The Secret History of Thameslink | Another Station, Another Mile #7

Over a century before Crossrail, there existed a cross-London route enabling passengers and freight to go from one side of London to the other. 153 years later and the route we now know as Thameslink has plenty of secrets and stories to tell - so today, we go looking for them and tell those stories! Come join us as we show you through the Secret History of Thameslink on Another Station Another Mile!
Music:
Dreamhour - Better Friends
newretrowave.b...
Ghost Hall - Now (Instrumental Mix)
nathanfitzpatr...
Andrew Elmore - Intro (from Real Racing Roots 2019)
satellitesound...
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[@grimpeursdusud1533]

That steep slope from Blackfriars down to City Thameslink was helped by simply dropping one end of the bridge that takes the line over the road. As I remember the old bridge over Ludgate Hill was quite distinctive painted light blue with a City of London shield; it did after all block the view up to St Pauls

[@roundel52]

I started commuting into Holborn Viaduct 32 years ago, and now go into City Thameslink, so I thought I'd add/correct for you. The entrance to Holborn Viaduct Station was through Wood /glass doors directly in line with the shops on the main road. The booking office was in the area behind those doors, with the platforms being level with the current Northern entrance to City station (but probably a little to the left/east ) . It wasn't any higher up, that would have been absurd and pointless. Remember that the new station platforms are down 2 escalators already from street level. The other interesting fact is that when first opened, the station was named St Paul's Thameslink, being renamed when the fire brigade allegedly turned out to the wrong station, confusing the Thameslink station with the tube one of a similar name. Also, when HV closed, trains previously terminating there would actually terminate at St Pauls Thameslink and then stable in Smithfield sidings while the driver had a break and changed ends.

[@woodnorton]

I was just going to say very similar. I commuted into Blackfriars (platform 5) for years, and saw the Snow Hill reopened going directly into Farringdon. My office moved to opposite the KX Thameslink station so then commuted through there while Holborn Viaduct was still open. My memory of KX was a number of platforms used for newspapers - I think the Evening Standard and Evening News - both printed nearby - were sent out to South London from there. For a couple of periods I had to walk, during the "Blockade" when St Pauls Thameslink was constructed, and then the winter with "the wrong type of snow" which damaged the 319 Thameslink stock, so no trains could run through for about 6 weeks. When they renamed the station, you could still see the St Pauls T/L name on some doors at the very north of the Southbound track into some signalling or electrical room, unfortunately long gone. Nice to see even in 2022 the Thameslink colour scheme has not gone from the "light columns"

[@itstimeforham]

Thanks for making this. Definitely the summary I was looking for

[@ScubaGirl68]

Nicely put together. I recall that the platforms for Kings Cross Thameslink were great for access. If there were any delays, space was also limited for anyone waiting on them. During rush hour it was always a mad rush to get through the limited entrances and exits. I trust the new St Pancras Thameslink platforms are better.

[@ianmcclavin]

When King's Cross Thameslink was closed and replaced by the St Pancras International Thameslink platforms, the old entrance was retained as an additional entrance to the Tube (access to the Victoria, Piccadilly and Northern lines already existed, access from Thameslink to the Victoria Line was particularly easy), but from the date of the KX Thameslink closure, the entrance on Pentonville Road became open on Monday- Friday only. (I'm not sure if further opening hours restrictions have come into force since due to Covid-19, but Monday - Friday opening has been the norm from December 2007 to March 2020).

[@peterkean5907]

Having travelled from Bromley South into Blackfriars for many years I found this really interesting.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Thank you! :)

[@iOmNoms]

😂 "Loogerbaroogah Junction if you've never been here before"

[@ds1868]

Probably the way Americans would pronounce it. Forgotten the number of times I've been asked "where is Lyceeeeester Square please?'

[@Sarahbryson321]

I pronounce it as loughborugh, because of brush traction

[@GamecrafterStudios]

Great video, you deserve way more views for content like this!

[@Madjock1965]

Excellent video and great information

[@Rule1ModelRailways]

Your B roll is ace.

[@TransCanadaPhil]

new subscriber. I've visited London a few times in the past couple of years and always end up taking this "Thameslink" train from Gatwick Airport to St.Pancras, so I'm starting to get familiar with it. It was the very first train I ever took in the UK in 2017. The train network is so complex and extensive over there in the UK :-). Cheers from Winnipeg , Canada.

[@shrimpishflavour1464]

When I looked at your subscribers, I was shocked. You deserve way more!

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Hey, thank you! That's very kind of you to say :)

[@drearyplane8259]

Fun bonus secret - a thriving society of two-foot tall gremlins live in that old underground goods yard, siphoning food from the surface and toiling at whatever they toil at.

[@tjejojyj]

Good video. The whiteboard map is excellent. I really like your style. Some more about the operations of the line would be good. Length of trains. Frequency. ATO. PPHPD capacity, especially compared to tube and Crossrail.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Thank you! And honestly, I focus more on the historical side of these videos, so current/modern operations don't really cross my mind when writing these videos - if I am dealing with a current/contemporary setting I'll try and bear that in mind for future videos!

[@meltrain]

Wow, this was actually really interesting. I like the way you explain things and show them.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Thank you :)

[@ianmurray250]

Would have been better with less vt of you and some shots of maps of the area, historical photos (then and now style) and how to get to these locations, you could have always returned another day to do the bit that was closed and northern bits you said you had missed, although if you had used some archive material with voice overlay recorded at home your camera would still have some charge whilst on location. Remember it's worthwhile doing a great job on these videos as they will be around for years, and the more interesting you can make the topic the more views, subscribers and for that matter income.

[@ap4675]

Yes, exactly @Ian Murray. He also could mention Moorgate station & its history of tube to it's current iteration on the Northern City Line. That is if I am correct in this reference, at least mention or link his video on that line. Pardon my ignorance i'm from New York. I only get to see London & the UK from videos like these. One day the missus & I will come to the UK, but for now it's viewing from afar.

[@ianhelps3749]

Thanks for the interesting video. I have been to Barbican station a few times and wondered about the disused lines to Moorgate. If the line is to be reopened, the tracks at Farringdon station would need to be modified. But it would be nice to see that section brought back to use.

[@geznicks]

REPRESENTING BEDFORD OUT HERE!!!

[@Steven_Rowe]

I remember very well the hotel curve I was platform 16 and was a wooden platform, for most of the day it was deserted and only came to life in the evening peak. Of course it was used for frieghts during the day. It did also have another use that you may not know about. Remember the Northern City Line??? Well it used to go to Finsbury Park but the line was cut back to Drayton Park so the 2 platfoms at Finsbury Park could be used for the new Victoria line. The line was completed isolated from the LT network and so to get tube stock in and out of Drayton Park depot required battery locos that towed them from Drayton Park through Finsbury Park and then to a flyover north of Finsbury park that linked to Highgate on the Northern line. Well the flyover pulled down so tube stock could no longer to that way. They then still used battery locos but instead they took the trains to Finsbury Park then reversed them down to KX and York Road to Farringdon. The train was once again reversed and took the cross over onto the Met then to Baker Street and then to Neasden. Hope you find this interesting. .

[@TheMisterB2u]

Enjoyed that, factual and a pleasure to watch !

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Thank you!! ^_^

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

very impressive indeed. thank you

[@zebedep]

Great video! Very informative.

[@DanCapri]

thanks from San Francisco

[@nicholasthorn1539]

"Leake Street WC" I like it!

[@kbtred51]

It's a postcode - Western Central.

[@IC-qf7ev]

The entrance to snow hill still exists and apparently the Moorgate widened line tunnels have been built in

[@chrismccartney8668]

So much has changed once used High Holborn every day and used to use West Brompton District Line Station with derelict BR Station next to it.. This i see has now reopened ? Any chance of video on that area ?

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Oh, the West London Line? Definitely! Lot of things to explore there :)

[@kanedaku]

Eh? The Blackfriars railway bridge in use now was the second reinforced bridge, not the most popular of two bridges.

[@longbranchmike488]

How exactly would the Circle, Met, and Hammersmith & City lines use the disused Widened lines?

[@groupcaptainbonzo]

How can anything be “maximised above and beyond its full potential “ ?

[@bucephalus00]

I smell some irony but, I admit, it went over my head at the time

[@LeeSmith-cf1vo]

Thameslink foobar'd? Whatever next?!?!

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

I know right? xD

[@thehusketeers4319]

You look like Kim Jong Un wtf

[@PORRRIDGE_GUN]

Who remembers the late 90s, and the piss poor service, noisy, ugly, uncomfortable overcrowded plastic interior trains that smelt suspiciously of human shit? Thameslink used to leave me raging going to and coming home from work. I regularly got drunk at a station bar before I could face the 'scheduled 13 minute journey' home to East Croydon from London Bridge. I stuck it out from '94 to 98 before changing jobs to one in Gatwick. But how things have changed! beautiful near silent air conditioned through carriage stock and near perfect punctuality. But look at what we pay for it! Seats are still uncomfortable though...

[@lordbrit4630]

dude i can't believe youtube has only just recommended this. really really good content man keep it up

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Thank you! :)

[@dredfell]

5 months later I’m having the same thoughts; how as it taken this long for me to find?!

[@bobblue_west]

Enjoyable, informative, vid. I can imagine Fleet Street workers using Ludgate Hill Stn.

[@CCA2020]

Facts so good that Geoff Marshall used them about Blackfriars bridge

[@ianj933]

Can't believe I just now am finding this channel. Great presenting style and content, and I look forward to watching more 👍

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Thank you! ^_^

[@marvintpandroid2213]

Ok, I'm here, Blame Geoff

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Cheers, Geoff xD

[@JamesTheBell1]

Me too! But seriously, I can't believe it's taken me three years of KZbin train videos to make first contact with this channel!

[@robsmithracing]

Same here! 🤣

[@86Dillan]

Always good to find a good new railway channel, I got here through Geoff as well

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

Same here. Mainly watching Railway related videos, also have seen Jay Foreman's one on the Northern Heights, even several times, but only on watching Geoff's latest Thameslink video the algorithm thought "Hey, this might be of interest for him too".

[@norbitonflyer5625]

The platform 16 / York Way connections were eventually replaced by the Canal Tunnels (so called because they pass under the Regents Canal) connecting St Pancras low level with the East Coast Main Line between Gasworks and Copenhagen Tunnels. The tight curves on the original route would not have suited modern Thameslink stock, and indeed was the reason class 106 diesel units, more suited to rural branch lines, were used on the Widened Lines services rather than longer-wheelbased suburban units. The reason for the wide separation between the north and southbound platforms (York Way and platform 16) was partly to avoid conflicting crossing movements across the station approaches, and also because the Hotel Curve was already very tight, and a southbound track next to it would have had to be even tighter.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Ahhh, those all make a lot of sense - thank you for that information! When was the original Platform 16/Hotel Curve taken out of service?

[@ttrjw]

@@HeyItsAJOmega 1977 when the Kings Cross suburban electrification came in.

[@herbsterbear]

Great video! Your whiteboard explanation of how all the lines opened and closed was perfectly concise!

[@grimpeursdusud1533]

Fascinating! I explored this in the 80s including cycling down York Road tunnel late at night when it was being used by lorries rebuilding the Widened Lines and walked Snow Hill tunnel before the track was relayed. We also tried to walk the Hotel tunnel but it was flooded to the roof could never work out how!

[@norbitonflyer5625]

9:00 The entrance to Holborn Viaduct station was at street level - the level of the viaduct, that is. The viaduct itself was built in the 1860s to carry the main east west road out of the City (now the A40) across the valley of the River Fleet, also spanning Farringdon Street.

[@craiglogistics2092]

Thank-you for that interesting insight into the parts of Thameslink that the 'normal' travelling public wouldn't necessarily notice, cheers AJ

[@xaiano794]

You sound very professional on these videos - great production values.

[@DoubleACbg]

When I first visited London in 1993 I was very much fascinated by the rail transport system (Underground, British Rail, Docklands Light Railway), and a lot of times I would stumble (even if I hadn’t consumed a few pints) between the various lines with my multi-zone pass. One day I was in the City, and I got detained by the police for 45 minutes while they checked my passport, at the same time trying to remember where Grosvenor Place (the location of the US Embassy) was located. Eventually they let me go, but I can’t remember if I headed towards the City Thameslink Station or Cannon Street Underground Station.

[@nanduthalange7736]

An excellent overview of a complex story! I have a modest correction - Ludgate Hill station was on the through route via the Snow Hill Tunnel. Trains could go either to Farringdon/Moorgate or Holburn Viaduct. Surprisingly, the north-south route was really only used for freight - passenger services generally went from Ludgate Hill to Moorgate, via the now obstructed eastern tunnel.

[@pras12100]

At Farringdon the "magic" happens to convert trains between 25kV AC and 750V DC. This is more difficult than you would think because of the different (and incompatible) way the two systems earth themselves. Most people seem to think you can just put a live third rail below a live overhead wire and let the train choose. If you did this the trains would short to ground. You have to disconnect both the live and the earth before you enable the new connections. Others may be able to explain it better.

[@Mergatroid]

I am so glad your channel started coming up in my recommended. I don't know how you still have under 4k subscribers (as of writing this). I feel like this is a channel waiting to blow up like Geoff Marshall. This probably came up because of that recent video he did about the Blackfriars bridge. Seriously, these videos are so interesting. I'm glad to see more people covering things like this (even if I'm not from London or the UK at all).

[@businessbuilding1]

Why am I only finding this now?! Great video. Very informative and I am sure it’s Geoff Marshall approved - his video of the bridge came shortly after ;) Looking forward to more stuff from I. Subscribing now - greetings from Canada!

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Thank you! ^_^

[@DavidFrankal]

Brilliantly presented, I enjoyed this very much!

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Thank you so much!! ^_^

[@glenncooney3959]

I live in Brighton, and my aunt used to live in Luton, so we’d always travel Thameslink to see her, though when I see my best mate in Nottingham I’ll always travel to St Pancras on Thameslink. It’s fascinating how much it’s changed and the history of the London core. Thanks for filming this!

[@capcompass9298]

If you live in Burnt Oak, pick up the express from King's Cross or Euston. Don't try taking the train that stops at Burnt Oak. I tried. I watched the express hurtle through at 8pm, and after many changes and waiting, I got to Nottingham at 2:10am.

[@williamerazo3921]

Crossrail 2

[@ROCKINGMAN]

Love the rail history. New needs makes for changes. Like the whiteboard descriptions, since it answered what I wanted to know, partly. The Snow Hill tunnel was constructed in Jan. 1866 you say. But for many years there was a bridge painted blue with a City of London crest on it at at Ludgate Circus demolished in the 90s I think. What did this serve? Was used it after or before the tunnel was closed?

[@norbitonflyer5625]

It was part of the same line. After Blackfriars the line continued above street level until it crossed Ludgate Hill, after which it branched, one branch continuing at high level to Holborn Viaduct and the other diving steely into the Snow Hill tunnel. In the 1980s the layout was modified. Holborn Viaduct station was closed and the descent started immediately north of Blackfriars station (indeed the bridge over Queen Victoria Street now has a noticeable gradient} and dives under Ludgate Hill, to tie in with the original route of the Snow Hill tunnel at the north end of City Thameslink station.

[@cd0u50c9]

Fantastic video. I've been looking for a video like this which focuses on Thameslink for quite a while - I used to work at Loughborough Junction and in spare evenings I used to explore the network.. Keep up the amazing work!

[@MIkeDye200202holla]

Really great content! Very informative, keep it up

[@hairyairey]

I believe the old Kings Cross Thameslink platforms are deliberately retained in case of emergencies.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Oh, is that so? That would make a lot of sense!

[@hairyairey]

@@HeyItsAJOmega I think the same applies to some of the disused underground stations, they just aren't as obvious.

[@mikegillard7283]

Have you seen the poxymoxon video of the York road tunnels. Filmed in April 19, just discovered it today.

[@jonty2020]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIGsaXuqbK99j5Y Excellent video of the York road tunnels and core section...

[@mikegillard7283]

Another great mini-documentary, all this time and never knew about the york road tunnel. Thank you and good work/production values.

[@acleray]

At the tunnel mouth end of York Road station, the railway follows the road of the same name until it gets to the junction where it joins Kings Cross Rd and turns left, following Kings Cross road until it reaches Mount Pleasant where it comes up very close to Clerks Well, (now located inside an office building lobby&

[@Steven_Rowe]

I have fond memories of the widened lines in the 1960s. The station between the eastbound portal and the widened lines was called York way. On the Western side was the hotel curve,it's on a very steep gradient and curve and was platform 16, the platform was wooden and always was deserted except for the evening peak. There is something else in regards to the yorkway side, shortly after the train entered the tunnel to go to Moorgate there was an underground Junction that vered off to the right, this tunnel joined the circle line heading towards Baker Street. It certainly wasn't being used in the 1950s and 60s. You also mention the Northern City line which was another favourite haunt of mine. Up until 1964 you could catch the train from Finsbury Park to Moorgate,the two underground platforms at Finsbury Park when then converted for use my the new Victoria line and a shuttle bus service was used from Finsbury Park to Drayton Park. At Drayton Park two tracks joined the railway aboveground and entered Finsbury Park station. At Finsbury Park on the sevensisters road side there were larger girders that were to be for new platforms as the Moorgate line was to continue to Alexandra Palace and onto the Northern line at Highgate., this never came about and was abandoned during WW2. Seeing as the Northern City was a stand alone line tubestock that needed maintenance was pulled from Drayton Park by battery locos, this initially went North of Finsbury Park and branched off to the line to Highgate where it joined the LT network. This line was eventually ripped up and so for tube trains to get back to LT metals they would use battery locos from Drayton Park upto Finsbury Park,the train would reverse down to Kingscross via the widened lines where it could get onto the LT metals at Farringdon. Finally here is a link to a KZbin video that clearly shows the extra tunnel at Kingscross that diverged towards Baker Street. I would love to explore it kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIGsaXuqbK99j5Y.

[@danihelios]

Really cannot believe it's taken me this long to find your channel... loving these videos!

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Thank you! ^_^

[@dobbinism]

A well-researched presentation, entertaining too. I have always been fascinated by the Kings Cross tunnels. There is so much hidden infrastructure on that route, always a pleasure to discover something new.

[@mikeelliott2736]

I don't think it was ever called St Pancras Thameslink. As far as I remember it was always called St Pancras International.

[@ianmcclavin]

Yes, all the platforms at St Pancras Main Line station (including the domestic ones) are named "St Pancras International" now, and all have this legend on the platform signage. However, this does include the two sub-service platforms lettered A and B, which are exclusively dedicated to through Thameslink services, and were constructed to replace the ones at King's Cross Thameslink (which previously were also lettered A and B to avoid confusion with King's Cross Mainline station's platforms, which are numbered 0 to 11, which may or may not include 9 3/4!!🤣)

[@elnido4184]

My favourite part of the Thameslink core is the Holborn Viaduct area. As to how much of the area has changed and been redeveloped. Especially from the Lugate Hill section to City Thameslink trying to calculate where exactly the viaduct once stood, now that it's all pedestrianised and major office complex buildings that now stand over the former Holborn Viaduct station site. It also seems like the Thameslink lines into the SNOW HILL Tunnel from Blackfriars were slewed to the right into what was once the path into Holborn Viaduct station. Therefore a NEW section of tunnel must of been built before being built over.

[@jeremyridge3148]

Was'nt Loughborough junction named by the Midland Railway who used the Snow Hill link in the day to supply coal to the lucrative South London domestic market? I agree with the you the excellent design of Blackfriars Station with entrances on both sides of the river, but was'nt a glorious commercial opportunity lost in not building a restaurant / pub/ recreation area alongside the station spanning the river (East or West facing) which would command extensive views. The two curves at Kings Cross were required for many reasons not least the Fleet River is contained in this area in a cast iron pipe. The up gentler (hotel) curve brought the down line out on the correct side of the station throat which was a historic effort for Gresley's N2 tanks. I have a souvenir ticket for the last train from Holborn viaduct. Great work, Adam P.S. Contact me for another transport secret of Leeke Street!

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

You know, that might make sense given the actual Loughborough is actually up in the Midlands itself...! And that idea for a restaurant sounds INCREDIBLE. That makes a lot of sense re: the Kings Cross curves, so they had to split either side of the Fleet River pipe? And I can imagine those N2 tank engines chuffing away HARD up the Hotel Curve! Oh that's amazing! It'd be very cool to see the souvenir ticket - and the Leeke Street secret! :)

[@jeremyridge3148]

@@HeyItsAJOmega Are you still interested in the extras promised many months ago? I have found the ticket and the notes supplied for the trip by the late John Farrow of Hertfordshire Rail Tours + much more!

[@rikardottosson1272]

This is the best theme song, sorry. Unashamed catchy guitar, way thicker than normally allowed in polite company these days. I legitimately hum this now and then. Plz consider bringing back.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Hey, I love this tune too! I have my reasons for changing the theme song though, outside of just really liking the new song. This theme will always have a special place in my heart 😊

[@rikardottosson1272]

Another Station, Another Mile I don’t dislike the new one, it makes me think of FM-84, but let’s face it, it doesn’t have the strong melodic hook that this one does. On the other hand - this one could belong to a police procedural drama set in the north rather than a railway related KZbin series, so I can understand why you wanted to change. It’s just that it’s such a great song, I’ll still miss it.

[@joshuanichols8396]

Got any links to info about the platforms reopening at Barbican? I’m fascinated

[@JaymzCampbell]

This was awesome! Many thanks for putting this together, a really enjoyable watch 🙇

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Thank you! ^_^

[@voltuk7181]

We're not really sure why Kings Cross Thameslink was closed. Considering the pretty significant distance of it from St Pancras Thameslink way at the back of that station, another stop nearer to Pentonville would be quite useful for those who can't walk quite so far.

Thameslink lacks the glamour fo the Crossrail project, probably because less of it is in tunnels and its stations aren't all space-age fancy. But it's at least as functionally impressive and would move as many people post upgrade. The only bugbear for me is the lame '80s name: "Thameslink". And the name of the station "City Thameslink". ...And they should bring back Camberwell station.

[@cd0u50c9]

07:56 - Wasn't it three stations? Add Snow Hill/Holborn Viaduct Low Level to the two you mention? That's where the Snow Hill tunnels went - correct me if I'm wrong here. Great video and great work, I'm fascinated by this stuff!!

[@David-sv7by]

All very interesting. I did use Holborn Viaduct once with my Southern Rover ticket in 1974. Great old place highly atmospheric. You speak well but could you show us the maps for longer ? We do not need to see a talking head for such a long time. The felt tip presentation was great but too fast. Read Alan Jackson's book about London Terminii it has all the dates up until 1970s - but you bring things up to date. Thank you.

[@jonty2020]

Great video. Thanks for posting

[@philclennell]

Superb presentation of the cross-London lines that've hitherto been something of a mystery to us everyday rail enthusiasts. Bravo!

[@davidlally592]

Mm remember that the original proposal (which I think cost £100k) to bring n and s london together thru the snow hill tunnel, was done by the old GLC' s Ken Livingstone, when he was then London Mayor.

[@johnburns4017]

Your whiteboard drawing is correct in the two tunnels either side of Kings X station - both single track. The east tunnel is the southbound _York Rd tunnel_ which still has tracks into it for a way to park up trains. The tunnel is mainly used for Thameslink equipment. The tunnel portal is the extreme west tunnel at the Kings X station building (the trainsheds). Seen on Google maps. The west side tunnel is the _hotel curve_ which terminated at the southern edge of Kings X station with the track rising sharply to the surface _inside_ the station. Platform 16 it was named. It was on sharp incline and curved. Got to love those Victorians haven't you. This tunnel is no longer used with the concourse covering it and its rising curved trackbed. The St.Pancras Thameslinks station is to the west side of the station under Midland St. The northbound tunnel from the station has a branch in it. One branch to the MML, emerging north of the North London Line, the original Victorian tunnel, and the other new tunnel to the ECML alignment just north of Kings Cross. The new section of tunnel is now called the canal tunnels which is approx 3/4 mile long, curving northeast, emerging onto the surface just before Kings X approach tracks.

[@dodgydruid]

My late father who at the time was still passed out at Blackfriars, Loughborough Junction signal boxes was part of the original signalling advisory team who had to go under and start drafting up the rudimentary signalling layouts where to put the region median line, working with the S&T on interlocks and train handovers to the Kings Cross side and working in with LT too. He recounted one fine day when the surveyors were test digging and discovered one of several charnal pits from the old Newgate prison and apparently all these bones just came flooding out the breach they made lol He when he was working at Blackfriars had a very near miss as the staff due to trackwork being done had to use the old abandoned bridge and in them days it was basically a duckboard over the chasm to the bridge itself and a duckboard at the other end to come off and he said one wet and howling wind night, he went through the rotten decking and had to be pulled up by his mate and he did admit to having a trousery accident in that moment O.o One of the reasons the pillars survived is BR kept as a future option the ability to put another bridge over if capacity demanded it, there was a long way plan offered around that time of turning Blackfriars into a major central station reducing capacity on Cannon St and Charing X as well as stations northwards.

[@capcompass9298]

Very confusing. I used that area when Thameslink was new, now I remember Thameslink and pre-Thameslink and work out from there.

[@PDXLibertarian]

They should rename it as a line similar to the Elizabeth line because it's basically a British version of the French RER and should be put as a regular service on the tube map.

[@terencedoherty3645]

There was a Metropolitan line service which terminated at Liverpool St. Still there next to LS westbound platform, but boarded up.

[@RogerDiscombe]

Very interesting. I used to travel from Tulse Hill though Loughborough Junction to Holborn Viaduct between 1967 and 1969 so it brought back a few memories. My recollection is that London Viaduct platform was on ground level, with a rather inconspicuous entrance near the Old Bailey. I use to love the names of European destinations that still were visible in Blackfriars station in the 1960s, such as (unless my memory is wrong) St Petersburg.

[@simonroyle2806]

The European destinations have been preserved at BlackFriars.

[@TheByard]

I started working in tunnel construction as a 16 year old in 1960 as a Chain Boy I assisted the shift engineer on checking the erected tunnel lining. The site was on Adelaide Road, Chalk Farm, the job was to enlarge an existing tunnel used for running empty carriages into I think Kings Cross Station. The tunnel needed enlarging so electrification cantenery be installed in the crown of the tunnel. I have seen a vlog that shows it's no longer in use. The next job was making tunnel lining segments out at Waltham Cross for the experimental section of the Victoria line machine excavated tunnel out near Manor House. Chas Brand & Son then won 3 sections of the Victoria Line, I worked on all three over the next 5 or 6 years. Euston station survey that was carried out after the tube trains stop running. Then went out to Ferry Lane Tottenham and drove a Tunnel Boring Machine from Ferry Lane to Hoe St. That was then the end of the line. I transferred to the station mining gang and helped build 5 stations on the line. In the mid 80s while waiting for an overseas posting I did some holiday cover for an inspector looking after the deep station adjacent to the Northern Line, now that was stepping back into history as they were still equipped with bunk beds when used as air raid shelters in WWII. Also the one in the West End that was a US Army HQ that Eisenhower had a room in, the PX is still complete. My tunneling days are now over, my last job was in KL Malaysia in 2015 on line 1 of the metro. In my life I've helped build tunnels in the UK, Denmark, Egypt, Hong Kong, Canada, Taiwan, and Malaysia. To carry sewage, main grid cables, vehicles, flood water/vehicles, Mainline Trains and Metros. I now grow bananas, jack fruit, star fruit and test beer.

[@ianmcclavin]

Your videos are certainly well presented, with lots of facts in them! 👍👍👍👍👍

[@warrior3456_]

Not to be rude but with that haircut you look like you should be on jersey shores

[@tingewickmax]

As an exiled inner city London kid, fascinated by all things "Underground" since childhood, I am liking your work very much. Keep it coming. I cannot believe the development that has gone on around the Farringdon area in the last 30 years.

[@ianhills8980]

Very interesting! But Holborn is pronounced "hoe-bn".

[@theBusManiac]

Fascinating thanks for sharing ;)

[@Roblilley999]

Hey AJ, not seen you online for a while, hope all is OK buddy

[@batman51]

York Road was the best place for train spotting. Right opposite the Kings Cross diesel shed. Watching a Deltic start up and trundle back and forth out of the sidings, into the tunnels and back on to a train was great.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Ooh I can imagine that was great fun!

[@johnnybeverage]

Very interesting. Well done.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Thank you! ^_^

[@johnmeredith3652]

excellent presentation for a route that has always seemed a mystery to me thanks again

[@Meeyuh]

You can hear the AWS from the cab at 12:01 :)

[@craighobbs3708]

Really interesting, thanks mate!

[@syntros827]

13:00 that’s an amazing transition

[@christinaburton9297]

As a female anorak, I think your videos rock!

[@geraldsoane1260]

The suburban trains into Moorgate via Kings Cross York Road returned via Platform 16, emerging from the tunnel uphill as they rounded the curve. I remember trains hauled by Gresley 4-6-2s and then ones hauled by Diesel engines. The Suburban Station had many more platforms then; that was before BR took over the Northern City route into Moorgate, which replaced the route via Farringdon.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Ahh, I see! That must've been quite a sight to see trains emerging out of the uphill tunnel over on Platform 16 :)

[@iankemp1131]

In the early 1980s I sent a list of suggested London railway projects to British Rail. I received a polite reply, which I still have, stating "You have proposed several interesting ideas, but the cost could not possibly be justified." The first on the list was the reopening of Snow Hill tunnel - aka Thameslink. A few years later Ken Livingston (who I don't think had seen my letter) got the GLC to do a feasibility study on reopening it. A few £K very well spent!

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Haha! There we go, when people say 'the cost can't be justified' don't always believe them ;)

[@davidw1518]

I remember going train-spotting at Kings Cross in the early 1960s, and seeing the trains going through York Road station and into the tunnel towards Moorgate. The thing that fascinated me was that the coaches (they were drawn by a locomotive) shared bogies: the front part of the bogie was attached to one coach, and the rear part of it was attached to the following coach. Presumably this was a wartime or post-war cost-saving measure: they certainly looked old to me. (It's just occurred to me that I should have asked my Dad about that: he had been a signalman at Finsbury Park and Kings Cross before the war, and his Dad had worked in the Kings Cross engine sheds.)

[@robertwilloughby8050]

That would be the GNR and later LNER quad-art sets.

[@Boabywankenobi]

Recent convert to Thameslink. New Barnet to Canary Wharf via Farringdon. The difference this has made to my day is almost immeasureable.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Oh nice! Excellent :)

[@Trek001]

I was watching a documentary on the sinking of the Yamato and KZbin decided this was the best video to watch next On this occasion, the website has pulled off a corker

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

...I have no idea what ties these two things together, but welcome along nonetheless :D

[@Rog5446]

I'll join every one else in adding my thanks for this well presented piece, but will attempt clear up something that might be of bemusement to some. As pointed out, the Kings Cross platforms onto the widened lines were on opposite sides of the station. (southbound on the east, northbound on the west) This seems strange having two tunnels instead of one, especially as a double tunnel would have been more cost effective to construct instead of two singles. The reason was practicality, as in the days of steam, the arrival platforms were on the east and departure platforms were on the west. This meant that if both the N & S bound lines were on the east side, the north bound trains would need to cross over all the other lines to get on the down tracks. The operating dept of the LNER did not want this sort of disruption, as well as a safety hazard to contend with. Acknowledgments to Norbiton Flyer, who has already highlighted this.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Ahhhh, that explains it! And makes total sense. Sort of like how the Hammersmith & City Line runs west of Paddington, through Royal Oak then used to cross over the main GWML running lines to get over to Westbourne Park? Which was completely impractical so in the end they built a dive-under for the tube line so they can go under the mainline without getting in the way of the main running lines :)

[@zachegan1950]

Your videos are great man I can’t believe you don’t have more subs

[@jarnine9803]

15:25 And its here where people walk backwards.I would just paused the frame.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Yeah, have you never been to London before? People just randomly start walking backwards all the time ;)

[@cajmo8635]

Way late, but the entrance to King's Cross Thameslink is still used as an entrance to the tube (most conveniently the Victoria line) and isn't just peak only

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Correct! Annoying that it was closed when I went to film, but it makes me happy to know it is all still there :)