Derelict London - Trams
London Transport - Trams and Tramways
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Holborn, WC2 - Kingsway Tramway Tunnel
Holborn, WC2 - Kingsway Tramway Tunnel
Opened in 1906, this tram underpass originally connected a subterranean station at Holborn, and ran the length of Kingsway via a station at Aldwych before rising to the surface under Waterloo Bridge.
The original tunnel was built to carry the single deck cars then in use, but in 1930 the tunnel was closed for a period to allow alterations to be made to enable double-deck cars to be used. A new entrance was built at the northern end (pictured here) while south of High Holborn, the level of the track was lowered to give the necessary clearance. Both stations were rebuilt at the same time and finished in marble and stone with electric lighting.
The trams picked up their electricity supply through a conduit laid between the running rails. Trams were abandoned in Central London in 1952, after which street tracks were lifted, but those in the subway mostly remain in place. The subway remained unused though in 1953, London Transport used the subway to store 120 withdrawn buses and coaches in case they were needed for the Coronation. The southern section was rebuilt in the 1960s as an underpass for cars between Waterloo Bridge and the Aldwych. During the conversion Aldwych station was destroyed but Holborn tram station remains intact in an unused portion of the tunnel. Various films have been shot in the tunnel including 1998's The Avengers starring Uma Thurman & Sean Connery.
Pete Williams writes to Derelict London:
"I remember two things, regarding travelling through the Kingsway Subway, as a toddler on the top deck of a E1 tram going around the sharp, left-hand bend as the tram left the Aldwych one - way to turn into Kingsway- it seemed that the car was going to bury itself into the tunnel wall before turning sharply. The second was at the Holborn entrance- the fear that if the tram was held at a red traffic light, before turning right, that the brakes would fail and the tramcar would roll back into the tunnel."
Crossrail contractors made use of the tunnel to build an 8m-deep, 5m-wide, grout shaft below the floor of the tunnel. The grout shaft allowed engineers to pump grout deep into the ground to firm it and protect nearby buildings from any potential ground movement caused by Crossrail tunnel boring machines. This work has been completed and the tunnel remains vacant again.
These interior pics of the tunnel were taken with a very basic camera in 2003 hence the poor quality.
The original tunnel was built to carry the single deck cars then in use, but in 1930 the tunnel was closed for a period to allow alterations to be made to enable double-deck cars to be used. A new entrance was built at the northern end (pictured here) while south of High Holborn, the level of the track was lowered to give the necessary clearance. Both stations were rebuilt at the same time and finished in marble and stone with electric lighting.
The trams picked up their electricity supply through a conduit laid between the running rails. Trams were abandoned in Central London in 1952, after which street tracks were lifted, but those in the subway mostly remain in place. The subway remained unused though in 1953, London Transport used the subway to store 120 withdrawn buses and coaches in case they were needed for the Coronation. The southern section was rebuilt in the 1960s as an underpass for cars between Waterloo Bridge and the Aldwych. During the conversion Aldwych station was destroyed but Holborn tram station remains intact in an unused portion of the tunnel. Various films have been shot in the tunnel including 1998's The Avengers starring Uma Thurman & Sean Connery.
Pete Williams writes to Derelict London:
"I remember two things, regarding travelling through the Kingsway Subway, as a toddler on the top deck of a E1 tram going around the sharp, left-hand bend as the tram left the Aldwych one - way to turn into Kingsway- it seemed that the car was going to bury itself into the tunnel wall before turning sharply. The second was at the Holborn entrance- the fear that if the tram was held at a red traffic light, before turning right, that the brakes would fail and the tramcar would roll back into the tunnel."
Crossrail contractors made use of the tunnel to build an 8m-deep, 5m-wide, grout shaft below the floor of the tunnel. The grout shaft allowed engineers to pump grout deep into the ground to firm it and protect nearby buildings from any potential ground movement caused by Crossrail tunnel boring machines. This work has been completed and the tunnel remains vacant again.
These interior pics of the tunnel were taken with a very basic camera in 2003 hence the poor quality.
West Ham Tram Depot - Plaistow, E13
West Ham Tram Depot offices - Plaistow, E13 (2017)
Between 1903 and 1905, West Ham Corporation had taken over all the North Metropolitan Tramways company lines within the borough. West Ham Depot was built in 1906 as the headquarters of the West Ham tramway service with a large overhead electric car shed. The opening ceremony was carried out by Alderman A Bothwell, the mayor of West Ham.
By the time that they became the responsibility of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933, West Ham Corporation operated 134 tram cars on over 16 miles of tracks. With the demise of the tram, West Ham Depot became a trolleybus depot, operating from 1937 until 1960, and then it housed buses until around 1992 when the garage closed. It has since been demolished and replaced by housing. The office building was renamed Stephen Lawrence House and housed charity offices though that fell into dereliction and since these photographs were taken in 2017 it has been converted into flats.
By the time that they became the responsibility of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933, West Ham Corporation operated 134 tram cars on over 16 miles of tracks. With the demise of the tram, West Ham Depot became a trolleybus depot, operating from 1937 until 1960, and then it housed buses until around 1992 when the garage closed. It has since been demolished and replaced by housing. The office building was renamed Stephen Lawrence House and housed charity offices though that fell into dereliction and since these photographs were taken in 2017 it has been converted into flats.
Join the mailing list (see bottom of page) to find out about Derelict London and London's Lost Rivers guided walks as soon as tickets are released plus news on my latest books and website updates. My latest book London's Lost Music Venues is out now and more information can be found at www.londonslostmusicvenues.com.
Silvertown, E16 - Silvertown Tramway
Silvertown, E16 - Silvertown Tramway Level Crossing Facing East (2006)
This section of track formed the Eastern Counties Railway extension to N Woolwich but after the building of Victoria Dock in 1850-55 the problems posed by the railway crossing the dock entrance via a swing bridge prompted the building of a diversion line to the North of the dock. This original line was then used as a goods line from 1855 to around 1987 serving many of the local factories and known as the Silvertown Tramway.
The abandoned wooden level crossing gates on the road linking Factory Road with North Woolwich Road remained until 2007 and the rails in the road were removed by 2012. Small sections of track are still visible in front of the former entrance to Tay Wharf and in West Silvertown parallel with the flyover. A level crossing warning sign remains outside St Marks Church (aka Brick Lane Music Hall).
The abandoned wooden level crossing gates on the road linking Factory Road with North Woolwich Road remained until 2007 and the rails in the road were removed by 2012. Small sections of track are still visible in front of the former entrance to Tay Wharf and in West Silvertown parallel with the flyover. A level crossing warning sign remains outside St Marks Church (aka Brick Lane Music Hall).
Silvertown, E16 - Silvertown Tramway Level Crossing Facing West (2006)
North Greenwich, SE10 - Tramway Telephone Cabinet
North Greenwich, SE10 - Tramway Telephone Cabinet (2003)
This traction telephone box has the initials L.P.T.B which stood for London Passenger Transport Board which was formed in 1933 to operate all public transport in Greater London. Tramway traction telephones were provided in these cast iron feeder pillars. The pillars had a small telephone cabinet on top, with louvred sides for better hearing of the telephone's ringer.
I stumbled upon this rare piece of street furniture in 2003 on the Blackwall Tunnel Southern Approach. I haven't seen it since and presume that it is long gone.
I stumbled upon this rare piece of street furniture in 2003 on the Blackwall Tunnel Southern Approach. I haven't seen it since and presume that it is long gone.