In article . com, Mig wrote:
Mizter T wrote:

Was any of it really underground, as opposed to under/between
buildings, or between buildings and the Fleet river cutting?

It all depends what you mean by underground and what you take as the original
ground level. Going from Farringdon southwards you are clearly at or just below
basement level, but then so is much of the cut and cover Underground network. It
was Cardinal House whose supporting piers pierced the Snow Hill platforms. The
line then rose steeply to join the high level Holborn Viaduct route and cross
Ludgate Hill on the bridge which was subsequently removed. When BR ran a DC test
train from the Blackfriars direction into Farringdon, about 9 months before the
launch of Thameslink, I was able to catch glimpses of it between the buildings.

Going from Blackfriars to City Thameslink now, it doesn't seem to me
that the trackbed goes as far down as the adjacent Farringdon Road,
although it's difficult do judge. That is, is the "underground"
station actually higher than ground level, depending on which road you
take the ground to be level with?

Bearing in mind that the lid of the City Thameslink tunnel has buildings sitting
on it (and ISTR seeing the lid was below the level of Farringdon Road), I think
the line is virtually level from Farringdon to the start of the "new" incline and
the relocated bridge over Queen Victoria Street. Modern street levels are no real
guide, since Farringdon Road sits on top of the Fleet River and the area around
Smithfield Market has been heavily modified over time.

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Jock Mackirdy
Bedford