Under London's Streets: Exploring Abandoned Train Lines

[@asdsdjfasdjxajiosdqw8791]

The closing of so many phenomenal public transport systems remains one of the worst things we ever did to ourselves in the post-ww2 era.

[@TB-us7el]

Mr Beeching, take a bow 🙄

[@reneastle8447]

The good news is it won't be that way forever. We can turn the tables around and transform the closing into restoration and reopening.

[@dr-mn7ld]

Uh, there's far more public transport usage now than ever before.

[@minixtvbox]

@@dr-mn7ld impossible. The railways alone went to town

[@dr-mn7ld]

@@minixtvbox what does this even mean?

[@paulollerhead]

I half expected you to bump into the prodigy down there

[@davidfarrow44]

The Prodigy was filmed at Aldwych on the disused line from Holburn on the Piccadilly line.

[@paulguise698]

I'm the firestarter twisted firestarter, it was voted the worsed number 1 ever

[@blahdelablah]

@@paulguise698 Clearly the voters didn't have very good memories or ears if that's what they chose as the worst.

[@weatherwitchandfelinefamiliars]

Oh this was a fantastic video! My father grew up in London, was a huge trams, trolley bus and underground fanatic. I have no memory of his ever mentioning where a double decker tram would be able to go underground 😮 This was really fascinating, I'm so glad that you released the videos of these places at last ❤

[@mbbff01]

The Kingsway Tram Tunnel can be visited several times throughout the year through the Hidden London tours organised by London Transport Museum. I went on one last year, very interesting. Excellent video as always guys 👍👍

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

And virtually too, if you can't get here. I did that version in Lockdown.

[@Muswell]

"The roads above were abundant with the cars that had pushed the tunnel into disuse." Brilliant.

[@urban_fox_cub_urbex]

this isn’t the kingsway tram tunnel 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@BenLuis732]

Iv actually done some work in this tunnel many years ago. You did this explore justice. Thanks guys x

[@mikkoistanbul1322]

Interesting to see the “third Rail” in the Kingsway tram tunnel. Running down the middle of the track into which a probe hung out from the underneath of the tram, through a slit, and picked up electricity from the power rail down there. I remember sitting on the top deck of the tram going through the tunnel. All the time I thought we would scrape the roof. I was 11.

[@5kull571]

Is it just me or could this be made into an interesting museum ? Well done lads for uncovering this interesting find 👍

[@clangerbasher]

It always seems a wasted spaced to me.

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

​@@clangerbasherCamden council use it to store cones, barriers and the other stuff you see.

[@groovydonkey]

I really admire the lengths you go to, to visit these abandoned sites. I have always wondered what it was like on the underground tram line, as I have been passed it many times. It must really get your adrenaline going exploring these places. The other underground line was also fascinating to watch. Great video guys👍👍👍

[@johorrocks8927]

Pretty special...loved it, hope it just sits there as a time and place gone by in history.

[@frasermathers2287]

That was on a different level (if you pardon the pun 🙂). A really interesting video lads, that makes you stop and think that we don't really fully realise what's under out feet. The tram tunnel was a total surprise to me as never thought anything like that existed and it's a shame that it could not be brought back into service again. Thanks as always for taking us a long on your journey.

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

The southrn half of it _has_ been repurposed and is now the Underpass from Waterloo Bridge for all cars.

[@sharynkhan1104]

Absolutely amazing I have lived in London all my life and I never knew this was here. Thank you

[@SiDude69]

You continue to give us amazing videos. Appreciate you guys 💜

[@trudystocks3885]

You guys are so talented and so dedicated to exploring bringing your channel followers to the bridge of their pants .... amazing footage and detail ❤

[@michaelbarlow3686]

I always enjoy your videos they are well presented and a pleasure to watch. The content is very well organised as well as educational. Many thanks for all the hard work you do.

[@CJW-Media]

Brilliant video and really interesting to see the abandoned tunnels. Also love how you explain things and give us the details and information relating to your exploration. Awesome stuff :)

[@jpeg42069]

Ahhhh December 2019, the “before” times

[@philiptownsend4026]

I am subscribed. Your explorations are so different and interesting with the bonus of no added paranormal 😮

[@jesswright8279]

That was an interesting choice to come to London for. It was interesting what you said about the font used on the paperwork and your work is inspiring as ever. I am excited to see the others in the forthcoming weeks

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

10:20 The perfect image for an Urbex YT channel. Occasionally the YT algorillas' programs come up with a gift like this today prompting me to go to your channel. Nice one for once, thanks. Result! Try as I can not to blow sunshine up where the sun don't shine, I've got to give you credit for keeping the footage flowing and just adding a correction in afterwards (e.g. Kingsway tunnel film location pre~aged Union Sq. posters). As a first time viewer, was just thinking that you must be happy in your skin: it comes across in the refreshingly everyday presentation. Apols for the ramble but as a medically retired fellow Mole, it needed to be said I reckoned. Banging boys, Bravo!

[@paulzimmerman6058]

Supper excited about seeing more content. You are my favorite UK bando explorers

[@Bobrogers99]

It's remarkable to see lights still powered and functioning in some of these tunnels.

[@stephaniemcquillan1930]

Hi guys! Interesting explore! I love to see very old locations from gone by eras. Those old notices or adverts were very interesting. I love to see things like that with very old dates. See you next week!

[@Andrej_P261]

Awesome footage and places lads! Love the dupstep intro as well. Urbex + dubstep = ❤

[@stevenharris4989]

Please go to more of the London underground,fascinating

[@bobbythomas200420032]

Hi I really enjoyed that video so much and what a great exploration of an abandoned sight. Thank you for making this video.

[@MyBigMouth]

Looking at the tunnel, all I had in my mind was the Firestarter video by The Prodigy.

[@davidwebber2951]

The Kingway tram tunnel bypasses the Aldwich under ground. The opening at the other end is still visable under the north side of waterloo bridge. The hole now has a night club in it. The south end of the tunnel was filled in for a road tunnel that starts in the middle of waterloo bridge (one way),goes under the aldwich following the tram route and comes up into kingway before the station that they filmed. There were two staions on the tram tunnel, Holburn and Aldwich. Aldwich was destroyed by the building of the road tunnel. I belive that some of the signage and station furniture is at Acton museum depot.

[@AFCManUk]

That second area,,,I know you can't say where it was for security reasons, but you mentioned they closed around 20 years ago so if I had to guess, I'd have said it was the disused tunnels near Farringdon/Barbican.

[@bluesifer8238]

1800's; "Build it to last a life time" 2023; Build it to break next year."

[@markramsay6399]

Quality as always. Fascinating video. mark,

[@OLIFAB]

Fantastic explore! 👍🏻

[@reneastle8447]

To coin a phrase, "Behind every mess up is a clean up."

[@grantc8353]

This is super cool. I used to work above the Burger King in Holborn so know the area well. Cool to know that is under it all.

[@huibertlandzaat1889]

You made a nice video. Thank you for uploading.

[@Fran_SG]

Very cool!!! Thanks!!

[@amethyst7084]

Very interesting 👏🏾 I did not catch where the Lime Tunnel runs from/to...

[@szymekstormtymczasowe1730]

Great video 👍 11:56 polish beer lol

[@richards6269]

Nice work guys , the kingsway tram tunnel has been an obsession of mine for the last 20 years or so. Nice to see it being so respectfully urbexed and chronicled. The second tunnel is a mystery to me. Could anyone shed some light? Seems to be same area but just around the corner. Thought it might be part of the tunnel from holborn to aldywch but have my doubts as a few things seemed off.

[@Robslondon]

Fascinating video.

[@philiptownsend4026]

That was super. Interesting that the lights were left on. I wonder why?

[@jesswright8279]

It’s curious that so many of the places they visit which may have been abandoned for years still have power and lighting. It almost lends a creepiness to it- as if someone is saying come and look at this!

[@secondbackwaterdivide]

The rathole lights are actually on PIRs, they come on when they detect movement. A little surprising when it all lights up around you. It's still maintained by NR so it needs lighting for worker safety. The pumps to pump out the storage tunnels need regular maintenance. I think the surface-level cross-tunnel also has an access/emergency exit role for some other NR infra nearby.

[@kevgray.]

"Remember remember the 5th of November I can think of no reason why the treason and gunpowder have pot should ever be forgotten"

[@paulguise698]

Hiya Alistair, nice vlog, the London council should do something with it, I liked the advertisements, this is Choppy in Whitehaven, Cumbria, England

[@timmeekings6899]

This was a great video. Just wondered why it took so long for you to put it out?

[@wbm3085]

Some balls, fair play - creepy and dangerous

[@FrostyGaming8394]

Hi Alistair how you doing mate? Great video as always well edited and perfect background music added loved the start of the video very professional indeed definitely a different style of location abandoned underground train lines very dark and trashed with bricks and other things looks like it was used for storing things its very interesting that it was used for a film set in 2009 ashamed the underground sign and other advertising papers were all rotting away and falling apart that what happens when its in darkness and rain dripping down the metal railing on the road anyways hope I your having a good afternoon so far Alistair and keep up the great content on the channel as always as its so entertaining to watch👍

[@David_K_Booth]

The Hidden London Hangouts channel covered the history of the Kingsway tunnel a few years ago.

[@andy2e0lpa66]

Great exploration thanks for sharing this 👍

[@Tube-Shots]

really cool video and your channel looks good glad to have stumbled upon this :)

[@movieedge7370]

Fascinating video well done👍🏻

[@michailokeefeMooMoo]

Great video guys very interesting too

[@adamzieba8364]

11:56 "Dębowe Mocne" - Polish brand of beer, probably from one of many small shops serving Polish community in the UK. Did my compatriots enter that tunnel too?

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

Camden council use it to store little used but occasionally essential traffic and crowd controlling barriers, as well as other road things so it's not exactly unused. Maybe a council worker is one of your _rodacy_ or has a taste for it.

[@RawFootLettace]

The next mayor or when ever needs to seriously clean up London and they need to uncover these hidden gems that made London what it is

[@willchalloner706]

Half expected to see Artyom down there

[@dawsum11]

Are all those lights in the tunnel always kept running or did you guys find a switch?

[@Seal0626]

Always feels so weird that the lights are just left on.

[@louminati4318]

I know where there is a lost Victorian city under one of London's most famous streets.

[@m_chael2700]

Where's that ? What is it? So many questions

[@louminati4318]

Under Oxford Street.@@m_chael2700

[@Andy-From-England]

Absolute cracking video..... I love these types of videos it reminds me of a horror film where a creature killed people in the disused tunnels I bey its very spooky

[@royspearman628]

Also on these abandoned tunnels that have been abandoned for 60/70 years or more , there are new things installed such as new cables , new junction boxes and I MEAN BRAND NEW . The tunnels have not been used for 60/70 years or more and on some of these abandoned tunnels you can hear work men doing some work , what is going on , you just walk through them that's all you do , you do not ask why these lights are always on and there is work men there !! Very odd don't you think , I do .

[@FemboyEngineer]

I wonder how the power is still engaged to those fluorescent lamps?

[@FemboyEngineer]

If those lamps use ballasts, assuming the caps have worn out over the years, they pose a huge risk of phase shifting the the mains sinewave 90° behind and drawing reactive power.

[@adamzieba8364]

@@FemboyEngineer AFAIK capacitors used to compensate reactive power have polyester or similar dielectric and are quite durable in contrast to electrolytic capacitors used in consumer electronics which often cause problems after some 10 or more years.

[@Nick_80599]

Its used by Camden Council to store equipment and things for roadworks

[@Jaqintheboxoxx]

Whats the enterance and exit situation like? Is it easy to sneak out and in?

[@royspearman628]

Why is it that these abandoned tunnels have lights that look like they are always on , and they run al the way along the tunnel , why is this , are they always checked on ?

[@tamarahenderson5241]

Love

[@ps5user155]

Why are there still lights working down there? Are there still people who work in there for whatever reason?

[@jhtdc9814]

Unless I missed it, you didn’t say where the second one was?

[@secondbackwaterdivide]

Find it for yourself :) More people that go there and smash up the gates, more hidden cameras and alarms they install...

[@simulcast.stream]

Guys send me a message next time your exploring north London, I'd be so grateful if you'd take me with you. I've been wanting to explore some abandoned train lines, mansions and other buildings where I am in north london.

[@michaelward2082]

I went here twice 1980 and 2010, but did not go inside

[@willscottytv]

Lolling because Union Street and all the posters that amazed you, we're just a set for the film The Escapist about 10 years ago. Maybe you go on to say this, but I've paused just to point this out whilst I remember.

[@manlikekeylo-g242]

Yesnow

[@jappedut9009]

Why is the light still on down there ❓️

[@Azimuth8687]

Where was the second location?

[@EddersGTI]

Camden Rat Hole its called

[@captaincherie34]

​@@EddersGTI thanks

[@roomullan3050]

Are the lights left on all the time ?

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

No. P.I.R. activated or good old switches if you know where.

[@rebeccacash8322]

I thought that you can’t go in without permission

[@PatrickBijvoet]

Hoe did you get the lights on? Or are they always on? And to what end?

[@clangerbasher]

Does anybody know how long is the Kingsway Tram Tunnel? I am looking on the net but I can't find anything.

[@Buurtspoor]

The northern entrance is in southampton row and is quote visible.

[@Buurtspoor]

The southern exit is under waterloo bridge. The strand underpass was built using the southern part of the tram tunnel.

[@Buurtspoor]

There are more sites extensively detailing information on the tram tunnel.

[@clangerbasher]

@@Buurtspoor Thank you for your replies. I am looking at Google Earth now.

[@v52gc]

Look up TfL property asset register map as well

[@ronaldgoddard9644]

Where was the location of 2nd Tunnel location for shortage of carriage's , was it at Finsbury Park/Drayton Park GN & City Line?

[@secondbackwaterdivide]

Not the NCL, it is (or was) mainline.

[@ps5user155]

How wax is built in the rainy 1900s but there’s remnants of adverts there from the 1800s?

[@Reece.s]

where is this ? And how do I get in?

[@stevenharris4989]

Brilliant exploring, can you imagine if terrorist found these places

[@secondbackwaterdivide]

They know and don't care.

[@chrisandrews9300]

They should throw an underground rave down there or shoot a music videoilikw the prodigy did! Some people must live down there homeless people maybe.

[@davinci234]

NICE SITES FOR DEVELOPERS AND PENSION FUNDS INVESTORS TO BUILD HOUSING PROPERTIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@karan_gour]

Here's a shot of actual footage of a tram in the 50s in a station just like this - kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaKrgaunoLhgeNk

[@Eric-469]

Why would the lights be on? Seems a waste of power.

[@minixtvbox]

Your taxes not Boris's millions

[@Eric-469]

@@minixtvbox huh?

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

It's Camden council's central London road works stuff overflow and as such is maintained in reasonable working order Until you venture right or left at the southern end through little doors which is when it all gets that bit more exciting and abandoned...

[@josephcroft4268]

what a waste of electricity all those lights on 24/7

[@davidstone408]

Lights are in the Kingsway Tram Tunnel - which London Transport Museum has actual tours, do not know if the lights are on for security reasons or if these guys turned them on. A video cannot replace the atmosphere of this place, and properly trained tour guides.

[@urban_fox_cub_urbex]

And you still haven’t done kingsway bunker 🤣🤣 1-0 hahaah

[@Danielllims]

Every one bean in their bud not rocket scence

[@Danielllims]

😅

[@robbiebrooksbank7993]

At least you guys will need to go if there should be a nuclear holocaust lol

[@paulhawthorne2960]

Perfect place for dinghy diver's

[@minixtvbox]

Perfect for Brexiteers to take back control

[@uingaeoc3905]

I have down voted you and won't be Subscribing - you did not provide the most minimum information about Kingsway, which has in part been repurposed as the 'Strand Underpass' for cars and single decker buses. You did not even indicate the location of the Lime Tunnel and you did not provide even a rudimentary map of either route. VERY AMATEURISH.

[@samu_el_pack]

Wow handsome