Why Is There An Old Blackfriars Railway Bridge?

On the Thames next to Blackfriars Railway bridge there are some old red coloured columns left over from a previous bridge, when was that from then and when did it become abandoned? Here's the story and an animated timeline of the Thameslink core that explains all ...
With thanks to Dave McCormick for additional research and assistance.
If you want even more Thameslink action, you'll love AJ's video, here: The Secret History of Thameslink • The Secret History of ...

[@Deng23G]

That was an incredible amount of information in such a short video. Really interesting!

[@jonathancook4022]

Much the opposite to some videos on KZbin that are long, boring, rambling and actually contain very little information once the original text is distilled, much like this very comment that I am writing now!

[@2H80vids]

@@jonathancook4022 😂 very true.

[@crunchdata]

The abuttments look both sturdy and aesthetically appealing. Were they left in place speculatively for future use, which, as you point out, has been achieved by one, to save the cost of demolition, some other reason, or a combination of these?

[@chriskeene]

I think I heard once that they didn't want to remove the old pillars as doing so might disrupt the foundations of the bridges in use

[@OuijTube]

Would be interesting if they reused the pillars for a footbridge. The loading would be a fraction of what it used to be, but it would add another river crossing for cyclists and pedestrians

[@mitchblank]

Luigi de Guzman But the existing Blackfriars road bridge has plenty of space for pedestrians already, and is just next to it. Would a dedicated foot bridge be nicer? Sure, but that’s a lot of money to spend for a small improvement in utility/safety - hard to imagine that it would be the most cost-effective project. I could only see it happening if they wanted to give the road bridge over to cars entirely, but I suspect the surface streets feeding the bridge don’t have enough spare capacity to take good advantage of that.

[@mittfh]

@A.L Luigi de Guzman Garden Bridge v2? :D

[@velvetvioletta]

@A.L I was just thinking that they were begging to be turned into plinths as well, they just look like they should have *something* on top of them.

[@davidjames579]

@A.L They don't look unsightly. They're interesting, intriguing, and a talking point for visitors. People like having little mysteries in life. I love seeing holdovers of previous things. Clues of a once was.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Why do I feel like this is a pre-show for Secrets of Thameslink? Always been fascinated by Blackfriars because of the fact the station's a bridge and the platforms span the Thames. Interesting to learn more about it

[@SamSitar]

exactly, it should be.

[@TimEaston]

We all want this when the covid restrictions are lifted

[@ArthurTK26]

Yeseses

[@maxstarn3299]

I really want that. And secrets of the northern city line

[@partymarty1961]

The river Fleet flows underground all the way from Hapstead Heath and joins the Thames at Blackfriars bridge. You can hear it running through a drain just off Farringdon road too

[@BarneyLeith]

I used to use the Thameslink line a lot. When I first started using it, I would arrive at King's Cross from out of town and then have to cross the road and walk a bit to get to King's Cross Thameslink. How wonderful then, when the Thameslink platforms in the basement of St Pancras were opened and it was no longer necessary to risk my life crossing Pentonville Road. Even better when I could get a train direct from Stevenage to St Pancras and onwards to Blackfriars. The extended Blackfriars station is a marvel - a great improvement on how it used to be. I have often looked at the redundant pillars and wondered what had happened to the London Chatham and Dover Railway bridge that they used to support. Now I know!

[@joshtalks1611]

Geoff you're entertaining and informative. Please do keep these videos coming 😁

[@heldvomerdbeerfeld]

Hey Geoff, been there 8 times in the last few years and everytime I was wondering what these red pillars are about. Thank you for this wonderful short video. Really interesting und well done! Cheers from Vienna

[@andrewwebb3431]

What a shame they couldn't have converted it to a footbridge. It would be quite a unique feature. Then perhaps the (initially) unmitigated disaster that was the wobbly Millennium bridge wouldn't have been needed as badly

[@nicolasblume1046]

Please do Secrets of Thameslink!

[@simonjames2974]

The link from ludgate hill/blackfrirs remained in use until about 1970.the track was finally removed in September 1972.

[@simonbertioli4696]

Brilliant...not a lot of people knew that...including me..l really like these sort of layed low history...lessons. thank you..👍👏👍

[@aishyv1]

ah memories of my pre-covid commute!

[@HenrysAdventures]

I remember once hearing there was talk of using those columns to support a building over the Thames! One of those fancy ideas which came to nothing.

[@quarryfield]

Very interesting, thank you.

[@13soxs]

Another "Geoff Jem" well done Sir.....

[@Reddsoldier]

Does this mean that Thameslink could potentially have a terminus at Barbican? I could see that being really useful for Rush Hour services

[@steadydietzine5960]

The old pillars should be turned into plinths for artwork.

[@cl4re4d4ms]

But why haven't the unneeded old bridge supports been demolished now?

[@margaretrobertson2848]

My son was project manager for the New Blackfriars station, so proud of his achievements. 👌💖

[@dylannnnnnnnn]

It fell down though

[@MTBTYLERINITTT]

Bro...

[@local59_Studios]

@@dylannnnnnnnn ummm is this a reference to watch dogs leigon

[@regenjo]

Post office was a good name for the underground station since there is only one in London.

[@lawrencesimmons5093]

He he - it was near St Martins le Grand former Post Office HQ and the famous 'Postmans' Park'

[@thelorddoctor1519]

Especially if you were a tourist and looking for Post office tower

[@davidjames579]

As with Borough

[@SmR8008]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@JasperJanssen]

It was *the* Post Office. The others were other post offices.

[@RatelHBadger]

I am absolutely fascinated by the way rail is shaped in London. Lines open and close, tunnels are dug closed then reopened. It's just bizarre, to think someone who worked on the undergone as a driver 50 years ago would find so much familiar yet so much new in the same city. Can't say the same for Wellington though, one central city station, 3 main commuter lines going out. Always has been. The only real changes are the tunnels, but they have never been boarded up. Once the line is opened, it stays open it seems. Well, except for the Rimutaka Incline, that got replaced by the tunnel... but still.

[@Cadwaladr]

Interesting stuff. Near where I live in Minneapolis there's some former bridge remains too. It took me a while to figure it out, but there's one pier still in the river and one on the east bank. I found out that it was called the lower bridge, connecting 6th Ave SE to 10th Ave S, built in 1874, it was a lightweight iron deck truss bridge, and it proved not to be strong enough for motor vehicle and rail traffic and was closed in 1937, and then demolished for scrap during WWII.

[@jamesbeesley2767]

Wow - that’s 7 stations in less than a mile’s stretch of railway.

[@Drengade]

shows how busy they were

[@rogerperkins7198]

The bridge, having been widened, now bears longer 12-carriage platforms that straddle the river, giving fabulous views up and down the Thames. Fascinating video, Geoff. What a complex history!

[@brianfretwell3886]

Unfortunately in the process the station wnt down from five platforms to four. When Victoria is closed for work less trains can be diverted there and lwhen there is work on the core more trains are cancelled or terminated at London Bridge cutting connections

[@100SteveB]

This video really highlights just how long it's been since i have been to London, Holborn Viaduct station and the old bridge were still in use the last time i was there! Being from south London i used to spend a lot of time in and around London back in the 70's and 80's, but i doubt i would recognise i lot of it today.

[@johnknott6539]

I left London for California in 1981. I had a very thorough knowledge of the roads and one way systems at the time. When I go back now I can hardly get around and wonder where landmarks I used to know have gone. This fantastic and dense video explains it to me. Great effort!

[@progwolf12]

I worked in the old post office tower block for Sainsburys behind Doggett's Coat And Badge in the 1990s and I don't recognise half of the buildings there anymore.

[@lewisner]

I used to live in Victoria and I visited it ten years ago. It was unrecognisable and most of the shops I used regularly were either changed or gone completely.

[@markbowerbank9175]

Great video as ever Geoff. The reason they left the old bridge supports in place was to protect the supports of the bridge upon which Blackfriars Thameslink Station now stands. If you look, you'll see that the upstream supports are squared-off, whilst the downstream ones are streamlined. The original builders made the downstream side streamlined to stop the supports from being worn away by the incoming tide and to "encourage" river traffic to bounce off if necessary. Because the old bridge had rounded supports, the normal river current is neatly diverted around both bridges (along with any poorly piloted river traffic). If they'd demolished the old bridge supports, that would have exposed the squared-off upstream supports for the newer bridge to the river current and to river traffic. I might be wrong, but I think at one point the proposals for extending and enlarging Blackfriars Station also included building the concourse out over the river using the old LC&DR bridge supports. Apart from it being cheaper to leave the old bridge supports in place, they also serve to protect the current bridge from being worn away.

[@2H80vids]

Interesting stuff, and all perfectly logical.👍

[@sparetomato]

Thanks for this! This was exactly the answer I was looking for in the video - Why they didn't knock down the old pillars along with the bridge. Makes perfect sense now!

[@TonyLightfoot]

Traveled from Blackfriers last year. Without a doubt one of the best views of London from any railway station.

[@georgezee5173]

Last time I went back to Spain to visit my family (in February, before the Covid) I had the chance to take pictures of London's sunrise from my train at Blackfriars, in the middle of the Thames, before heading to Gatwick airport. What a view!

[@alanenglish9681]

I was only there yesterday! Was telling my partner about the old Holborn Viaduct station, as I had to sign it as a guard in the early 80's but never did work a service into there. Needless to say, she was not impressed or interested.......oh well .... I enjoyed the video!

[@LukeHarpercouk]

Blackfriars is one of my favourite stations just for that astonishing view especially during sunset

[@googlesucks7840]

And then there's Waterloo Sunset.

[@asherwerner]

I have fond memories of standing on the bridge waiting for the train home to Brighton after a long day at work, looking eastward towards the London bridge and the tower. The view makes it (for me) the best station in London. It's also very easy to get from national rail platform to underground platform even during rush hour

[@AJsDominoes]

The high production value of all your videos is epic 👍🏻👍🏻🙂

[@noahbowie5985]

I love Blackfriars station. It's so impressive and has an incredible view that's better than any other station in London. My top 5 London Termini 1- St Pancras 2- Kings Cross 3- London Bridge 4- Blackfriars 5- Paddington

[@JeSuisRene]

Where would Liverpool Street - my personal favourite - fall on your list?

[@noahbowie5985]

@@JeSuisRene 6th place. I like it but I don't love it. It's just decent on all fronts without excelling anywhere. It's good but I can't put it any higher Euston is my least favourite

[@nanuJoe1967]

Just like to point out that blackfriars maybe one of the best looking stations to be at on your list, and i agree.. but during the winter months its one of the coldest... especially during cancellations!

[@flavoursofsound]

St Pancras would be number 1 if it weren’t for the lack of toilets. The fact that there’s always a queue for the gents says it all

[@OllieTattersall]

Marylebone is my favourite London terminus. It has so much charm and feels like stepping back in time. The mezzanine section of Liverpool Street is a great vantage point, especially during rush hour. Moorgate Station, on the Great Northern line, prior to being redecorated was like being in a modern history museum. The NSE-branded tiles were fantastic. I'd be a bit concerned if Euston was anywhere higher than the bottom two of anyone's list.

[@AllThingsRailways]

Yes Geoff!! I knew in one of your old videos you told us this would be a talking point for the future! It's going to sound cliched now as a few people have commented this, but I never knew! Thank you.

[@TheOfficialJonBroFTW]

1:48 Anyone else sees the security camera dangling above the sign?

[@dshack4689]

I came here looking to see if anyone else had made this comment. Winning =)

[@cholmondley1152]

Recently Ive been trying to find out what happened to Holborn Viaduct station and got some conflicting information but your video cleared it all up and was fantastic and full of useful history. Thanks Geoff

[@2H80vids]

There's a wealth of information out there. The history of London's railways(above *and* below ground) fascinates me and I've read a good bit about the subject. If I may make a suggestion: use *books* rather than the internet, at least to start with. Once you get a basic understanding of the bits that interest you, then use the internet to try and fill in the gaps. There is some absolute rubbish on the internet but some pure gold too, including the superb "Disused Stations" website ( www.disused-stations.org.uk ) and, maybe best of all - maps.nls.uk The NLS site is waist-deep in old maps of various ages, scales, types which give *so much* information about old railways, stations, bridges etc. It takes a wee while to figure out all the features on the site, such as overlays and side-by-side maps but it's a fantastic resource. Hope something here is of some help in your research.😁

[@forthbrdge6162]

Another excellent video Geoff. As a railroad bridge engineer I appreciate the mention of the “feat of engineering” associated with the removal one viaduct and excavation of the new underground crossing in two weeks. Swapping out critical structures in relatively short periods of time is one of the most interesting challenges of the profession.

[@hesterclapp9717]

Please do more of these railway history things

[@strathtummelthedwarf5928]

It's on my morning commute and I've ALWAYS wondered - thanks Geoff

[@user-do2rj4sf8j]

Do a secrets of Thameslink video

[@LegoMiniMovies]

I’ve been there and have always wondered that. Thanks for doing this. :)

[@maxstarn3299]

Please more history videos!! Maybe one on broad street to Watford?

[@barrygower6733]

When I began working in the City, mid-60s, one colleague commuted by steam-hauled train from Hemel Hempstead to Broad Street. It was inconvenient for him when the service was re-routed to Euston.

[@maxstarn3299]

Barry Gower yeah it must’ve been that’s so inconvenient

[@LordMarkieMark]

If you want to see what the old bridge looked like here's a link from Thames News kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXeaZ6Clo5uJbZo

[@TheGroundHopper]

Why does "Black friars street" have a space in it and "blackfriars station" doesn't?

[@davidstockwell7874]

Legend mate. Hope to see your videos again soon.

[@TheGroundHopper]

@@davidstockwell7874 thanks mate

[@norbitonflyer5625]

@@Bungle2010 Black Friars Lane - runs alongside the railway north of the station on the east side.

[@donkmeister]

Similar reasons to the South Mimms / North Mymms quandary? (a guess... I have nothing to back that up).

[@TheGroundHopper]

@@norbitonflyer5625 thanks, I used to work in Central London and forgot the suffix of the name

[@webrarian]

Thanks, Geoff. You've provided the clue to a mystery I've been trying to solve on and off for years. Back in the 1960s, my grandmother pointed out the brick wall of the old St Paul's Station to me. What I couldn't remember is why. But as she was working for Ward, Lock and Co. in Salisbury Square, the light has dawned the she must have commuted up from her home in Charlton, got out of the train at St Paul's and walked to Salisbury Square. This would have been in the early 1920s, so almost a century ago.

[@king-swizzled5026]

I was at Blackfriars station just 3 hours ago and wondered why there was massive red supports, get back to Brighton and Geoff answers my question 😂 thanking you

[@HenriquPereir]

WE WANT SECRETS OF THAMESLINK

[@duckydashcam751]

Such a different image to even 40 years ago... Extremely interesting.

[@WeirdSeagul]

city Thameslink is a terrible name. they should have called it Snow Hill

[@chrisadye1590]

They could have called it Ludgate Circus, or Holborn Viaduct. Naming a station after its actual location.

[@stephenreardon2698]

Snow Hill is already the name of one of the principle stations in Birmingham. Network Rail is less keen to repeat names than its Victorian predecessors.

[@flp322]

The only remaining question then: why weren't the pillars removed?

[@def2004]

At least it can be a part of history that still exists

[@def2004]

Also nice photo profile, Yagoo best girl indeed

[@flp322]

@@def2004 Ha, nice to meet you fellow train nerd/VTuber fan :D

[@nigelkthomas9501]

Well, if they’re not in the way, and they’re not likely to fall on anything... What’s the point? Just leave them where they are.

[@DavidShepheard]

Considering they reused one of the three sets of pillars, to extend the platform, it makes sense to retain the other two, in case they want to build another extension (like maybe an external footbridge).

[@Martin_Adams184]

Thank you, Geoff. A very good video story, and a good explanation of why the bridge piers are still there. Thank you. I hope you don't mind some comments from someone who is an historian, and believes that accuracy with detail matters. There are a couple of things in the commentary that are potentially misleading. At around 1.52 you say "After the Snow Hill station renaming the tunnels through to Farringdon were no longer used and closed up"; and the way this is presented makes it appear as if all that happened in or around 1929. The passenger service through Snow Hill tunnel to Farringdon and Moorgate ceased in 1916; but the tunnel remained in use for freight until the late 1960s. Indeed, I remember standing on the South Bank in 1966, while the Queen Elizabeth Hall was being built, and seeing a freight train cross Blackfriars Bridge to enter the Snow Hill tunnel. The tunnel was completely abandoned in the early 1970s and only then was it "closed up". The main station called Holborn Viaduct was always a terminal station. The through station called Holborn Viaduct was the low-level station, formerly called Snow Hill; and it was through that station that the through trains from the south to Moorgate, Farringdon and wherever north of there ran. The high and low level stations of Holborn Viaduct were connected by stairs. So when the through services ceased, Holborn Viaduct did not "become a terminus station" - the terminal station was the only part of the two-level station still open. I'm pretty confident that I have the above details correct. If I don't, I apologise. It's all very complicated; and I well remember when it was announced that Snow Hill Tunnel would be reopened and the line used for long-distance through services. At last, some 120 years after the tunnel line was built, it would see the use that the London, Chatham and Dover Railway had envisaged. I remember thinking "At last!". But it's easy to think like that - much harder to implement. I hope you think, as I do, that the Thameslink service is a great success. And thanks for a very engaging style of presentation.

[@ianmoseley9910]

Martin Adams I have read (how true it is I do not know) that a number of Luftwaffe raids were attempts to breach/damage/destroy this tunnel because it was considered strategically importanf

[@Martin_Adams184]

@@ianmoseley9910 I don't know if that is true. But I can well believe it. Although there were plenty of alternative routes from the north to the south of the Thames, this was the most central and direct one. So it would have showed up as such on maps, which I imagine the Germans would have had in abundance. Thank you. An interesting idea. Maybe someone here on KZbin, better at the history of the Blitz, would be able to confirm or deny the truth of the story?

[@geofftech2]

Martin, hello! i don't at all mind - thank you for a great comment and taking the time to expand on the info, most welcome! did they removed the tracks in the early 70's when the tunnel was closed i wonder, or did they literally just brick it up and abandon it? it is super complicated isn't it! and there's only so much info on the internet (e.g i couldn't find any pictures of the old Snow Hill at all), which was why i tried to make it uncomplicated, but it's hard to do! now to do Part 2, explain the CIty Widened lines, and the the Hotel and York Road Curve. which i think it even more complicated! aaaaaggh! thank you hugely for taking the time to leave a helpful and informative comment - not many people on KZbin bother to do that. Geoff.

[@Martin_Adams184]

@@geofftech2 Thank you, Geoff. I appreciate the way you look at the subject as bigger than we are. You are right about the history of the Widened Lines and the two curves you mention - even more complicated. All best wishes for your forthcoming efforts on that video. The tracks were removed through the Snow Hill Tunnel in the early 1970s, some three or four years after the line was closed. I remember seeing the old Blackfriars Railway Bridge (the upstream one, with the columns you are talking about in this video) with no tracks on it, and being able to see the northern exit/entrance to the Snow Hill from the Underground trains on the Circle and Metropolitan routes. As far as I can remember the northern entrance was not bricked up. I cannot remember if the southern entrance was bricked up. There are loads of photos of the line available on three sites that I am aware of. The largest quantity, with the most detailed information, is this one: www.disused-stations.org.uk/s/snow_hill/ Notice that there are many links on that page, especially towards the bottom, and that these lead to multiple photos of the lines across many years. Also this one, similar but with different emphases: www.abandonedstations.org.uk/Thameslink.html The other site, less specifically railway oriented but interesting for all kinds of reasons is this one: www.subbrit.org.uk/sites/snow-hill-station/ In all cases, there are many links to photos - lot of them! Best wishes!

[@stephencryan291]

This is a good report as your´s usually are. If fact I would say this is probably one of the better ones. However, there is a persistance to talk non-stop, when some of us would like the occasional pause so that we can catch up with you. Keep up the good work.

[@simonk3539]

I got a river bus past the old supports yesterday and wondered why they were there. Now I know! Thanks for an informative video.

[@Mortimer50145]

I was asking on uk.railway only the other day about the history of the Snow Hill Tunnel, Holborn Viaduct, Ludgate Hill and removed bridge - what a coincidence that you do a report about it. I was surprised that the bridge was removed as recently as 1985 - I'd always thought that it had gone when Ludgate Hill station closed.

[@2H80vids]

Funny you mentioning this; I've just last night finished a chapter in a book (Commuter City: by David Wragg) about this route and the former stations.😁

[@beeble2003]

So, in summary, they built a railway and a station. Then they built a bridge and another station just across the river from the first one. And then some more railway, and another station which, for some reason was on a short branch off the through lines and just 200m north of the last one. But then they built some platforms on the through lines and gave them a different name and then renamed them to have nearly the same name as the terminus. Still with me? Right, then they built another bridge and put another station on that, and closed the first station. So there are now _four_ stations within about 200m of each other, which is about the length of an eleven-coach train so maybe the train didn't need to move and you just walked along it and got off from a different carriage. Forty years later, they closed the through lines and their station, and the second station, and renamed the last station. But then after another fifty years, they re-opened the through station with a third new name, closed the branch station, renamed the through station _again_ and that's where we are today!

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

Great video. The old viaduct to Holborn Viaduct was widely considered an eyesore as it blocked the view up the hill to St Paul's cathedral, so that second stage of the Thameslink programme where they demolished it and sent the line underground was very beneficial, creating a station on the through line to Farringdon (City Thameslink), removing an eyesore AND making BR lot of money from the land released!

[@rogerking7258]

OK, my head is still spinning from information overload, but THANK YOU SO MUCH for talking about railway stations and not train stations.

[@andyK1878]

The views down the Thames from the new Blackfriars station platforms on the bridge are spectacular - its the best station that I’ve ever used.

"City Thameslink" is the worst ever name for a railway station. They should rename it something like "Ludgate circus" or "Snow hill" instead.

[@emkav551]

I won tickets in 1988 from the local radio station in Luton to travel on thameslink when it 1st opened right through to Brighton. It was an excellent day and had a posh lunch and trip around the pavilion. I have a photograph somewhere of St Pauls that I took as we crossed the Thames.

[@Mainline421]

Secrets of the Thameslink Core?

[@deeznoots6241]

Who wasthe bastard that took the old bridge down? I wanna fight them.

[@1258-Eckhart]

The Thameslink core section has a state of the art signalling system which puts trains on a virtual conveyor belt and shifts them en bloc through the section. After a station stop, the train automatically accelerates away (without having to wait for any lights to change).

[@donsharpe5786]

Interesting. I was a Borough Polytechnic in 1969 (Became South Bank Polytechnic then University). At the time we were having lectures in buildings next to the line to Holborn Viaduct. The problem was the trains travelling to and from the station drowned out the lecturers.

[@chriswilkes236]

Please keep safe and healthy, Geoff. We cannot afford to lose you. Nice video which i enjoyed.

[@SAStarbucks]

It’s almost enough information on that line that someone could do a video called something like “Secrets of Thameslink”

[@rogerperkins7198]

The bridge also has a huge array of solar panels making it the largest solar bridge in the world, powering half the station’s electricity needs.

[@juliandixon4189]

The Snow Hill tunnels continued to be in use after 1929, they were used until the 1960s for cross London freight only being lifted in 1971.

[@pmac1245]

So, now that there are entrances to Blackfriars on both sides of the river, can one tap in on one side of the river, walk the length of the platform, and then tap out on the other side? How much would that take off your Oyster card?

[@geofftech2]

and that ... is going to be the subject of a future video!!

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

I think the tunnel is still known amongst railway staff as the 'Snow Hill tunnel'..

[@tubemapper]

Great one!

[@the_9ent]

I always wondered what they were and why they were just left in the middle of the Thames. Really appreciate all the time and work that goes into these videos.

[@alansmith3781]

what with London land prices you'd think that someone would build something on the old bridge columns.

[@grendel_nz]

Like a small lightweight pedestrian or cycle garden bridge perhaps...

[@captainmashedpotato2630]

"Stunning river views and easy commuter train access."

[@calluminglis7837]

Similar to a lot of the bridges over the clyde in Glasgow

[@mikewillis1592]

Blackfriars is now an excellent way to cross the river when it's raining, as long as you have a ticket.

[@carterfamilychannel]

What do you use for your diagrams? they are so cool

[@HenrysAdventures]

If you touch in the ticket barriers South of the River at Blackfriars walk along the platform and touch out North of the River will you be charged for making a journey?

[@norbitonflyer5625]

yes, unless you then touch in again (anywhere) within 30 minutes. You can get refunded though.

[@justvin7214]

I vaguely remember in the final book of James Herbert's 'Rats' triology that one of the pillars had an emergency entrance/exit to the government's nuclear shelter.

[@ArferNower]

Excellent..thanks Geoff, love your videos

[@ufx808]

I always thought that Holborn was pronounced Hoburn with a silent 'l' and a 'u' for an 'o'. I might have been saying it wrong for many years. Don't even start on Southwark! Interesting video, so much info I had to watch it twice. Thanks Geoff.

[@thomasdalton1508]

I pronounce it with a silent l and a schwa.

[@meijiturtle3814]

As a veteran "sarf londoner" who worked in Holborn 1960-1963, I can confirm that the accepted pronunciation is Ho burn, the L being silent.

[@ufx808]

@@meijiturtle3814 You'll have no trouble with Southwark then.👍

[@andrewmarsden1970]

Thanks Geoff. I commute between Flitwick and City Thameslink and/or Blackfriars and this information was very interesting.

[@martinnyberg8174]

They should use the other bits of the old bridge to build a bicycle bridge. Even if it couldn't support modern trains 🚊it ought to be able to support modern bikes 🚲 eh? 😀

[@martinnyberg8174]

For fun? 😁 För coming up with something to use these pillars in the middle of the river for? 🤔 Also, there is no such thing as too much bicycle infrastructure, especially not in a multi-million inhabitants city with too-many-motor-vehicles traffic problem

[@norbitonflyer5625]

@@martinnyberg8174 Blackfriars road Bridge already carries the Cycle Superhighway. Building new sans to coonnect the old bridge to the road network would be highly exensive.

[@martinnyberg8174]

@Norbiton Flyer OK, what about a bridge full of cafés and shops then? 😁👍🏼

[@tjshill82]

Watched lots of your videos Geoff. Always so interesting. Thanks and keep it up

[@IDidntSetAHandle]

I remember when some artist put a laser across them to simulate a 'light bridge' across the Thames. Something should be done with them. To me they always looked like plinths, I'm sure some appropriate artworks could be put on them. Great view from the new station.

[@mirvids5036]

"Something should be done with them". How about an open pedestrian path ? They would easily take the weight of that.

[@Stettafire]

Your sss are quite hard down the mic. Maybe your sitting too close to the microphone?

[@andrewrussack8647]

The location of the former Ludgate Hill Station is now Ludgate Cellars Substation, supplying power for the railway.

[@lewisner]

I don''t understand why they removed the old bridge though. Even if it''s not suitable for trains it could still make a useful foot crossing.

[@tarnveerbassi5786]

My top 5 London terminus stations would have to be Waterloo Blackfriars Victoria Paddington King’s Cross/St. pancras international

[@henryviii6341]

the destruction of the Viaduct over Ludgate Hill was magnificent. The old bridge being an eyesore and obstructed views to St. Paul’s. BTW old Holborn Viaduct does STILL exist. the Wine Bar under the Viaduct itself is amazing. the old arches go back 100yrds and are being opened up.

[@monsterebikes]

Hi like watching your videos there very interesting..plz could you tell me or do a video why..is there no tubes station in Hackney

[@stvdagger8074]

If your curious about what the roof of the Blackfriars railway bridge looks like, watch Mission Impossible: Fallout.

[@Broadercasting]

Your dynamic map portrayal helps enormously with a very informative video. As an aside, I find the name 'City Thameslink' very bland and non-geographical considering the larger city area. St. Pauls was a bit of a stretch. Holborn "Ho'burn" is a candidate which could be brought back, although it's maybe a little too generic for the area. Why not Fleet, or Fleet, City in memory of the river running North-South below the streets? Ludgate doesn't exactly run off the tongue. Any other candidates?

[@paulsouthgate8506]

Nice video. Don't forget although the passenger service through Snow Hill tunnel finished in 1929, the tracks remained in use for cross London freight trains until the early 70s I think.

[@lonegroover]

I used to shoot at a rifle range under one of the brdges. Very discreet.

[@transitcaptain]

How to find Ludgate Hill: On the footbridge on Apothecary Street, look on your right of the tracks and you will find a rectangular white THING. THAT is one of the platforms of Ludgate Hill. I'm not sure about this, but if I am right, then the the 2 stations are VERY close to each other.

[@kbtred51]

Accurate for passenger service but the Snow Hill tunnels were not "closed up" as they carried the freight for Smithfield and Aldersgate. Also some through freight continued into the 1970s and Rail Tour charters. Snow Hill station became an underground car-park (with boarding separating the abandoned tunnel). Total disuse was maybe 17 years, a short gap in the overall life.

[@lewisfilby2394]

I don't live in London and I don't particularly care much about trains ... but heck do I love watching your videos!

[@brianfretwell3886]

When they planned the "Garden Bridge" they should have tried to get permission to build it on those columns. That might have made it financially viable.

[@1anhunter1]

Well told. Clear and succinct. Dots the is and crosses the ts, filling in the gaps in my knowledge having used the station since 86 to get to the Daily Express building built on land sold by British Railways Sidings Lrd.

[@TheDaf95xf]

Geoff your a font of knowledge on our railways 👍🏻 Always enjoy your videos cheers Stevie 😎

[@effyleven]

I wonder if the old abutments could carry a lightweight construction... to serve as a useful cycle way across the river. "Useful" is crucial, of course. But I would have thought Blackfriars was a good spot... (?)

[@U2QuoZepplin]

It’s great isn’t it. KZbin always plays its adverts just fine but then when it comes to playing the video you actually wanted to watch it always struggles. Sort it out KZbin!! 😡😡