The First "Switchback" Tube

Taken from the Kearney Files
National News Sunday December 15th 1918.

Mile a minute tube railway
Wonders of London's new switchback
Interview with the inventor

Interviewed by The Nation News, Mr. Chalmers Kearney, the inventor of the "switchback" mono -r rail system of railways, said : " The East Ham - Woolwich tube will be a full - sized example of the Kearney system and other tubes will quickly follow when this has proved successful.

40 Feet Under the Thames

"After leaving North Woolwich station the tube dips down by a gradient of one in seven to a depth of 110 feet, below the bed. On the Kent side the line rises by another of one in seven to a station adjoining Woolwich Arsenal gates. The station will be immediately below the street level, with which it will be connected by a single flight of steps. The time taken by the journey from East Ham to Woolwich will be one minute.
" It is proposed to charge penny fares on the line and the opening of the service will mean a big savings of time to the many East End workers who travel between these points daily.
"The total cost will be £180,000 and the whole of this sum is already assured. If the Board of Trade grants us the necessary powers through the Light Railways  commisioners, it is hoped to make a start early next spring.
It is expected that the Woolwich tube will take about twelve months to complete. Meanwhile, other schemes are Strand - Crystal Palace and Oval - Victoria - Cricklewood tubes, while a London - Paris and various provincial projects are under contemplation to be carried out when the Woolwich line is running and labour and materials are more easily available.