Morning all,
I was lucky enough to bag myself a ticket last September for a tour in Feb this year to this abandoned tube station, closed 1994.
History from google,
Aldwych is a closed station on the London Underground, located in the City of Westminster in Central London. It was opened in 1907 with the name Strand, after the street on which it is located, and was the terminus of the short Piccadilly line branch from Holborn that was a relic of the merger of two railway schemes. The station building is close to the Strand's junction with Surrey Street, near Aldwych. During its lifetime, the branch was the subject of a number of unrealised extension proposals that would have seen the tunnels through the station extended southwards, usually to Waterloo.
Served mostly by a shuttle train and suffering from low passenger numbers, the station and branch were considered for closure several times. Service was offered only during weekday peak hours from 1962 and finally discontinued altogether in 1994, when the cost of replacing the lifts was considered too high for the income generated.
Disused parts of the station and the running tunnels were used during both world wars to shelter artworks from London's public galleries and museums from bombing. The station has long been popular as a filming location and has appeared as itself and as other London Underground stations in a number of films. In recognition of its historical significance, the station is a Grade II listed building.
After looking at photos of this place, which seems like forever, i couldnt wait to actually go down there myself. Yes, you go down with around 30 people, but i made sure to hang back to take the photos i wanted, and the staff there were ok with that.
On with the pics:
1. The original lifts, one of the reasons it actually closed
Aldwych Station by Dirty Jigsaw, on Flickr
2.Inside the lift
Aldwych Station by Dirty Jigsaw, on Flickr
3. At the bottom of the staircase
Aldwych Station by Dirty Jigsaw, on Flickr
4. One of the old walkways to the platform
Aldwych Station by Dirty Jigsaw, on Flickr
5. Decay
Aldwych Station by Dirty Jigsaw, on Flickr
6. Aldwych Station sign
Aldwych Station by Dirty Jigsaw, on Flickr
7. Tunnel towards Holborn
Aldwych Station by Dirty Jigsaw, on Flickr
8. Dead end
Aldwych Station by Dirty Jigsaw, on Flickr
9. Orignal track from 1907
Aldwych Station by Dirty Jigsaw, on Flickr
10. Underground
Aldwych Station by Dirty Jigsaw, on Flickr
11. Inside the carriage
Aldwych Station by Dirty Jigsaw, on Flickr
12.That famous corridor
Aldwych Station by Dirty Jigsaw, on Flickr
13. Way out
Aldwych Station by Dirty Jigsaw, on Flickr
Thanks for looking in. I really enjoyed my hour down there, and i look forward to the next one (I got Charing Cross tour in April)
DJ
I was lucky enough to bag myself a ticket last September for a tour in Feb this year to this abandoned tube station, closed 1994.
History from google,
Aldwych is a closed station on the London Underground, located in the City of Westminster in Central London. It was opened in 1907 with the name Strand, after the street on which it is located, and was the terminus of the short Piccadilly line branch from Holborn that was a relic of the merger of two railway schemes. The station building is close to the Strand's junction with Surrey Street, near Aldwych. During its lifetime, the branch was the subject of a number of unrealised extension proposals that would have seen the tunnels through the station extended southwards, usually to Waterloo.
Served mostly by a shuttle train and suffering from low passenger numbers, the station and branch were considered for closure several times. Service was offered only during weekday peak hours from 1962 and finally discontinued altogether in 1994, when the cost of replacing the lifts was considered too high for the income generated.
Disused parts of the station and the running tunnels were used during both world wars to shelter artworks from London's public galleries and museums from bombing. The station has long been popular as a filming location and has appeared as itself and as other London Underground stations in a number of films. In recognition of its historical significance, the station is a Grade II listed building.
After looking at photos of this place, which seems like forever, i couldnt wait to actually go down there myself. Yes, you go down with around 30 people, but i made sure to hang back to take the photos i wanted, and the staff there were ok with that.
On with the pics:
1. The original lifts, one of the reasons it actually closed
2.Inside the lift
3. At the bottom of the staircase
4. One of the old walkways to the platform
5. Decay
6. Aldwych Station sign
7. Tunnel towards Holborn
8. Dead end
9. Orignal track from 1907
10. Underground
11. Inside the carriage
12.That famous corridor
13. Way out
Thanks for looking in. I really enjoyed my hour down there, and i look forward to the next one (I got Charing Cross tour in April)
DJ
