When the 33 from Manor House went underground

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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on November 29, 2009 at 17:10

Hugh hope you don't mind the little correction, but the Tram tunnel under Kingsway was always known by the L.C.C. (the builders), London Transport, Tram crews and tram buffs alike as the 'Kingsway Subway' and not Kingsway Tunnel.

It was built cut and cover through what had previously been one of Central London's most notorious slum areas, between Strand and Holborn, when it was redeveloped around 1905/10 and the new thoroughfares 'Aldwych' and 'Kingsway' constructed..

Only three routes ever used it: 31 Wandsworth - Leyton (Epping Forest) (withdrawn 1950), 33 West Norwood - Manor House and 35 Highgate (Archway) - Forest Hill. The last trams went through after service on the 33 and 35 finished early on the morning of 6th March 1952.

Permalink Reply by Hugh on November 29, 2009 at 17:16

What, correction by a knowledgeable London tram and bus enthusiast on a posting about a London tram. Utterly ridiculous and most offensive. Why I should write to Site Admin and have you banned!

It was something of an interesting area - not so far away was the infamous Mother Clap's Molly House. (Read more here if you've a yearning).

Permalink Reply by StephenBln on November 29, 2009 at 17:22

BTW the L.C.C. also had a plan for a similar 'Subway' between Victoria (Vauxhall Bridge Road) and Edgware Road (Harrow Road) under Park Lane (then a narrow street), in order to connect the trams from 'south of the river' that terminated at Victoria with those from Sudbury, Wembley, Finchley and Harlesden that terminated at Paddington Green.
Westminster Council had always refused applications to build an overground tram route via Marble Arch, as a tram service was considered to be 'too working class' for Westminster.

But like many other sensible public transport ideas for London, the plan came to nothing..