Monday 19 October 2015

19/20 October 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago

Forty-third day of the London Blitz.

At 11:25 on Saturday 19 October 1940, single line working between Bayswater and South Kensington due to damage at Praed Street [Paddington] station.[1]

Services suspended between Enfield West [now Oakwood] and Cockfosters from 13:10 due to an Unexploded Bomb [UXB] at No. 8 siding, Cockfosters.[1]

At 20:10 services were reversed at Northfields due to bombs in the vicinity of Boston manor station. Services resumed at 20:55 after a track inspection.[2]

At 20:40 there was a heavy explosion at Euston, with water reported to be percolating through to one of the southbound Northern line platforms.[3]

Current was off between Wimbledon Park and Wimbledon stations at 20:47; trains reversed at Wimbledon Park.[2]

District line services suspended between Barking and Mansion House at 21:15 due to bomb damage at Bow Road station.[2]

A Delayed Action (DA) bomb was reported 30 ft (9 metres) from the King William Street entrance to Bank station at 21:17.[4] The station was closed, but exit allowed via Monument station.[2]

Central line services were suspended between Wood Lane and Ealing Broadway at 21:58 due to a bomb adjacent to North Acton station.[2]

The track at Baker Street was covered in debris, and signals damaged, at 22:00.[4]

At 22:05 a High Explosive (HE) bomb on the south side of Marylebone Road damaged the District/Metropolitan line tracks.[5]

Richmond to Turnham Green suspended at 22:25 due to enemy action. Resumed Richmond to Gunnersby only at 22:55.[2]

At 22:30 Incendiary Bombs (IB) landed on the roof of the LPTB headquarters at 55 Broadway (see report of 14/15 October, here), but were dealt with by staff before any damage was caused.[4]

At 23:30 the roof of Aldgate station was on fire.[4]

At 00:03 on the 20th, an HE bomb fell in Spur Road, Waterloo, and penetrated to the Waterloo & City line depot.[6] Nos. 6 & 7 sidings were reported at 01:35 as being blocked with debris.[4]

At 02:25 the heavy steel cable of a barrage balloon was reported across the track at Goldhawk Road station.[4]

10 mph speed limit between Tower Hill and Aldgate East from 05:30 to 06:15, due to defective signals.[2]

At 08:00 on the 19th, the following working conditions were reported:
Bakerloo line
Northbound trains reversing at Queens Park.
Trafalgar Square station closed.

Central line
Suspended Ealing to Wood Lane - bomb damage at East Acton 19/10.

Piccadilly line
Suspended Wood Green to Arnos Grove.
Suspended King's Cross to Finsbury Park.
Suspended Enfield West to Cockfosters.

District line
Suspended Charing Cross [now Embankment] to Mansion House.
Suspended Upton Park to Whitechapel - bomb damage at Bow Road 19/10.

East London line
Suspended.

Metropolitan line
Suspended Farringdon to King's Cross.
Suspended Queens Road to Edgware ROad.
Single line working South Kensington to Queens Road.

Northern line
Suspended Strand [now Charing Cross] to Kennington.
Suspended Tooting Broadway to Clapham Common.
Single line working Clapham South to Clapham Common.
Suspended Hendon to Golders Green.
Shuttle service Hendon to Edgware.
Single line working Golders Green to Brent [now Brent Cross].
Camden Town station closed, interchange only.
Old Street station closed, interchange only.
Angel station closed.

Additional late information

Bomb through tunnel east of Baker Street blocking Circle line. Services suspended Queens Road [Bayswater] to Farringdon.[7]

Unexploded Bombs

Category A

1. Hendon 16/10 - all lines blocked, Hendon to Golders Green.
2. Surrey Docks 16/10.
3. New Cross Gate 16/10.

Category B

1. Woodside Park 14/10 - services suspended (2 UXBs).
2. Angel station 15/10 - UXB in forecourt of station.
3. Golders Green Depot 11/10 - trains unable to stabled in yard.
4. Cockfosters (No. 8 siding) 19/10 - services suspended Enfield West to Cockfosters.[8]

[1] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 19/10/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1105]
[2] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 19/10/40 to 06:00 20/10/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1105]
[3] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 19/10/40 to 06:00 20/10/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1105]
[4] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 19/10/40 to 06:00 20/10/40, sheet 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1105]
[5] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Damage Appreciation 19-20/10/40, page 8 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/3]
[6] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Damage Appreciation 19-20/10/40, page 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/3]
[7] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 20/10/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/4]
[8] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 20/10/40, page 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/4]


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