NOVA; London Super Tunnel; Construction of the Elizabeth Line; Feb.1, on PBS

To be followed by:

Secrets of the Dead; King Arthur's Lost Kingdom (9 PM Nashville/Central time)
and
Secrets of Westminster--A tour of Parliament (10 PM Nashville/Central time)

The last two may be reruns.

Thanks for the heads up. I really enjoyed the first one from years ago. It was referred to as Cross Rail back then.

Thank you Rebecca! I meant to ping you about these shows!

Rocket and Pam, you're welcome!
I hope you both enjoy the program (or programs)!

Thanks, Rebecca! I've set the DVR for the new NOVA.

As you mentioned, the King Arthur episode is a repeat.

In Denver we're getting a repeat of Lucy Worsley Investigates: The Black Death, instead of the Secrets of Westminster. I haven't searched the schedule to see if the latter is showing another time this week. However, my monthly donation to my PBS station includes access to the PBS streaming library, and I may find it there, now that you've mentioned it.

For those in the San Francisco Bay Area, KQED has these episodes on Wednesday Feb 1. NOVA at 9 PM followed by King Arthur at 10.

DFW has the tunnel at 8pm, King Arthur at 9pm and then Great Performances at 10pm which, based on some of the debates in Parliament from the past, could be featured on Great Performances.

Suz, Rocket, DQ, thanks for the information about what will be on PBS in your areas.
Suz, great that you're supporting PBS and have the streaming so you can go back and watch episodes.
The Lucy Worsley programs are all great!
DQ, LOL, absolutely; great dramas taking place in Parliament! Sometimes I watch this on CSpan.

BUMP, so more people will be aware of this program which is coming on tomorrow night.

Thanks. I am signed up the South of England in May and was just researching the Elizabeth Line. Now will research Tintagel, too.

Hi Debbie,
I think all three of these programs on PBS tonight will be interesting!
Lucky you, going on the Rick Steves South of England tour in May!
You'll have a great time!

30 minutes until show time!

I hope you all enjoy it.

Its terrific !!! I wonder what innovators like George Stephenson , Gustav Eiffel , Isambard Kingdom Brunel ,and Fillipo Brunelleschi would think if they were alive today ( not to mention John and Washington Roebling ! )

Steven, interesting comment!!
I'm sure they would be fascinated by this project.
And, possibly, would have suggestions for improvements on the plan.

I thought it was an excellent program!
Just what we have come to expect from PBS!

Crossrail has 13 miles of new tunnels and 10 new stations. It cost around $24 billion.

In NY, a new tunnel for LIRR goes the 3.5 miles from Jamaica station to Grand Central. It cost $12 billion.

You have to wonder.....

Frank , I would certainly agree that the Europeans are more advanced in civil engineering projects than we are in the states but there are differences in these two projects that dramatically influence the costs . Just one - The TBM's used in Crossrail were boring through a geology of clay , gravel , and chalk which is far less of an issue , than the project in Manhattan . The NY substrate is composed of Schist , the extremely hard bedrock that allows the skyscrapers to exist on the island . The cost of blasting , excavating and removing this material raises the cost dramatically , something to consider . https://youtu.be/7KvklU1Ny7g

Frank, having lived in NYC myself, I can guess how some of that money disappeared.

Speaking of digging for Crossrail, I have been interested in some of the things that might be found in the dirt they have removed and transported to other locations. There are all sorts of artifacts to be found beneath London, from Roman ruins and coins to Tudor-era jewelry.
There are numerous articles on the BBC website about these artifacts which have been found, for anyone who cares to do a search. Too many for me to give links.
The Museum of London has been responsible for observing the dig and collecting many of these items. I expect they'll have a nice exhibit with these prepared when they reopen their museum after their current move to the new location.

One of the most interesting items ever to be found while digging in London is the (Celtic) Battersea Shield. The original can be seen in the British Museum. A replica can be seen in the Museum of London when it reopens.

The shield was found buried in the riverbed of the Thames while workers were building one of London's bridge footings.
It is thought that it was lost during an ancient battle, or perhaps tossed into the river as a votive offering by ancient residents of London.

To be clear, the Battersea Shield was not found during the Crossrail digging.
I do hope the Crossrail project managers have been taking great care not to destroy any such artifacts as they have worked. Sadly, I would assume that the only thing that matters is the speed with which they get the job done, being under deadlines. It would be naive of me to think many in London nowadays care whether or not these ancient artifacts are destroyed.

London is a city with many layers of history right under our feet.
I would guess that only a small fraction of the treasures that lie beneath have been found.

Rebecca ,and Frank , watch this , it's great ! - https://youtu.be/c0KpbruT1HA

Steven....the new LIRR route uses existing tracks and tunnels from Jamaica until it reaches Manhattan. Then, according to the NY Times:

the estimated cost of the East Side Access project ballooned by at least three times to $12 billion, or nearly $3.5 billion for each new mile of track — seven times the average elsewhere in the world. The M.T.A. has since said that the price tag reached $11.1 billion.

I think we all know where the money went.

I think we all know where the money went.

Born and bred NY'er here ... for any construction, unions run the show ... and union bosses run the unions ... 'nuff said ...

Rode the tube from Farringdon to Paddington last July.

Very nice station.

Enjoyed watching the broadcast on how it was built.

Throughly enjoy using the Underground on my trips to London. Remember arriving at the modern Canary Wharf station when it first opened. Sleek
and Modern. Also adore the teeny Sherlock Holmes tiles at the Baker Street station.

Steven, thanks! Great video! Lots of cool stuff under London!
"Secrets of Underground London" ran on PBS several years ago. I have probably watched this program about 3 times; still enjoy it.

The Museum of London had tours of some of the underground WW2 shelters several years ago. They don't offer them all the time; just perhaps twice a year, so space is limited. The City of London Corporation frequently has some walking tours, one or two of them used to visit these places. Closed tube stations and lines are sometimes included, including ones that were used as shelters during WW2. I will post something on the Forum if I see these tours reappear on either of their websites.

Cool thing about underground London are the ancient rivers that are still under there; the Fleet River (that's why it's called Fleet Street), Walbrook, and more.

Claudia,
I enjoyed seeing Farringdon Station in the program.
Hoping to go see it on my next trip to London.
I also enjoyed seeing how it was built.

Interesting tidbit in the program....the lady engineer in charge of some of the Crossrail stations....Linda.....was previously in charge of building Pad #10 at the Kennedy Space Center launch facilities, Cape Canaveral, FL.

Claudia, back to what you were saying.......Canary Wharf is an area I'll bet not many tourists get to.
Well worth exploring.
I haven't been to the new station yet, but I'll go there in May.
Of course, Claudia, you explore many areas in London that are off the beaten path!
Thanks for all your insight into those places in your trip reports!

Got it taped, hoping to watch tonight. Thank you Rebecca!

You’re welcome.

Thank you Rebecca! I thought it was interesting that Farringdon is built on 3 fault lines plus they ran the tracks right under the Barbican. Quite a good program - my brother watched it with me and we were both surprised that the engineer Linda, worked at the Cape!

Steven, I’ve got that youtube now cued up to watch. Tonight’s entertainment I suspect, lol. Thank you as well!

Hi diveloonie! You're welcome! I hope you enjoy the show.

Hi Pam! You're welcome!
I was amazed at this also: "I thought it was interesting that Farringdon is built on 3 fault lines plus they ran the tracks right under the Barbican." I wonder if there will still be a slight rumble that can be heard up in the Barbican, even though they've taken pains to cushion the train bed.
I'm glad you and your brother enjoyed the show.

I started watching last night, and I guess they call it the underground for a reason. It really is under the ground. 😊 I’m finding it quite fascinating. My first trip to London will be next year.

Carrie, You'll have a great time in London, I'm sure!
Reading the Forum is a great way to prepare for your visit.
Taking the tube is simple, once you get the hang of it.
London buses are a good way to get around, too.

Carrie
The Elizabeth line is not part of the Underground

" The Elizabeth line is not part of the Underground " While it functions in concert with the underground , It would likely be appropriate to define it as to S Bahn services in Germany and Austria . or RER services in Paris https://youtu.be/Rx5lM7sT1TQ

The Elizabeth line is not part of the Underground

I guess I need to finish the episode. 😊 I just assumed that since they were digging a tunnel under the ground, that this was part of the underground.

Most of the Underground isn’t under ground.

My cousin was in charge of the tunnelling for the Elizabeth Line. Got the CBE for it. He’s now CEO of the new super sewer Thames Tideway.

As for people not caring about the artefacts nothing could be further from the truth. You can’t dig a garden pond without the archaeologists being sent in. And the body movers. Hundreds of bodies have had to be exhumed at Euston for HS2.

Learn about HS2 here - https://www.hs2.org.uk/ really fascinating !

Do you get “Secrets of the London Underground”? Third series filming now.

Not yet , as far as I'm aware .

We do not get "Secrets of the London Underground".
I have not seen it listed on the schedule for my local PBS station.

Steven, thanks for that link.

Stroudy, good to know that a close eye is kept on the digs!