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Waterloo & City line facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Waterloo & City
Waterloo & City line flag box.png
Waterloo & City line 1992 stock train at Bank tube station awaiting departure towards Waterloo.
A 1992 stock Waterloo & City line train at Bank
Overview
Stations 2
Colour on map Corporate turquoise
Website tfl.gov.uk
Service
Type Rapid transit
System London Underground
Depot(s) Waterloo
Rolling stock 1992 Stock
Ridership 15.892 million (2011/12) passenger journeys
History
Opened 8 August 1898 (line opened)
1 April 1994 (transferred to London Underground)
Technical
Line length 2.37 km (1.47 mi)
Character Deep Tube
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)

The Waterloo & City line is a short underground train line in London. People sometimes call it The Drain because it runs deep underground. This line opened on 11 July 1898. It only has two stations: Waterloo and Bank. It helps many people travel between these two busy areas of London.

Building the Line

Building the Waterloo & City line was a big challenge. Workers had to dig tunnels deep under the ground. They used special tools to make the tunnels.

Digging Deep Tunnels

The line is a "Deep Tube" line. This means its tunnels are far below the surface. They are much deeper than other underground lines. Workers used a special machine called a tunnelling shield. This shield helped them dig safely through the earth.

Working with Compressed Air

Some parts of the digging needed special conditions. Workers used compressed air to keep water out of the tunnels. This was important when digging near the River Thames. An air lock helped workers go in and out of these areas.

Trains and Stations

The Waterloo & City line uses special trains. These trains are designed for the deep tunnels. The line connects two very important places in London.

The Trains Today

The trains on this line are called 1992 Stock. They are electric trains. These trains carry thousands of passengers every day. They run back and forth between Waterloo and Bank.

Waterloo Station

Waterloo station is one of London's busiest train stations. It is a major hub for trains coming from outside London. The Waterloo & City line connects these main line trains to the City of London.

Bank Station

Bank station is in the heart of the City of London. It is a very busy financial district. Many people use the Waterloo & City line to get to work here. Bank station has long moving walkways to help people get around.

How Trains are Maintained

Because the line is so deep, maintaining the trains is unique. The depot for the trains is at Waterloo.

Lifting Trains for Repairs

Trains cannot easily be driven out of the tunnels. So, they are lifted out of the depot using a special crane. This allows them to be taken for bigger repairs or maintenance. It's like a giant elevator for trains!

Images for kids

  • W&C map

    Map of the Waterloo & City Railway as originally planned

  • W&C muck away

    Removal of spoil in tunnelling the Waterloo & City Railway

  • W&C Shield work

    The Greathead tunnelling shield in use on the Waterloo & City Railway

  • W&C air lock

    The air lock used during compressed air working

  • Office blocks at Waterloo station 1979 - geograph.org.uk - 814667

    View of the Windsor side of Waterloo in 1979, with a Class 487 car in the background waiting to be returned to the Waterloo & City line after maintenance

  • Waterloo Depot Armstrong lift (1988)

    The Armstrong lift in 1988.

  • Starting from Waterloo

    Artist's impression of Waterloo station at opening to the public

  • Waterloo and City crane 2006 closeup

    A carriage being lifted out of Waterloo depot

  • Class 487 at London Transport Museum Depot

    Preserved 1940 stock at the London Transport Museum Depot

  • City of London, Bank Station - Waterloo and City Line travolator - geograph.org.uk - 823250

    Waterloo and City moving walkway at Bank Station.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Waterloo & City Line para niños