Down Street Underground Station

Down Street was a station on the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway (now the Piccadilly Line) in London, between Dover Street (now Green Park) and Hyde Park stations. It opened in 1907, but with relatively low passenger numbers it was closed again in 1932, and converted to act as a ventilation shaft for the Piccadilly Line.

In the build up to the Second World War, the Railway Executive Committee (REC) was established to coordinate the several British Railway Companies and protect the ability of the railways to move goods and people in the event of hostilities breaking out.  The REC needed safe,  bomb-proof premises from which to operate and eventually settled on using the empty Down Street Station corridors and platforms.  Offices, kitchens, mess rooms, dormitories and bathrooms were built (walls along the edge of the platforms separated them from the still operational tracks) and these were used from the start of the war.  The site was so successful that it continued in use until the nationalisation of the railways in 1947 when the REC was disbanded.

Today I joined a tour of the station organised by the London Transport Museum as part of its "Hidden London" programme.  Although furniture and fittings have been removed, much of the structure of REC premises still remain.  My blip shows the main lift shaft (which once housed the two passenger lifts which carried people between platform level and the street).  One of the tour guides is pointing out the pump below her which was used to pump sewage away from the REC toilets.

A fascinating and enjoyable tour.  It is also the first time that I have used in anger the low light capabilities of my 5D MkIII.  I have to say I am very happy with the results.