Building A Station Like A Caisson
I was at the new CrossRail station at Canary Wharf today and took these pictures.
They show the enormous concrete block of a station and the walkway, that will connect it to the area of Canada Square and its offices.
Note how the main building looks almost like one of the giant caissons used for Mulberry Harbours, that were used in the Second World War to invade Normandy.
These giant Phoenix caissons, were actually built in these docks, after they had been drained and filled with sand. They were then floated out for the invasion. I’ve actually been in several of these amazing concrete structures in The Netherlands, where they were used to fill the last gap in the dykes after the North Sea Flood of 1953. They are now a museum, dedicated to the floods and those who perished.
It’s rather strange how history is repeating itself in a similar manner. I suppose though, that the engineers know that the ground is strong enough to take the weight of the station.
It does look from this web page on the Crossrail web site, that Canary Wharf Crossrail station is going to be worth the wait until 2018, although it will be substantially complete by the end of this summer.
The highlight of spring and summer will be the tunnelling machines passing through on their way to Farringdon station.
Crossrail Is Not Just About Digging Tunnels
Crossrail in my view is a rather unique project. This report on the BBC shows an archaeological side.
Judging by the large number who turned up at the pop-up exhibition, it would appear to be money well spent.
The Emirates Air-Line Was Surprisingly Busy
There wasn’t much of a queue at the ticket desks on the Emirates Air-Line today, but you had to wait a minute or so to get on and the cabins seemed to be fairly full. Perhaps more people are doing what I do and using their Oyster cards.
I was also able to take this view of the Crossrail site at Limmo and the conveyors taking the spoil to the barges.
The Crossrail Site At Limmo
Considering the weather, the visibility wasn’t too bad.
Phyllis Is Deep Under Hyde Park, Digging Hard
This article is a good update on how the Crossrail tunnels are progressing.
There doesn’t seem to have been much protesting, so either the company has been lucky or it is doing a good job.
Victoria Has Disappeared Too!
Elizabeth went underground yesterday and by the time I got there today, it looked like Victoria had joined her, although I can’t find any news on the web. But I can’t see a TBM in this picture.
The TBMs Have Disappeared
Note the massive cranes.
Elizabeth Goes Down The Hole
The weather last night, which was dry and clear enabled CrossRail to lower the first of the pair of tunnel boring machines; Elizabeth and Victoria, into the enormous hole on the Limmo peninsular by Canning Town station.
There are some wonderful pictures here on the CrossRail site.
The pictures have a sort of Kubrickesque feel to them. You could just imagine them being used as a model for some futuristic film set.
The Crossrail Tunneling Site At Limmo Is Ready To Go
I took this picture today from the Emirates Air-Line and it shows the CrossRail tunneling site on the Limmo Peninsular by Canning Town station.
The Crossrail Tunneling Site At Limmo Is Ready To Go
You can see the two tunnel boring machines; Elizabeth and Victoria under the cranes, with in the foreground the jetty which will be used to transport the spoil to Wallasea Island.
Canning Town To The Emirates Air Line
I then walked from Canning Town station to the Emirates Air Line.
There really isn’t much to see and you can’t really get a good view of the CrossRail site and the tunnel boring machines.
Elizabeth and Victoria From Canning Town Station
I did my usual circuit today over the Emirates Air-Line and took these pictures of the twin tunnel boring machines (TBMs) from the upper-level platforms at Canning Town station.
If you want to get a good view, you haven’t much time left before they disappear underground.
Walking From Leamouth To Canning Town Station
This morning in what could be the last of the summer sun, I took a 277 bus to Leamouth and then walked to Canning Town station along Bow Creek.
The area is one of the more interesting in London, with the River Lea of which Bow Creek is part, gradually silting up and reverting to reed beds. The inside of the bend used to be the the home of the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company and now it is one of the tunnelling sites for CrossRail. The successor of the works football team of the Thames Ironwork still exists as West Ham United, but the company is long gone, deespite building many ships for the Navy and companies like P & O.
From Canning Town station, I got the DLR, the Emirates Air-Line cable-car and the Jubilee line to Canary Wharf for lunch. I suppose, I could have taken the Jubilee line from Canning Town station, but the cable-car has better views.
Thinking about the route, you could take the 277 bus from any number of places like Highbury and Islington and then go back to Central London on the Jubilee line. but on a sunny day, don’t cut out the cable-car as it gives some spectacular views.
The Anonymous Widower 