1930s map. Aldersgate Street station has since been renamed Barbican. |
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The Widened Lines are on the left and the Metropolitan Line tracks are on the right (now the Hammersmith & City line). The two sets of lines crossover on the approach to Farringdon station - the Widened Lines pass underneath the Metropolitan Line tracks. To reach the level of Farrindon station, there is quite a steep incline, as seen here (this incline caused problems later when the platform needed to be extended). The view today is drastically different: the track connecting the two lines in the middle of the photo has been removed, a large wall has been built in between the two sets of tracks, and the former goods yard (the approach area for which is on the left with cars parked on it) has had a large office development built on it. Because of the large wall built in the centre, it's not possible to show this exact view as it is today, however... Move your cursor over the above
image to see an elevated view as it was in Sep 2009. |
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Farringdon station as it was in the mid-1970s or so. The view is northward: the Widened Lines are on the left and the Metropolitan Line tracks are on the right (now the Hammersmith & City line). (Photo: Paul Hepworth. © 2015)
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Farringdon station around 1980/1981 showing preparation for the line to be taken over by Thameslink.
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The Widened Lines at Farringdon station at the southern end of the station with a northbound train arriving prior to the line being electrified for Thameslink services. The tunnel on the right of the photo leads to Snow Hill - see below for details. (Photo: Paul Hepworth. © 2015)
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 The top level photo shows the southern end of Farringdon station in 1980 or so. The track veering round to the left is en route to Barbican and Moorgate. The tunnel on the right, is the one that leads down to Snow Hill/ Ludgate Circus/ Blackfriars. It was reopened to passenger service in 1988, as part of the Thameslink services. The reverse situation now exists i.e. the Thameslink line remains in use but the Widened Lines connection to Moorgate is closed. To cope with increased passenger traffic, the platforms at Farringdon needed to be lengthened to accommodate 12-car trains. The platforms could not be extended sufficiently at the northern end due to the steep slope of the track, so they had to be extended at the southern end, seen here. The extension cut across the area used by the Moorgate tracks, so the line to Moorgate was closed. Move your cursor over the above image to view it as it was in Jan 2007. |
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 Wider angled view of the above in 2010. The tracks to Moorgate have been removed, although the curve of the platform accommodating the track has not been altered. The new platform extension to allow 12 car trains would be built in the space vacated by the track removal. There is little space for the northbound platform extension, as seen on the right of the photo - the entire building was demolished to make way for the extra platform space needed. For a dramatic transformation, move your cursor over the image to see the newly opened platform extension in Mar 2012. The new extension is in fact now treated as the main part of the Thameslink platforms - shorter trains stop at this end and not at the northern end with its narrower platforms. |
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View from Cowcross Street of the Widened Lines to Moorgate, south of Farringdon station. The train visible is parked in the sidings for the Metropolitan line.
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The Snow Hill tunnel leading down to Blackfriars from Farringdon, also had an eastern connection to Moorgate, as seen on the map at the top of this page. The quality of this photo is poor but it does show the tunnel branching off from the main one, as viewed from a passing train. (photo: 2009) |
