EternalSushiMusic]

Wow, I lived 1 minute away from that Saintsburys and I never knew! That's awesome!

[@johnanthonylucock7833]

Fascinating presentation

[@timsully8958]

Excellent! Had no idea that this was why South Ken had 4 platforms originally! I suppose it turned out to be a useful thing for Gloucester Road in the end though as it meant you now have separate platforms for westbound District and northbound Circle trains 🤔 And I suppose you can say the same for the Olympia shuttles (though I have actually no idea whether they still run those! 🤷🏻‍♂️). Cheers as ever 👍🍻🍀

[@capitalb5889]

Now I understand the layout at Gloucester Rd station! I remember the station back in the 1980s to early 90s when it was still open air, like a budget South Kensington. Once it was covered up it took on the wonderfully spooky look it has today.

[@C2K777]

The snow at South Kensington ( 05:30 ) on 1st Sept is slightly worrying. I guess summer is finished if the weathers taken that much of a turn already

[@andrewpinner3181]

Another good one Jago, thanks !

[@thomaswilson3437]

That colorful mosaic station at Gloucester Road is my computer wall paper from a picture I took when in London a couple years ago!

[@SBEARD12345]

Fact for you, underneath that block of flats and Sainsbury's is a sidings used by Circle and District. Circle on one side of the main track district on the other. Great video...

[@AllensTrains]

I always wondered why there were those unused platforms. Now I know! Thanks for uploading.

[@nytracus9680]

always wandered about those extra platforms at high st Kensington 👍

[@peterzombatcrosby8139]

Very interesting thanks for sharing.

[@seeitsayitdoggo5398]

Interestingly this little argument has a legacy that actually lives on to this day. According to an FOI, the line between Notting Hill and South Ken is operated by the District line controller. However, the stations are run by the Hammersmith and City controller for circle line reasons, despite the district being the main serving line at that station.

[@joshuahalla.k.a.controlla6333]

Great video.☺

[@johnbristow8099]

Another great video!

[@jsg9575]

I love these videos

[@highpath4776]

Was looking for this all day yesterday, this bank holiday has really thrown me.

[@highpath4776]

Geoff needs a race off High St Ken to South Ken by pavement or circle line. The circle line being at best intermittant - though more reliable than it used to be.

[@ernestparker3648]

As an old retired circle driver, we loved the tunnel e/b between Gloucester Road and South Ken as it was so wide if we were bursting it was ideal for a quick pee. Honest not joking.

[@iankemp1131]

When a man's gotta go ...

[@unclenogbad1509]

So THAT'S why trains frequently used to stop in that tunnel. I'd assumed it was just traffic into Earl's Court. (NB, as a postie, we also have to find novel places - if I've left your parcel in the garden when you're out, I may have discretely improved the soil as well).

[@Brianrockrailfan]

great video

[@ladiorange]

Great video

[@trevaluvelle]

Love it when your around my area...

[@isashax]

I have stayed very often in a hotel near the curve and never knew about this. Very interesting!

[@stevesalvage1089]

Well I never ! Thankyou jago all cleared up now

[@dmann5938]

I don’t live in the UK but I love seeing stuff about the TfL stuff

[@danielpayne500]

it is interesting as well when i grew up round the Corner from there at lexham gardens as well

[@michaelmiller641]

There are photos of different tube stock photographed on the Cromwell curve, the pre- 1938 stock, and the 1920 Piccadilly stock trailers and control trailers with converted gate stock, the first air door stock

[@adamhenley8295]

Wow - I used to shop at that Sainsbury’s in the 80s when living on Cromwell Rd and had no idea at the time and I don’t think it was recorded anywhere there

[@SixthQuarter]

Another winner Jago. 👍🏼🍻

[@alexandrosjones]

so weird seeing my local tube station, as well as my local sainsbury's on youtube on my recommended!

[@hypercomms2001]

Thank you, I have wondered why there was an abandoned platform at South Kensington station. Now I know.

[@aliendon73]

Point of interest for you. There are also sidings directly underneath the Sainsburys, right between the main line and the Cromwell Curve. It's known as the triangle sidings. Great video as always Jago.

[@zorktxandnand3774]

0.27 That Metropolitan Railway logo is something else! A shield on velvet / fur curtain thing, with a chained duck, a deer, 3 swords and a cracked tile under a fist holding lightning. What is going on here??? why is the duck (or goose?) chained? what does the Deer mean, why the swords, is one not enough? Latin banner? Why is the tile cracked? is that important?

[@tombaxter6228]

I believe that the original design was to be two dead, crossed District Railway chairmen, superimposed on a mound of dead, District Railway chairmen...

[@zorktxandnand3774]

@@tombaxter6228 It is a tough choice to make :)

[@Jim-Scott]

If you head out of the station, turn left towards Sainsburys, there's a brick wall just before the supermarket car park exit, which if you jump up you can see the bend and junctions of the lines below exposed to the elements. There's a little section there that never got covered. At one end of that wall is an unassuming, much graffitied, red door, leading to a precipitous iron staircase going down to the tracks. I carried many bottles of oxygen and propane up and down those stairs 15+ years ago when that track junction was replaced and I was cutting out and welding in new 3rd and 4th rails. The station manager wouldn't let us take the easier route through the station with gas bottles!

[@GMN360]

Thank you, have explained and answered a lot!