The History of the Heathrow Branch
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- Опубліковано 9 вер 2024
- It's time to take a trip out west and discover the history of the Piccadilly Line to Heathrow - the line has seen station name changes, and has abandoned stations too!
It was originally built as the District Line as far as Hounslow, so here's a historical run down with some nice animated graphics of how it all came together.
Note: This is a reupload! It was originally published in 2020 - when it was a sponsored video. The sponsored portion has now been removed, and I've added in a NEW section where I walk along an old alignment of the Piccadilly Line.
Note: This is a reupload! It was originally published in 2020 - when it was a sponsored video. The sponsored portion has now been removed, and I've added in a NEW section where I walk along an old alignment of the Piccadilly Line.
Thought I’d seen this before 😂
Thought it would've been to do with the end of the line video but okay
Thanks for letting us know was thinking I'm sure seen this
And even used the same (or at least identical) jacket as the original video! 👀
(Compare the added walk section and the bit discussing the renaming of the Hounslows.)
Cool
When Heathrow was opened by the Queen in 1977, my mate's dad worked for the Underground. Apparently the platform indicator boards were installed at the last minute. He was told that on the morning of the Queen's visit when they were switched on the letters were all upside-down. Quick panic to fix them.
I know they are not a new feature of your videos, Geoff, but I love the animated maps giving it all historical and geographical context (and I know a lot of work goes into doing those!).
And the only part of the Underground where you can travel through ten stations all beginning with the letter H!
Hounslow East
Hounslow Central
Hounslow West
Hatton Cross
Heathrow Terminal 4
Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3
Hatton Cross again
Hounslow West again
Hounslow Central again
Hounslow East again!
The path at 2:07 I've been past it several times over the years and I never knew it was a curve of old track that used to run there thank you very much for this fact.
I'm not a Londoner, I'm not even English, but enjoy the content. Shows the approach Victorian designers had on our infrastructure - thinking of Glasgow and its 100+ stations too.
Same. it is so much more interesting than what my country has. The Amsterdam Metro is rather boring in comparison.
Don't worry about not being English, London is very different from the rest of England. There's a reason why London has its own Devolved Parliament/Assembly seperate from England, same as Wales or Scotland. It is distinct from England, even if officially lying within it. If England were ever to get its own autonomy and parliament like Scotland, it would not be located in London.
@@BhagwantRai654 lol - I'm not worried at all, I'm a Scot, so being English is the least of my worries :) Sorry that you took my posting a little too seriously.
@@misterjeffa2128 yeah, just like the Clockwork Orange ... tho' that does have its history etc..
There's a lot hidden in Edinburgh and Glasgow that is massively undersold to the tourist market, both are presented as grey and grey cities, there is so much more....... best wishes John Perth Australia
Just to clarify, while the shopping trolleys may be occasional, the planes are extremely frequent. This is Hounslow after all!
Wow. I never knew you could scavenge planes from all over Hounslow. Lol
@@Jimmy_Jones they are just everywhere. Especially those of the paper type.
@@sirBrouwer The paper type don't proliferate the way the aluminium and steel ones do, I prefer the paper type they are much quieter.......... ;)
@@beachbum4691 I don't agree. Those aluminium and steel versions tend to stick to one location when dropped. The paper once keep russeling around in the wind.
@@sirBrouwer "Ah' you noticed," you weren't supposed to notice. ;)
A little extra information about Hounslow West station. The original wooden buffers are still in place just below where the ticket hall meets the new walkway to the platforms. On the approach to Hounslow West from Hounslow Central is a special signal to prevent surface stock trains entering the tunnel. Tubes filled with fluid will break on impact triggering an approach signal to danger with the associated train stop being raised. Surface stock (D or S class) can be run to Hounslow Central to then reverse back eastbound. Finally at Hounslow West the wheel chair lift that gives the station its step free status is effectively like a Stannah stair lift but with a flat platform for manual wheel chairs only. It’s also excruciatingly slow 😁
Similar to that on the Piccadilly line where it dives underground after Barons Court.
@@chemistmanuk Yes, that makes sense. I seem to remember I was told the fluid in the tubes was mercury. Most likely so it didn't freeze.
At some point in history, after the opening of the Heathrow extension, a London Transport executive was quoted as saying that his greatest regret was not having the tunnels made large enough for District line trains.
Just one more small incident in the nefarious and cackhanded evolution of Europe's biggest environmental crime: LHR.
In the 1970's I worked for a consultancy working on the design for this link, being a Met user I could not understand why very small trains were proposed for a line that would have to take a large amount of luggage not to mention rush hour passengers.
I recommend the option to run Met size trains with the option to run through to the London rail terminals.(The track-way and yard at Hammersmith (Grove Rd) was still in existence at that time however a new bridge would have bene needed.)
I was told
(1.) The "Airport Rush hour" was at a different time to that of commuters, so no problem with space.
(2.) That the Met had so many small "insignificant" stations that journey times would be too long.
Having traversed from the Hammersmith Met station to the District/Piccadilly Station AGAINST the flow of the incoming commuters I could not believe my ears.
Every time I go to Hammersmith I think of this tribal lost opportunity and all the poor buggers that have to cross the road when they could have just run through..
As a tourist to London, the Piccadilly line was awesome to get from Vauxhall up to Green Park and then out to Heathrow. We took it at 5 in the morning with almost no one on board. Coming from the states were we have to drive everywhere, the ability to hop on a train and get around was and still is magical to me
Reupload or not, always a delight to see a new video. So much history about the greatest underground in the world! Always a pleasure to watch and listen to! Great Geoff!
This is my area of London Geoff. Thank you for bringing the wonderful history of west London to UA-cam. I love your work.
My area too west London
West London and the links between London and the airport at Heathrow are of special consequence, vast numbers of people worked at Heathrow as I did in the age of comets 1960s 70s. Millions of tourists need to know as much as possible about those tube links........( and me something about this Oyster card?) For 50 years now; living in Perth Australia, Best wishes John
You know you're in a rough part of town when there's shopping trolleys flying overhead!
Used to work at Hounslow Central when I was in England on the traditional Aussie working holiday. Then saw it again in 'Bend It Like Beckham'!
Thanks Geoff. When I went to the UK (London) in 1978, I got a souvenir Underground miniature “Tube Station Tile” of Heathrow Central, before it was renamed. I still have this.
Sure, naming the stations after the terminals they serve is handy for non-Londoners and foreign travellers.
But „Heathrow Central“ can‘t be beaten way ahead on the coolness scale.
Nice video Geoff. I live in Hounslow and found your walk on the old alignment to what is now the bus garage interesting. 😉
I live in Hounslow! I had no idea the bus station was an old tube station! Always wondered why it looked like one!
Pretty certain its not the same building. The bus station is 60s.
Don't forget you can save £2 each time you travel from central London to Heathrow by getting off and back on at Hatton Cross. Quite useful if you're staying at a Heathrow hotel when visiting central London and doing the journey lots of times.
If you look at a picture of the old Hounslow Town station you would see that it is on an elevated level compared to the streets because it was originally intended that the line be extended over Hounslow High Street to the LSWR line between Hounslow and Isleworth.
Excellent video! Adding to the fine details you have mentioned, I believe the roof of Hatton Cross Station is especially reinforced to withstand the impact of an aircraft accidentally crashing onto it!
Excellent! I’ve travelled that route many times flying in and out of Heathrow. Great to see the history behind it! Cheers Geoff!
No bin liners in the holder rings at the car park. Surprised you missed that bit! Good update thanks.
Thanks Geoff. FYI before Hatton Cross opened travellers to Heathrow in the late 1960s (when I began my early flying) would take the Piccadilly Line to Hounslow West. From there TfL provided a frequent spacial bus link to the Heathrow terminals (those which were open in those days).
One could also get an RFA bus later RMA from the BEA/BOAC (BA) West London Terminal to the Heathrow bus station and terminals 1 (BEA) and 3 (BOAC and other Long haul). Terminal 2 being for other European Airlines. One didn't have to be flying with BEA/BOAC or later BA but then had to pay. Still cheaper than a Taxi. Those flying with the company(s) had their baggage checked in and could forget about it until reclaim at destination.
@@tonys1636 Indeed. When they were operating I used both the BOAC bus and the BEA one. Yes checked luggage was a boon.
TfL didn't exist in the 1960s - it was good old London Transport!
@@CaseyJonesNumber1 My mistake. But those bus transfers did run frequently from Hounslow West.
I'm fascinated by all this, I'm a Londoner but living in Wrexham, NE Wales, I was at Hounslow bus station a few years ago having arrived there via the 281 bus from Tolworth.
Would use 281 or 33 going to school in Hounslow
4.51 minutes in is a great shot. The juxtaposition of what was, and what now is, is fascinating, Ta Chuck.
I always enjoy a trip on the Heathrow Branch. My Mother used to work at the airport and in 1986 when the loop opened she was invited to travel on an employers of the airport special around the loop.
The triplicated BOAC emblem on the station pillar at 6:21 touched my nostalgia nerve big time.
Honestly i love your channel. Its so fascinating cause i feel like im learning while also watching these. Keep up the great work Geoff.
A great bit of history on a lovely line. When visiting from Australia, I tend to stay at Premier Inn Terminal 4 which means many trips to Central London on the Piccadilly Line (or 81 to Hounslow West then H98 Bus from Hounslow West to Hammersmith when there are delays)
That's really funny. I just arrived at Heathrow two hours ago and took the Piccadilly line into town. Maybe I was on that train when the video came live.
Thanks Geoff, for all the videos. They gave me the idea to visit London again... What I am doing right now.
Excellent video! That sound near the ending of the Piccadilly line airbrake will never not remind me of childhood… ill be sad to see them go very soon!
A brilliant branch of hidden history. Thank you!
Nicely done Geoff and i've enjoyed watching your latest video!
Very interesting history of the Heathrow branch.
Interestingly, you can see in the closing shots that the DMI still displays T 1, 2 & 3 despite the station being renamed.
I think it's still announced as 1,2,3 on the trains, there's a lot that hasn't been updated since T1 closed.
Fantastic information as always Geoff 👍🏻
Now that Reading is served by TfL we need a direct rail/tube link from Reading to Heathrow.
Even after Hatton Cross opened the express bus to Heathrow (route A1) continued to run from Hounslow West, as this was actually a shorter journey (Hatton Cross is on the opposite side of the Airport to the entrance to the road tunnel that gives access to Terminals (1,) 2 and 3 )
Ah, that explains why I have this memory of getting the bus to the airport from Hounslow West in the late 70s, before Heathrow Airport station was opened in 1977 but well after Hatton Cross had been opened in July 1975. A look at a tube map of the time shows a note below Hounslow West telling you to change there for the airport bus.
I have a vague memory of the original upload (blame it on the early stages of pandemic) but nice to know there’s a bookshop in Osterley.
In his biography, Phil Collins discusses quite extensively how growing up "at the end of the line" in Hounslow shaped him. He rode the tube on a daily basis as a teen (traveling to stage school in Acton and to perform on the West End). That was before the extension.
Cheers Geoff, thanks. I'm old enough to remember taking District Line trains from South Ealing into town when I was at school. You didn't mention the substantial depot at Northfields (when was it built?) and the fact that the line has four tracks between Acton Town and Northfields, which looks like the continuation of the layout between Acton Town and Hammersmith. One more thing, I seem to remember a section of the track between South Ealing and the Acton Town junction was fitted with water jets. It was used for braking tests, if I remember right.
Keep up the amazing work Geoff Marshall
I'm fairly sure the westward link that you mention from Hounslow Town Station from 1905 or so never existed.. The Houses it would have gone through were already there in 1903 according to one of the houses on Cecil road and there's the former Duke Of Cambridge Pub which was there in 1896 according to the OS maps on National Libraries Scotland, sheet Middlesex XX.7 btw. All of the maps from around that time do show the bit you walked along though.
Very detailed history - thanks. Particularly liked the animated maps - perhaps you could explain maps to Jago next time you see him?
Thank you for sharing this video that was very interesting and great information.
Thanks, Geoff. Terrific!
Absolutely love travelling on the Tube to and from Heathrow woohoo ❤
I wonder if some future blogger will be putting this video, as cuts, into some story about how transport used to run on rails attached to the ground in the olden days. Geoff's work may live on.
I love your videos Geoff! I loyally watch every one over and over again! Keep up the good work!
I can understand why the old Hounslow Town was eliminated. It seems like a hassle to back in and out of the station. At least it left some space for the bus garage.
Excellent video! This is a fascinating part of the tube!
your videos are very soothing and great to watch after coming in from a day a work(busy, noisy and dirty metal work workshop) thanks
I love central line piccadilly line and northern line
Love your videos Geoff 😊
Loved your vids geoff
The car park at Hounslow West is due to see residential redevelopment over the new few years. Not sure how the pedestrian passageway will be worked into the new design though.
When I worked for BA in the 90s we always wondered why the section from T4 to T1,2,3 took so long. We reckoned you could sprint from T4 to T3 faster than the Piccadilly line, ignoring the obvious problems of security and 747s.
I do believe that there are Tube Challengers who have practiced that route. I didn't because I couldn't run when I did mine
The reason why T4-T2,3 is so long is because Heathrow was planning to build a 5th terminal while the Piccadilly Line was planning on an extension to Heathrow. Originally the terminal was supposed to be south of runway 27L/09R so they built the loop so that there was this long straight section where they could put a station later on, with all terminals served by the same loop of track. But the airport realised that they needed to build a bigger terminal than the one planned, one that wouldn't fit where they originally wanted it, so they moved it to the west where it is now. So now the loop is a bit longer than it needs to be.
@@theflyingcoconut4058 Thanks for the info. Glad we weren't imagining it. TBH when you're sat on it it felt like it was taking a detour all the way to Slough!
Love Part 2s of any video😊
Very interesting. Thank you
i always assumed that the covered walkway at Hounslow East was something left over from WW2, as it has the vibe of an old nissen hut!
You mean Hounslow West, not Hounslow East... 😉
@@CaseyJonesNumber1 absolutely correct, my mistake!
I thought I’d seen this before - still good to see again :)
This version of the video is much better than the original
Sorry Geoff but it will always be Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3 for me. Because it is named as such on the station platform, the dot matrix displays and the carriage announcements. Until that changes I won't be calling it anything else
Hounslow Means Hounslow!
HOUNSLOW FOR HOUNSLOTHIANS!
Three times I've gone onto piccadilly not knowing to get out at Acton Town, going two stops too far, having to go back to Acton town and either switch trains or take a taxi. (Picadilly doesn't go straight to Heathrow like some people tell you). Announcements on the train don't mention Heathrow either.
Picadilly Line does go to Heathrow, and is certainly quicker than a taxi from Acton Town. (You do need to be sure the train says Heathrow on the front, and not Rayners Lane or Uxbridge, as they turn right at Acton Town where Heathrow trains turn left)
@@norbitonflyer5625 I'll keep that in mind next time I'm there, didn't look at it when I went on them. Last time I did see the heathrow sign on the platform. Had to take the taxi to get there otherwise I was likely to miss my flight, plus I had a big package with me.
2:50 Google Earth lets you see older aerial photos of a location, there is a 1945 photo for there on it, you can see a curve in the buildings at that time for a train line, but by a 1999 photo any trace in building curve is gone.
Are you referring to the eastern curve or the western one? The western curve does not appear on OS maps from 1914 and 1915. However, it can be seen on RailMapUK.
Yay! Geoff’s found another ARW - Abandoned Railway Walk!
Thanks for adding actual captions for the Deaf
Nice video 👍 geoff
Love it!!!!! Amazing work Geoff
brilliant video
Hi Geoff, how are you ? I hope you're ok :))
Last day, I was watching your video "All Tube Stations have fifteen floors" and I tried to find the music you have used for the video but I couldn't find it unfortunately (In the description of the video, it says only from which channel comes from the music).
It would help me if you can send me the title of the music or the link of it :)
I hope I'm not disturbing you, have a good day and take care of you 👋🙂
The question now is which station is really the end of the line? Does it count if there is a loop?
Epic Video
Nice one Geoff
Nicely done, the new bit is really interesting. It's handy that you haven't changed your hair style or gone bald since making the original video 😀
The Bus Station roundel at Hounslow has been removed since this was filmed. It is now with the London Bus Museum
Also you could've added Crossrail branch...
The Hounslow West Station reconfig was not on the same day. The old platforms closed and then a few days later the new underground ones opened as they had to retrack from the old alignment. Also worth noting that for a brief period ( a week or two) trains still terminated at the new platforms as Hatton Cross did not open at exactly the same time.
Now I am curious why it was called Mill Hill Park and no where near Mill Hill Park in NW7!!
as always brilliant story.
Think I read somewhere the other day that Hounslow west car park will have flats built on it
The lineside switchgear building just as you enter Hounslow East station going west is not in alignment with the present track as it was built on the previous alignment to Hounslow Town.
Well spotted! I think the old track must have run just east of that building, and so much of the footpath Geoff went down would not actually be along its line, but a bit further east.
Yep. For what it's worth, RailMapOnline shows the old alignment as never touching the footpath at all, staying west of it for its whole length - I expect the footpath was contemporary with the railway line, rather than replacing it. That website also shows the railway going straight through the site of the large industrial building behind the bus station, rather than along the footpath at its edge as Geoff guessed.
Seriously I love your videos
When they built the heathrow extension in the 1970s, some of the spoil from the work was used to raise the level of the old Hounslow West station, to the level the car park sits at today. Mind you, it does make you wonder why they couldn't have brought the new platforms closer to the old station site, instead of the long walkway!
The alignment was wrong as the platforms arrived at Hounslow West at 90 degrees to the main road. The new alignment continued the line straight and then passed under the Bath Rd and ran alongside the South side. I used to play on the site while it was being constructed.
If the District Line went to Heathrow I will eat my hat. (I think you meant Hounslow) ( though Hounslow Heath has the Row Heath Row was named after (used be two words on some old maps (not LT/Tube ones apart from poss some bus maps ?)
Correct - it only ran to Hounslow West. As Geoff said, the extension was not built until 15 years after the District stopped serving that branch 9and District trains are too big to fit in the tunnels west of Hounslow anyway)
As always, it is a very nice video.
LOL I WAS WATCHING THE ORIGINAL AN HOUR AGO
What's going to happen to Heathrow terminal 1? Redevelopment? Parking? What?
It's been merged into an enlarged terminal 2.
@@LynxEE20 Interesting. Wonder why it's still called 2. Couild deserve a different name.
Interesting
4:24 CAR PARK! My bingo card is going to be so happy.
Almost a "two Geoff's" there. In 10 years time maybe you could walk into your old videos alongside your past self, and give updates or something like that...
Near the end of the video you can see that the departure boards at Hatton Cross are still showing as "Heathrow T1,2,3" (so still listing terminal 1).
And btw that shot was taken in 2020, so who knows what happens now.
Nice video 👍👍👍👍
I think Hatton Cross and the rebuilt Hounslow West deserve a video in themselves because they were a real advance in platform design on the Underground at that time (although Gants Hill was similarly so back in the day).
I was a bit surprised that we didn't actually get to see any of the Heathrow stations, was that a security restriction?
When’s a Stanmore episode coming for the Jubilee Line?
I am hoping Geoff demonstrates the comedy step free route from the platform to street level which takes you on a massive diversion via the train sidings and the car park! I used to hate that painful hike when my leg was in plaster and unable to use the main stairs on my crutches.
ohh the old busy piccadilly line
Interesting history of the Heathrow branch
One oddity is that Acton Town to Northfields is four tracks
Could the shopping trolley be a left over from the huge Car Boot Sale that takes place every Sunday in Hounslow West's car park?
I feel like there should be a quiz after this....