Caxton Curve - Central Line

[Deleted]

I cannot see why this oddity was ever needed.  Westbound trains should. logically, swing right after Shepherd's Bush to serve the next station west.  It appears that the line instead swings to the left, underneath Shepherd's Bush Green, and then right (in a semi circle) to cross the Uxbridge Road to proceed to the next station.  Can anyone explain why the CLR was built like this.  The mysterious curve seems to have no relevance to the changes that were to take place just west of Shepherd's Bush.

[Deleted]

There's loads on this, tubeprune has some good info here and Geoff Marshall does a nice job in this video.

[Deleted]

The two links are great, but neither of them seem to indicate the line curving left rather than right immediately west of Shepherd's Bush. The extent of the semi circular curve can be seen in the map on this page www.abandonedstations.org.uk/Wood_Lane_station_1.html

[norbitonflyer]

Basically, that curve was originally built as a depot access, not as a running line, and later incorporated into the terminal loop at Wood Lane, which was itself later opened out to form the extension to Ealing.

If it does indeed curve out under the Green as shown here
www.abandonedstations.org.uk/Wood_Lane_station_1.html
I assume that it was to get a straight run at Caxton Road and avoid passing under properties on the corner. (Just as a lorry turning left often has to swing out to the right to avoid the kerb)

Note that the later eastbound track completing the loop takes a more direct route, although most of it is under the CLR's own property.

[Deleted]

Aug 19, 2014 21:12:01 GMT william said:

The two links are great, but neither of them seem to indicate the line curving left rather than right immediately west of Shepherd's Bush. The extent of the semi circular curve can be seen in the map on this page www.abandonedstations.org.uk/Wood_Lane_station_1.html

Warning: Speculation.

Much has been written about the desire of the CLR to keep their line under public roads, in order to avoid having to pay compensation to the owners of buildings (public roads were not considered anybody's property, so you could tunnel under them quite happily). It seems to me, from looking at the map, that the initial left hand turn is necessary in order to make it possible to get the line under Caxton Road, otherwise the bend would be much, much too sharp, don't you think.

[programmes1]

Aug 19, 2014 20:31:32 GMT william said:

I cannot see why this oddity was ever needed.  Westbound trains should. logically, swing right after Shepherd's Bush to serve the next station west.  It appears that the line instead swings to the left, underneath Shepherd's Bush Green, and then right (in a semi circle) to cross the Uxbridge Road to proceed to the next station.  Can anyone explain why the CLR was built like this.  The mysterious curve seems to have no relevance to the changes that were to take place just west of Shepherd's Bush.

The tunnel does not go under Shepherds Bush Green.

Here is a link but you will have to attend to view. TNA

[norbitonflyer]

Aug 20, 2014 6:31:31 GMT programmes1 said:

The tunnel does not go under Shepherds Bush Green.

Here is a link but you will have to attend to view. TNA

Caveat that not all maps are completely accurate about where tunnels, or even surface railways, go
maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=white+city+station&hl=en&ll=51.513016,-0.224276&spn=0.007812,0.021136&sll=51.50941,-0.219383&sspn=0.015625,0.042272&t=m&z=16

[Chris M]

www.openstreetmap.org/#map=17/51.50586/-0.22281&layers=T is a more accurate representation.

[programmes1]

Aug 20, 2014 10:17:39 GMT norbitonflyer said:

Aug 20, 2014 6:31:31 GMT programmes1 said:

The tunnel does not go under Shepherds Bush Green.

Here is a link but you will have to attend to view. TNA

Caveat that not all maps are completely accurate about where tunnels, or even surface railways, go
maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=white+city+station&hl=en&ll=51.513016,-0.224276&spn=0.007812,0.021136&sll=51.50941,-0.219383&sspn=0.015625,0.042272&t=m&z=16

The maps at the TNA are very accurate they show cross passages and various other links and were used by LT the only lines not there is the Victoria & Jubilee lines.

I have seen them they are similar to plans at the HLRO which are the deposited plans.

[programmes1]

Aug 20, 2014 10:57:11 GMT Chris M said:

www.openstreetmap.org/#map=17/51.50586/-0.22281&layers=T is a more accurate representation.

Chris yes much better than google.

[norbitonflyer]

Certainly accurately shows the infamous not-under-the-street section here
www.openstreetmap.org/#map=18/51.53008/-0.08776&layers=T

Where this happened
www.nce.co.uk/news/geotechnical/consultation-failure-led-to-old-street-tunnel-incident/8658969.article

And at Shepherds Bush it does show the westbound line swinging slightly to the south before following Caxton Street.

Can anyone who has actually been westbound from Shepherds Bush lately report whether the train actually does go left-then-right?

[programmes1]

Aug 20, 2014 13:54:21 GMT norbitonflyer said:

Certainly accurately shows the infamous not-under-the-street section here
www.openstreetmap.org/#map=18/51.53008/-0.08776&layers=T

Where this happened
www.nce.co.uk/news/geotechnical/consultation-failure-led-to-old-street-tunnel-incident/8658969.article

And at Shepherds Bush it does show the westbound line swinging slightly to the south before following Caxton Street.

Can anyone who has actually been westbound from Shepherds Bush lately report whether the train actually does go left-then-right?

It's all in the RAIB report.