In article , Roland Perry
writes
Down Street is nearer,
[...]
But does it benefit from a usable platform?

There are stub platforms, perhaps 4m long, on each line. If a train (in
either direction) stopped at the old starter signal as if it was
stopping at the station, you can enter the driver's cab from the stub
platform.

I've done this myself from the eastbound stub platform; it appears in
_Neverwhere_ if you have a copy.

--
Clive D.W. Feather | Home:
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In article . com,
Mizter T writes
However I wonder whether it is true. If you take a look at the
Victoria line's route as marked on the central London bus map

That is not an accurate map of tube lines.

I happen to possess a map which claims to show tube line routes under
the streets; this is accurate for every place I've been able to check
separately.

It shows the line running almost exactly southwards (but actually in a
very shallow curve) - and so diagonally across the street pattern - to
Green Park station, crossing Piccadilly at the intersection with
Berkeley Street. Continuing the curve, it crosses The Queen's Walk and
runs round to reach the Mall where it narrows just east of the Queen
Victoria Memorial. It then makes a sharp right turn to run just east of
the first bit of Buckingham Gate, crosses Birdcage Walk, and takes
almost a straight line to the northwest corner of Victoria station,
running under Stag Place among other things. There is a door on the
north side of Palace Street showing where it crosses that.

From Victoria the line takes a wide sweep round to the left, crossing
Belgrave Road at Hugh Street, running under Eccleston Square, crossing
Belgrave Road again at Charlwood Street, then turns slightly right to
run under Tachbrook Street and then left again into Pimlico station on
the north side of Bessborough Street. It then crosses the river just
upstream of Vauxhall Bridge.

This pattern of turns ought to be confirmable to anyone who rides the
train.

--
Clive D.W. Feather | Home:
Tel: +44 20 8495 6138 (work) | Web: http://www.davros.org
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In message
Jock Mackirdy wrote:

In article , Graeme Wall wrote:
In message
"Nick Pedley" wrote:


"Graeme Wall" wrote in message
...
As to the story of evacuating the Royal Family in an emergency there
are two runways in Central London capable of taking an aircraft of
the Queens Flight assuming the latter still exists.

Why waste time driving to one of these spots which would need some
preparation when a helicopter based in your back garden can get you
further away in the same time?

The plans I'm talking about were drawn up on the early 1950s when
helicopters were small and unreliable.

The helicopters in "Whirlybirds" seemed reliable enough, just a bit on the
small side. My Whirlybirds trumps your Thunderbirds - real people vs.
Puppets.


You are definitely giving your age away! IIRC Whirlybirds was late 50s and
the machines used were Bell 47G 2 seaters (includes pilot, paint first before
assembly). Similar machine to the Sioux used in MASH.

--
Graeme Wall
This address is not read, substitute trains for rail.
Transport Miscellany at http://www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail/index.html

"Graeme Wall" wrote in message


You are definitely giving your age away! IIRC Whirlybirds was late
50s and the machines used were Bell 47G 2 seaters (includes pilot,
paint first before assembly). Similar machine to the Sioux used in
MASH.

I've travelled in a Bell 47G as the THIRD person, hanging out on the
right-hand side (no door of course). It was in the Blue Mountains near
Sydney, on a pleasure flight en route to travel on the great zig zag
railway. http://www.zigzagrailway.com.au/

In message
"Recliner" wrote:

"Graeme Wall" wrote in message


You are definitely giving your age away! IIRC Whirlybirds was late
50s and the machines used were Bell 47G 2 seaters (includes pilot,
paint first before assembly). Similar machine to the Sioux used in
MASH.

I've travelled in a Bell 47G as the THIRD person, hanging out on the
right-hand side (no door of course). It was in the Blue Mountains near
Sydney, on a pleasure flight en route to travel on the great zig zag
railway. http://www.zigzagrailway.com.au/



The 47G3 was a three seater, slightly more powerful engine and a bigger
bubble, same seat I gather.

--
Graeme Wall
This address is not read, substitute trains for rail.
Transport Miscellany at http://www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail/index.html

"Graeme Wall" wrote in message

In message
"Recliner" wrote:

"Graeme Wall" wrote in message


You are definitely giving your age away! IIRC Whirlybirds was late
50s and the machines used were Bell 47G 2 seaters (includes pilot,
paint first before assembly). Similar machine to the Sioux used in
MASH.

I've travelled in a Bell 47G as the THIRD person, hanging out on the
right-hand side (no door of course). It was in the Blue Mountains
near Sydney, on a pleasure flight en route to travel on the great
zig zag railway. http://www.zigzagrailway.com.au/



The 47G3 was a three seater, slightly more powerful engine and a
bigger bubble, same seat I gather.

The bench seat certainly was a tight fit -- my right cheek felt like it
was hanging in space. That was one flight where I made quite sure my
seat belt was done up properly!

"Brian Watson" wrote

Or perhaps it is a "just in case" escape facility?

In what conceivable circumstances would members of the Royal Family be
evacuated from Buckingham Place by *tube train*? Of all the modes of
emergency transport, that seem the least likely.

"Graeme Wall" wrote

The Mall and Hyde Park, according to Duncan Campbell in War Plan UK.

Mr Campbell (whose work I have always held in affectionate disregard) may
have been influenced by the WW2 assessments of the use of the Mall and
Rotten Row as emergency evacuation strips for the Royals in case of a German
parachute invasion. After the RAF said they were completely unsuitable due
to downdraughts and cross winds, the evacuation plan was changed to road
(Rolls Royce armoured cars, IIRC) and the Mall and lots of other roads and
open spaces were blocked to prevent glider landings.

"kytelly" wrote in message
oups.com...
On 21 Feb, 19:43, "Nick Pedley"
wrote:
"Graeme Wall" wrote in message

... As to the story of
evacuating the Royal Family in an emergency there are
two
runways in Central London capable of taking an aircraft of the Queens
Flight
assuming the latter still exists.

Why waste time driving to one of these spots which would need some
preparation when a helicopter based in your back garden can get you
further
away in the same time?
32 (The Royal) Squadron is based at Northolt with BAe 146's and HS125
bizjets while the Royal Household have their own Sikorsky S76 helicopter
to
get them around.
Where did I learn that? The Royal
Website!http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page2836.asp

Exactly. If a secret entrance ever existed to the Vic line (So in
times of crisis Her Maj could squash onto a service train and zoom
along to the safe havens of Walthamstow or Brixton?) it would have
long ago have been discarded as virtually the whole of her family seem
to be pilots and tooling around in choppers is much more their style.


Hence the Private Eye headline in the days when Phil had a Westland
Whirlwind that was painted bright red.

PE: "Lokk over there! The Duke of Edinburgh has his big red chopper out on
the lawns!".

In message , at 08:47:24 on Thu, 22
Feb 2007, Graeme Wall remarked:
The Royal family don't travel by public transport because of the
security problems it would pose.

They travel on scheduled trains these days, as well as scheduled
airlines.
--
Roland Perry