Saturday 9 October 2010

9/10 October 1940: The London Underground on this day 70 years ago

Thirty-third day/night of the London Blitz.

At 09:00 on Wednesday 9 October 1940, a 500 kg Unexploded Bomb (UXB) was reported on a disused viaduct east of Ravenscourt Park on the joint District/Piccadilly line tracks; Piccadilly line services suspended Hammersmith to Acton Town, and District line services between Earls Court and Acton. District line services between Earls Court and West Kensington were suspended at 10:15, and at 13:15 Stamford Brook to Acton Town was single line working only.[1][2]

Also on the District line, services between East Ham and Barking were suspended at 11:35, with single line working introduced at 15:10, then normal working from 17:15.[2]

An explosion damaged the canopy at Warren Street station at 20:10.[3]

At 20:15, a train stalled between Campbell Road and Bow Road station due to debris on the track. Current off at 20:19, westbound services reversed at Whitechapel, and eastbound at Bromley-by-Bow. Current was restored at 20:53, but was off again at 20:53[4] At 20:58 a High Exlosive (HE) bomb at Eleanor Street, Bow, closed Bow Road station, although traffic was not directly affected.[1] Current was restored again at 21:13; westbound services revsersed at Bow Road, and eastbound at Bromley-by-Bow.[4]

An HE damaged the track between Ealing Common and Acton Town; services reversed at Acton Town.[4]

At 20:56, services suspended between Acton Town and Northfields due to a Delayed Action (DA) bomb, and between Acton Town and South Harrow for track inspection. Services resumed between Acton Town and Northfields at 22:17, with speed restriction between Acton Town and South Ealing. North Ealing to South Harrow services resumed at 22:40.[4]

An HE on the track between Willesden Green and Dollis Hill was reported at 21:00; trains revsersed at Wembley Park and West Hampstead.[4] At 21:08 a bomb hit the track at the Acton end of the Ealing Common Depot.[4]

At 21:32, current was off on the northbound fast and local lines between Finchley Road and Willesden Green, due to burnt cabling. Current on again and services resumed at 22:14.[4] At 10:45 a fire adjacent to the signal box at Finchley Road damaged cables. Services between Baker Street and West Hampstead resumed at 00:25 on the 10th.[4]

Services suspended between Canons Park and Stanmore at 22:58 due to a DA at Cheynes Avenue.[5]

On the Piccadilly line, services between Arnos Grove and Cockfosters were suspended at 21:08 due to a suspected DA at Southgate.[5]

HEs and DAs at Earls Court at 05:20 on the 10th, damaging the eastbound side of the station, and cables, and blocking the District line tracks.[5]

At 08:00 on the 10th, the following working conditions were reported:
Piccadilly line
Suspended Hammersmith to Acton Town.

Metropolitan line
Suspended Farringdon Street to Moorgate.

East London line
Still closed to passenger traffic.

Bakerloo line
Suspended Willesden Green to Wembley Park.

District line
Suspended Gloucester Road to Stamford Brook, single line working Stamford Brook to Acton Town - UXB Ravenscourt Park 09/10.
Shuttle service Richmond to Gunnersby.[6]

Unexploded bombs
1. Wood Lane 05/10 - interference with stabling trains, working of Central line, and operation of sub-station.[7]
[1] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - October 1940: Damage Appreciation 09-10/10/40, page 4 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/3]
[2] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD1, 06:00-18:00 09/10/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1105]
[3] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 09/10/40 to 06:00 10/10/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1105]
[4] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 09/10/40 to 06:00 10/10/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1105]
[5] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 09/10/40 to 06:00 10/10/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1105]
[6] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 10/10/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
[7] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 10/10/40, page 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]


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