In message . com,
" writes

Is there a website which includes details of "odd" stretches of the LU
network not normally used for passenger carrying journeys? I'm
thinking mainly about connecting links between different "lines". Are
any of these quite lengthy? Would most drivers working Line "X" and
Line "Y" be trained to work over a connecting line between the two? Is
the link from the District Line to the East London Line just a short
tunnel section with double-track?

I don't know of any specific websites offhand but Tubeprune is likely to
have something. I have a copy of the 2002 London Transport Quail map
which shows all the track plans for LU, hence these links. I obtained
it from the London(s) Transport Museum some time ago, I don't know if
they still sell them though.

There are only a few specific links on LU as most lines have some common
sections (ie. Hammersmith Hanger Lane Junction for the
District/Piccadilly) and transfers can be done easily over these. The
only ones I can think of a

East London District over St. Mary's Curve.
Victoria Piccadilly over the crossover just south of Finsbury Park.
Northern Piccadilly via the Kings Cross Loop (a short tunnel from
Kings Cross (Northern Northbound) to Kings Cross (Piccadilly Eastbound).
CentralMetropolitan/Piccadilly at Ruislip depot. (You can also get
from the CentralDistrict at Ealing Broadway, but this has been disused
for many years, I tink since Central line ATO, and I'm not sure if it's
deemed available any more)
BakerlooJubilee at Baker Street, although as the Bakerloo and Jubilee
used to be the same line once upon a time I'm not sure this counts as a
special link.

With these, it is possible to get from any part of the Underground to
any other part, albeit by some very convoluted routes in some cases.

All 'normal' Underground drivers are allocated to one depot and only
work the line that depot services. Any driver transferring from line X
to line Y would be deemed to have lost their knowledge of line X after 6
months, although within that time they could technically drive both
lines if their line X licence hasn't been withdrawn on transfer. The
only exception to this I can think of is the East London line where the
drivers also 'know' the road to Neasden for stock transfers there for
maintenance. This will stop from the end of the year anyway.

There are a number of Engineering train drivers who drive those little
yellow slug loco things on engineering trains who are required to have
knowledge of the whole combine. There are also a small number of test
train drivers who know everything as they are trained on al stocks on
all lines. They don't get out much as they spend all their lives on
refresher courses!

St. Mary's Curve is indeed double track but due to the sharp curves, the
signalling has been modified to only allow one train in the section at
any one time due to the possibility of trains touching each other.
--
Steve Fitzgerald has now left the building.
You will find him in London's Docklands, E16, UK
(please use the reply to address for email)